Ordinary People, Extraordinary Purpose: Embracing God's Call

Devotional

Day 1: God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Things

God delights in using ordinary, uneducated, and even unlikely people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes, showing that greatness is not a prerequisite for being used by Him. When Peter and John stood before the religious leaders, their lack of formal education and humble backgrounds did not disqualify them; instead, their boldness and effectiveness were attributed to their time spent with Jesus. This truth is echoed in countless stories—whether it’s a child leading their family to Christ, a faithful volunteer in children’s ministry, or someone with a rough past transformed by God’s grace. You don’t need a seminary degree or a perfect background to make an impact for the Kingdom; you simply need to be willing and available for God to work through you. [42:21]

Acts 4:13 (ESV)
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve felt “not good enough” to serve God? How might God want to use you, just as you are, to impact someone this week?

Day 2: The Good News of Christ Is Undeniable

The message of Jesus is written on every human heart and proclaimed by all of creation, making the truth of the gospel inescapable and evident to all. Even those who have never heard a sermon or read a Bible can sense God’s law within their conscience and see His handiwork in the world around them. The longing for something more, the awareness of right and wrong, and the beauty of creation all point to a Creator who desires to be known. While people may try to fill the God-shaped hole in their hearts with other things, only Christ truly satisfies. The undeniable evidence of God’s existence and love is all around us, calling each person to respond. [43:10]

Romans 1:19-20 (ESV)
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Reflection: Take a moment to look outside or reflect on your day—where do you see evidence of God’s presence and handiwork in your life or surroundings today?

Day 3: Obey God Rather Than Man

When faced with opposition or pressure to remain silent about Jesus, believers are called to obey God’s commands above the expectations or threats of people. Peter and John, when ordered not to speak about Jesus, boldly declared that they could not help but share what they had seen and heard. Throughout history and even today, following Christ may come with a cost—social rejection, legal trouble, or worse—but our allegiance must remain with God. The world may try to silence the gospel, but our calling is to stand firm, speak truth in love, and trust God with the results, knowing that He honors those who honor Him. [44:00]

Acts 4:19-20 (ESV)
"But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'"

Reflection: Is there a situation where you’ve been tempted to stay silent about your faith? What would it look like to courageously obey God in that moment?

Day 4: Your Sphere of Influence Is Your Mission Field

Every believer has a unique sphere of influence—at work, in social clubs, among friends and family—where God calls them to be a witness and share the gospel in real, tangible ways. You don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to make a difference; your everyday interactions are opportunities to point people to Jesus. Whether you’re at your job, in a hobby group, or just going about your daily routine, God wants to use your story and your relationships to expand His Kingdom. The gospel becomes undeniable in your community when you live out your faith authentically and intentionally, letting others see the transformation Christ has made in you. [43:40]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: Who is one person in your daily life you can intentionally encourage or share your faith with this week? What step can you take to start that conversation?

Day 5: Remember Your Worth and Boldly Proclaim Christ

Feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome can hold us back from sharing the gospel, but our worth and confidence come from our identity in Christ, not our own abilities. Like Peter and John, and countless others before us, we may feel unqualified or afraid, but God sees us through the lens of His love and grace. He calls us to lay down our fears, remember the awe and wonder of our salvation, and boldly proclaim Christ without shame. When we trust in who we are in Jesus, we can step out in faith, knowing that He will use us for His glory and that He is never ashamed of those who are unashamed of Him. [45:23]

Mark 8:38 (ESV)
"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Reflection: When was the last time you felt awe and wonder about your relationship with Jesus? How can you rekindle that passion and let it overflow into boldness today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a celebration of God’s ability to use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. We looked at Acts 4:13-22, where Peter and John—uneducated, common men—astonished the religious leaders with their boldness and effectiveness, all because they had been with Jesus. Their story is a reminder that God delights in using those the world might overlook. It’s not about our credentials, background, or education; it’s about our willingness to be used by God and to share what He has done in our lives.

Personal stories were shared to illustrate this truth: from my own journey of being radically transformed from a life of brokenness to one of purpose, to the faithful witness of “unqualified” people like my mother and Miss Laura, who impacted countless lives simply by sharing the gospel in their everyday circles. The point is clear: you don’t have to be great to do great things for God. Your sphere of influence—your workplace, your family, your community—is your mission field.

We also explored the undeniability of the gospel. Scripture teaches that God’s law is written on every heart and that creation itself proclaims His glory. Even those who resist or reject God are responding to something they know deep down is true. The world may try to fill the God-shaped hole in their hearts with all sorts of things, but only Christ truly satisfies. Our transformed lives, our peace in trials, and our love for others make the gospel visible and undeniable to those around us.

