Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Day 5

Romans 6:4 (New International Version)

⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

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Many times I hear believers hurling insults at non-Christians because of their sinful behavior. But that wasn't the message of the early Christians. And while Paul didn't tolerate sin, he knew that his only hope began and ended with a new life in Jesus. The Savior was alive, and Paul and other early Church leaders preached the message of new life in him. The same is true for us: Before we can talk about others' behavior, we have to talk about new life. Without that power no one will see Jess in us.

When we talk about Jesus, do we rely on his power?

When you share your faith, do you talk more about the rules and guidelines of what Christians should or shouldn't do--or do you talk about a relationship with god?

Is your life more about rules or a relationship with God through Jesus?

Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Day 4

Ephesians 1:17-21 (New International Version)

¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^a]">[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

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Sometimes I feel as if it's impossible to live the kind of Christian life I should.

Following God is just really hard sometimes. But look at what Paul said here. He said the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is working in us right now. The same power. The resurrection is the greatest miracle of all time, and that's the kid of power God is using in our lives. Our power doesn't always work, but God's power always succeeds. No matter who you are, if you're in Christ, then that same power is working in you.

Are there any places in your life where you're relying on your own strength instead of God's?

Choose to actively rely on God's power instead.

Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Day 3

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

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This is one of those verses to memorize. Make sure you underline it in your Bible. Think about it for a minute: When Jesus rose form the dead, he had a brand-new life. He wasn't a mutilated man anymore; he received a new body and a new life. When you become a Christian, that's what happened to you, too. You may look the same on the outside, but something cataclysmic had happened in your soul. You're a new creation. You'll see Jesus face to face one day. And you have the power of God inside you. you didn't join a club or decide to live differently. When you became a Christian, you became a true child of God. Wow! What a change!

Dwell on this verse throughout the day and think about what it really means.

Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Day 2

Colossians 1:9-12 (New International Version)

⁹For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^a]">[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

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Have you ever felt as if your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling--as if no one is really listening? some people believe we're stupid for praying to an invisible God. But the resurrection changes things. We don't pray to a dead god. Our God rose from the dead and is alive today. that means we can have a real relationship with him. Knowing and obeying him isn't just about rules; it's about getting to know him personally. The word knowledge in these verses means having an experience with someone, not just knowing facts about the person. Jesus is alive and seeking a real relationship with you. Are you doing the same with him?

Check your prayers. Do you pray as if someone is really listening and might talk back?

Are you building a real relationship with Jesus?

Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Day 1

Luke 24:36-48 (New International Version)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

³⁷They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

⁴⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things.

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It's time for a reality check. do you actually believe Jesus rose from the dead? Think about this truth--not just a story or a sermon illustration: Jesus actually died on a Friday, and on Sunday morning he walked our of a tomb. This is the message of the Church--that Jesus is alive today because he actually rose from the grave. But it makes no difference in you life unless you believe it yourself. If you have questions about this, then ask a parent or a youth leader. but figure it out, no matter what it costs you. Even the disciples needed a little convincing. Jesus wants you to have a faith of your own.

Ask God to show you the truth and help you believe and understand it.

Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Memory Verse

"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." (Acts 2:32)


Introduction

"Man Raised from the Dead!" It sounds like a headline you'd read in the National Enquirer. But this fact is the basis for Christianity. the heart of the gospel isn't a list of rules or regulations. it's Jesus' message that we need--and can have--new life. And this new life is available to anyone who believes Jesus died and arose from the dead.

In Acts 2:14-33 peter follows up the incredible baptism of the Holy Spirit with an awesome Pentecost sermon. He speaks the truth about the Holy Spirit--that God promised it and kept that promise. And then Peter boldly proclaims that the Jesus they'd all watched die is alive again. More than anything else, this defined the beliefs of the apostles and the early Church. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity because Christ would still be dead.

The truths about Jesus in Peter's sermon have always been the Church's central message; it should be a message we claim for ourselves. Because Jesus is alive, we can have a relationship with him and know he's working in our lives on a daily basis. It gives us confidence in the hope that one day we, too, will be resurrected. This week we'll look at what the resurrection means to us on a daily basis.

Week 4: Baptism of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Day 5

Acts 4:3-12 (New International Version)

³They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

⁵The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.^a]">[a]'^b]">[b] ¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

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Probably no one in this story was as surprised as Peter. Remember, this is ta same person who talked boldly about following Christ to his death but then denied Jesus only hours later. Not the picture of the most effective follower. But look at Peter in today's Scripture passage. He is bold, he's preaching, he isn't afraid of being thrown in jail. Something is different--but what? The presence of the Holy Spirit is what changed Peter. Yes, he still made mistakes; but he had the power to stay faithful because he was relying on the Holy Spirit, not on himself. See the difference between Spirit-led living and just trying to do your best?

When you're challenged or tempted, do you turn to God for help?

Do you really believe the Holy Spirit will empower you?

Ask God to make the power of the Holy Spirit very real and present in your life.

Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Day 4

Ephesians 6:18-20 (New International Version)

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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Why did Paul ask for prayer? Isn't he, you know, Paul? Super-Christian Paul? Paul knew the Spirit wasn't just in him but in all his Christian friends as well. He also knew that God is doing something in all of us--together. This means Paul couldn't be a loner; he needed the help of others. So when you face problems, it's important to ask for help--not just from God but also from God's people. Why? Because God's Spirit is inside all of us. That's why Paul could ask the Ephesians to pray "in the Spirit." Your prayers for others and theirs for you are incredibly powerful. Paul needed those prayers, and we need our friends' prayers as well.

Do you ever ask people to pray for you?

Do you ever pray for others?

Do you really believe prayer will accomplish anything?

Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Day 3

Ephesians 3:14-21 (New International Version)

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family^a]">[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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This was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, and I'd be willing to say it's also God's desire for us. Read it through a few times. (No, really--read it again.)
What are some of the things Paul wants to happen to us? In verse 16 Paul says the Spirit will strengthen your soul. Verse 17 tells us why: So we can have a deeper walk with Jesus. