Empowered by Christ: Healing Through Faith and Action
Summary
In our current series, "Airplane Mode," we explore the idea of intentionally disconnecting from worldly distractions to focus on God through spiritual disciplines. Today, we delve into Acts 3, where Peter and John perform the first recorded miracle of the early church, healing a man crippled from birth. This passage highlights two foundational cornerstones: Jesus is alive, and He works through His followers.
The first cornerstone, "Jesus is alive," reminds us that although Jesus is not physically present, His power and presence continue to work through us. This is evident in the miracle performed by Peter and John, who, despite lacking material wealth, offer the man something far greater—healing in the name of Jesus. This teaches us that Jesus' power is not found in material possessions but in His name, which holds the ultimate authority and ability to transform lives.
The second cornerstone, "Jesus works through His followers," emphasizes our role as His hands and feet in the world. We are called to be active participants in His mission, meeting both spiritual and physical needs. Peter and John's encounter with the crippled man illustrates the importance of being attentive to the needs around us and responding with the resources and gifts God has given us. This requires a commitment to prayer and a willingness to act, trusting that God will work through us to accomplish His purposes.
As followers of Christ, we are invited to participate in His work, not out of obligation, but as a privilege. Giving and serving are opportunities to witness God's transformative power in the lives of others, leading them to praise Him. This is the essence of our calling—to be vessels through which God's love and power flow, bringing healing and hope to a broken world.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus' Power Transcends Material Wealth: The healing of the crippled man in Acts 3 demonstrates that true power lies not in material possessions but in the name of Jesus. This challenges us to evaluate where we place our trust and to recognize the eternal significance of spiritual over physical needs. [05:53]
- Spiritual Needs Over Physical Needs: While physical needs are important, spiritual needs hold eternal value. This perspective should influence how we allocate our resources and time, ensuring that our spiritual growth and the spiritual well-being of others are prioritized. [07:05]
- Confidence in Jesus' Name: Peter's confidence in the power of Jesus' name challenges us to deepen our faith beyond casual Christianity. This level of confidence requires a committed relationship with Christ, where His power becomes evident in our lives and actions. [09:09]
- Prayer as a Foundation for Action: Peter and John's dedication to prayer underscores its importance in our lives. A regular prayer practice aligns us with God's will and empowers us to see and meet the needs around us, acting as His representatives in the world. [11:15]
- Active Participation in God's Work: We are called to be active participants in God's mission, using our unique gifts and resources to meet the needs of others. This involves both direct and indirect involvement, trusting that God will work through us to bring about His purposes. [21:45]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:21] - Introduction to Airplane Mode Series
- [05:03] - The First Cornerstone: Jesus is Alive
- [05:53] - Truth 1: Jesus' Power Beyond Material Wealth
- [07:05] - Truth 2: Prioritizing Spiritual Needs
- [08:09] - Truth 3: Power in Jesus' Name
- [09:09] - Confidence in Jesus' Name
- [10:23] - The Second Cornerstone: Jesus Works Through Us
- [11:15] - Truth 1: Faithfulness in Prayer
- [12:55] - Truth 2: Seeing the Need
- [14:36] - Avoiding Consumerism in Church
- [17:30] - Meeting Needs Directly and Indirectly
- [21:45] - Jesus Meets Needs Through Us
- [23:30] - Indirectly Meeting Needs
- [25:40] - Collectively Meeting Needs
- [27:14] - The Privilege of Giving and Serving
- [30:53] - Serving Beyond the Church
- [33:01] - The Joy of Seeing Lives Changed
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Airplane Mode" Series
Bible Reading:
- Acts 3:1-11
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial reaction of the crippled man when Peter and John approached him at the temple gate? How did his expectations change after their interaction? [05:53]
2. How did Peter and John demonstrate their faith in Jesus' name when they encountered the crippled man? What was the result of their actions? [08:09]
3. What role did prayer play in the lives of Peter and John, and how did it prepare them for the miracle they performed? [11:15]
4. How did the people around the temple react to the miracle performed by Peter and John? What does this reveal about the impact of witnessing God's power? [05:03]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the story of Peter and John healing the crippled man illustrate the concept that "Jesus is alive"? How does this cornerstone affect the lives of believers today? [05:03]
2. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of prioritizing spiritual needs over physical needs? What implications does this have for how believers allocate their resources and time? [07:05]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between confidence in Jesus' name and a committed relationship with Christ? How can believers cultivate such confidence? [09:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of believers as active participants in God's mission? What are some practical ways believers can engage in meeting the needs of others? [21:45]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any distractions that prevent you from focusing on God? What steps can you take to intentionally disconnect from these distractions this week? [02:21]
2. Consider the resources and gifts God has given you. How can you use them to meet the needs of those around you, both spiritually and physically? [10:23]
3. How can you develop a regular prayer practice that aligns you with God's will and empowers you to act as His representative in the world? What specific changes can you make to your daily routine to prioritize prayer? [11:15]
4. Think about a time when you witnessed God's transformative power in someone's life. How did it impact your faith? How can you position yourself to witness more of these moments? [33:01]
5. Evaluate your current level of confidence in the power of Jesus' name. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Christ and increase your faith in His power? [09:09]
6. Identify a need within your community or church that you feel called to address. What practical steps can you take to meet this need, either directly or indirectly? [21:45]
7. Reflect on the privilege of giving and serving. How can you shift your perspective from seeing these actions as obligations to viewing them as opportunities to participate in God's work? [27:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus' Power Surpasses Material Wealth
In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man who has been crippled from birth. Despite having no silver or gold to offer, they provide something far more valuable—healing in the name of Jesus. This event underscores the truth that Jesus' power transcends material wealth. It challenges us to evaluate where we place our trust and to recognize the eternal significance of spiritual over physical needs. The miracle performed by Peter and John serves as a reminder that true power and transformation come from Jesus, not from worldly possessions. This perspective invites us to shift our focus from accumulating material wealth to seeking spiritual richness in Christ. [05:53]
Acts 4:10-12 (ESV): "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you rely on material wealth for security. How can you begin to trust in Jesus' power and provision instead?