Finally, we considered the cost of discipleship. While we may not face the same persecution as believers in other parts of the world, there is still a price to pay for following Jesus boldly. The world may misunderstand, ridicule, or even oppose us, but our allegiance must always be to God rather than to man. We are called to live out our faith courageously, to speak the truth in love, and to let our lives be a testimony to the power of Christ.

As we responded in worship and prayer, everyone was invited to bring their feelings of inadequacy, fear, or complacency to God. Whether you need to recommit your life, ask for renewed passion, or take the first step of faith, God is ready to meet you where you are. Remember, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about being available and obedient.

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Key Takeaways

1. God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Purposes Peter and John were seen as uneducated and common, yet their boldness and effectiveness came from their time with Jesus. God delights in using those who feel unqualified or overlooked, turning their weaknesses into platforms for His glory. Your background or education does not limit what God can do through you if you are willing to be used. [42:21]
2. Your Sphere of Influence is Your Mission Field You don’t need a pulpit or a seminary degree to share the gospel. Everyday interactions at work, home, or in your community are opportunities to make Christ known. Even not having all the answers can open doors for deeper conversations and relationships that point people to Jesus. [44:10]
3. The Gospel is Written on Every Heart and Proclaimed by Creation Scripture teaches that God’s law is inscribed on our hearts and that creation itself testifies to His existence. People may resist or deny God, but deep down, they are responding to a truth they cannot escape. Our transformed lives and authentic faith make the gospel undeniable to those around us. [45:23]
4. There is a Cost to Discipleship, but Christ is Worth It Following Jesus may bring opposition, misunderstanding, or even persecution, as seen in recent events around the world. Yet, our allegiance must always be to God rather than to the approval of people. The call to make disciples is not optional or secondary—it is the central mission of every believer. [47:00]
5. Bring Your Inadequacies and Fears to God—He Will Meet You There Feelings of inferiority, imposter syndrome, or fear of sharing your faith are common, but they are not barriers to being used by God. Bring these struggles to Him in prayer, ask for renewed passion and boldness, and trust that He sees you as His beloved child, fully equipped for every good work. [49:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:15] - Announcements and Community Updates
[05:30] - Prayer Walks and Sunday Fun Day
[08:45] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[12:10] - Introduction to Acts 4:13-22
[15:00] - Peter and John: Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Boldness
[19:30] - Personal Testimony: From Brokenness to Purpose
[23:50] - Everyday People Making an Eternal Impact
[28:10] - The Power of Not Having All the Answers
[31:40] - The Gospel is Undeniable: Written on Our Hearts
[36:20] - Creation Proclaims God’s Glory
[39:00] - The World’s Resistance and the God-Shaped Hole
[42:21] - Living Out Faith in a Hostile Culture
[47:00] - The Cost of Discipleship Today
[49:33] - Responding to God’s Call and Invitation to Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 4:13-22 (ESV) — > 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
> 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
> 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,
> 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
> 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
> 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
> 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
> 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
> 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
> 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Observation Questions

How did the religious leaders react to Peter and John’s boldness, and what did they notice about them?
What was the undeniable evidence that made it hard for the council to oppose Peter and John?
What command did the council give to Peter and John, and how did Peter and John respond?
According to the sermon, what kinds of people did God use to make an impact for the gospel?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the religious leaders were so surprised by Peter and John’s boldness, even though they were “uneducated, common men”? What does this say about how God works?
The sermon mentioned that the gospel is “undeniable” and that God’s law is written on every heart. How does this idea help us understand why people sometimes resist or get angry about the message of Jesus?
Peter and John said, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” What does this reveal about their priorities and their relationship with Jesus?
The pastor shared stories of “ordinary” people making a big difference for God. What do these stories teach us about our own potential to be used by God, even if we feel unqualified?

Application Questions

The sermon said, “You don’t have to be great to do great things for God.” Do you ever feel unqualified or too ordinary to make a difference? What is one area of your life where you could step out in faith this week, even if you feel inadequate?
Think about your own “sphere of influence”—your family, workplace, or community. What is one practical way you could share your faith or show Christ’s love in that setting this week?
The pastor talked about not needing all the answers to share the gospel. Have you ever avoided a spiritual conversation because you felt you didn’t know enough? How could you handle a tough question differently next time?
The sermon described the gospel as “written on every heart” and “proclaimed by creation.” How does this truth encourage you when you think about sharing your faith with someone who seems uninterested or resistant?
Peter and John faced opposition for speaking about Jesus, but they chose to obey God rather than people. Is there a situation in your life where you feel pressure to stay quiet about your faith? What would it look like to choose God’s approval over people’s approval in that situation?
The pastor invited everyone to bring their feelings of inadequacy, fear, or complacency to God. What is one fear or insecurity you need to surrender to God today so you can be more available and obedient to Him?
When was the last time you felt a sense of awe and wonder about what God has done in your life? How can you ask God to renew that passion and boldness in you this week?

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