Take a seat at the table. Conflict arises in the early church when the Hellenist widows complain about being overlooked in the daily distribution. But the Lord raises up faithful servants to take the ministry to the next level, freeing up the apostles to thrive in their gifts. The whole church benefits as a result of each one using their gifts as God has appointed.

Everyone needs some good advice from time to time. The Lord releases the apostles from detainment and advises them to keep sharing the truth. The religious leaders try to stifle the message, but Gamaliel advises them to let go and let God have His way.

A church on every corner. But the world longs to see a church that reflects the work of Jesus in transformation and power. The first church was attuned to the leading of the Spirit and the needs of others. People will be drawn when Jesus is moving in and through His church.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. When our sense of security is shaken, where do we turn? Peter and John return to the disciples and share about all they experienced after the healing of the lame man at the temple. Together with the other believers, they pray to God for grace to move forward.

Oh, the matchless name of Jesus. With the name of Jesus at the forefront of their lips, Peter and John face the opposition of the religious leaders. But in spite of the pressure to remain silent, they cannot refrain from testifying to all that they have seen and heard.

Nothing to be surprised about. God's plan to send a Savior was foretold for generations through the prophets. Those at the temple the day that a lame man was healed should have been anticipating the Lord's work in their day.

The crowd is paying attention. All those at the temple are intently watching and listening to Peter's explanation of the healing of the lame man. The gospel is too important for anyone to ignore.

Jesus meets us in the daily. Peter and John encounter a lame man on their way to the temple. The man's life, their ministry, and the world will never be the same.

Things in this world don't quite line up. Jesus stepped in so that we might be saved. The impact this had upon the first believers changed them and the world in which they lived.

BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 2:40-47 | EPHESIANS 2:8 | ROMANS 3:23 | ACTS 4:12 | JOHN 4:35-38 | PROVERBS 25:11 | MARK 4:1-9 | LUKE 15:7 | COLOSSIANS 1:13 | 1 PETER 2:2 | 1 TIMOTHY 4:1 | 2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4 | GALATIANS 6:2 | 1 CORINTHIANS 11:25 | HEBREWS 4:16 | 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 | HEBREWS 12:14 | 1 THESSALONIANS 5:19 | MATTHEW 6:19-21 | 

He is risen, indeed! The cross of Jesus was followed by the resurrection - the exclamation point that declared us to be free indeed! As Peter shares with the crowd their mistake in putting to death the Savior that God had sent, he points out the victory the Father had in the end that is also ours in Jesus.