Day 2: Prioritizing Spiritual Needs
While physical needs are important, spiritual needs hold eternal value. This perspective should influence how we allocate our resources and time, ensuring that our spiritual growth and the spiritual well-being of others are prioritized. In Acts 3, Peter and John demonstrate this by focusing on the man's spiritual healing, which ultimately leads to his physical healing. This teaches us to look beyond immediate physical needs and to consider the deeper spiritual needs that may be present. By prioritizing spiritual growth, we align ourselves with God's eternal purposes and open ourselves to His transformative work in our lives and the lives of others. [07:05]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: Identify one spiritual need in your life that you have been neglecting. What steps can you take today to address this need and grow closer to God?
Day 3: Confidence in Jesus' Name
Peter's confidence in the power of Jesus' name challenges us to deepen our faith beyond casual Christianity. This level of confidence requires a committed relationship with Christ, where His power becomes evident in our lives and actions. In Acts 3, Peter boldly declares healing in Jesus' name, demonstrating unwavering faith in His authority. This invites us to examine our own faith and to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus. As we grow in our understanding of His power and authority, we can confidently step out in faith, trusting that He will work through us to accomplish His purposes. [09:09]
Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,"
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you need to exercise faith in Jesus' name. How can you deepen your relationship with Him to gain the confidence needed to trust in His power?
Day 4: Prayer as a Foundation for Action
Peter and John's dedication to prayer underscores its importance in our lives. A regular prayer practice aligns us with God's will and empowers us to see and meet the needs around us, acting as His representatives in the world. In Acts 3, their commitment to prayer prepares them to respond to the crippled man's need with faith and boldness. This teaches us that prayer is not just a spiritual discipline but a vital foundation for effective action in God's kingdom. By cultivating a consistent prayer life, we open ourselves to God's guidance and become more attuned to His purposes, enabling us to serve others with love and compassion. [11:15]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Evaluate your current prayer life. What changes can you make to ensure that prayer becomes a foundational part of your daily routine, empowering you to act according to God's will?
Day 5: Active Participation in God's Work
We are called to be active participants in God's mission, using our unique gifts and resources to meet the needs of others. This involves both direct and indirect involvement, trusting that God will work through us to bring about His purposes. In Acts 3, Peter and John actively engage in God's work by healing the crippled man and sharing the gospel. This example encourages us to step out in faith and use the gifts God has given us to serve others. By doing so, we become vessels through which God's love and power flow, bringing healing and hope to a broken world. [21:45]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Identify a specific gift or resource you have that can be used to serve others. How can you actively participate in God's work this week by using this gift to meet the needs of those around you?
Quotes
1) "What if God wants us to click airplane mode on our lives regularly? What if He wants us to remove distractions from the world and focus our attention and our affections on God? How would we do that? How would we go about doing that? And we've been talking about how we do that is through the practice of spiritual disciplines." [00:01] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "This is the first recorded miracle of the church, not of Jesus, okay? Jesus did a lot of miracles that we know about. But remember, Jesus had gone. Jesus had died. He was crucified. He came back to life, and he ascended into heaven. And so this is the first real miracle we see of the early church." [02:21] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Do you have what it takes to carry on what Jesus and the disciples started? Do you have the ability to live this life as a fully devoted... follower of Jesus Christ? The answer is yes, because Jesus is alive. You do have what it takes, and they had what it takes." [05:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "The second truth, spiritual needs are eternally more important than physical needs. I believe that, and quite frankly, that's why I lead a church and not the Red Cross. Quite frankly, that's not why I'm a part of civic organizations. Not that they're bad. God bless them. Do great things. Carry on." [07:05] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Jesus's power is in his name. Peter said, silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Walk. It wasn't silver and gold that made that man stand up. You guys know that, right? No amount of money in the world could have caused that guy to stand up." [08:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "If you want to know what Jesus's hands look like, look at your hands. We're called to love people the way Jesus loved people. If you want to know what Jesus's feet look like, look at your feet. We're called to go to people. Go into the world and proclaim the gospel." [10:23] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Do you have a regular plan for prayer in your life? Or is prayer just the thing that you do when you can't do anything else? Do you have a regular plan for prayer?" [11:15] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "How many needs did you pass by this morning on your way here? Now, I know there's really no way for us to know that. There's no way for us to know how many needs are in these homes that are around us. There's no way to know every home you passed this morning on your way here." [14:36] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "We don't have to give and serve. We get to give, and we get to serve. Do you see how it's a privilege that we get to give and we get to serve? Giving is a privilege." [25:40] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10) "There's nothing more satisfying than you, giving what you have. Jesus using that to change someone's life forever and then seeing that person praise God. I mean, that's like hot cocoa on a freezing day. That's like a 20-second hug. You know what I'm saying? Like there's just nothing better than that." [33:01] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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