Bible ReadingActs 3:1-16 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
[05:48]2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
[40:11]Ephesians 1:17-23 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
[26:47]Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
[31:22]Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
[43:41]Observation questions- In Acts 3, what did the lame man expect from Peter and John, and what did he actually receive instead? [02:14]
- After the man was healed, what did he do right away, and how did the crowd respond to what they saw?
- In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, what words are used to describe where the battle shows up—especially in the area of thoughts and reasoning? [40:11]
- In Ephesians 1 and 2, what does Paul say about where Christ is seated, and what does he also say about believers in relation to Christ? [31:22]
Interpretation questions- Peter says the man was made strong through faith in the name of Jesus, not through human power or holiness. Why is that so important for how believers think about spiritual authority? [05:48]
- Paul prays first for revelation and enlightened eyes before talking about Christ being far above every name. Why might seeing clearly come before walking boldly? [24:42]
- If strongholds are built out of arguments, lofty opinions, and thoughts, what does that suggest about how the enemy usually works in everyday life? [42:22]
- Believers are said to be seated with Christ in heavenly places. How should that shape the difference between begging for victory and standing in a victory already won? [35:27]
Application questions- Where has attention been fixed lately—on the problem, the pressure, the diagnosis, the family strain, or on Jesus and his name? What would it look like this week to turn attention back toward him? [13:33]
- Which “name” has felt loudest recently—anxiety, shame, betrayal, sickness, lack, addiction, or something else? What would it sound like to answer that specific name with the name of Jesus? [28:34]
- What thought pattern has tried to become a stronghold lately? Is it fear, self-condemnation, hopelessness, resentment, or defeat? What truth from Scripture needs to be spoken against it? [45:28]
- Romans 12 says transformation comes through the renewing of the mind. What is one practical way to renew the mind daily this week instead of letting old thoughts run unchecked? [44:07]
- The enemy cannot establish lies where agreement is refused. What kinds of words have been coming out of the mouth lately? Are they full of fear and frustration, or do they sound like agreement with God? [49:33]
- A disciplined tongue is part of spiritual warfare. In what kinds of everyday moments—stress, conflict, pain, bad news, traffic, family tension—does the mouth most need to come under the Lordship of Jesus? [52:19]
- Since believers are seated with Christ, what situation right now needs prayer that sounds less like helpless distance and more like faith-filled authority? [32:50]
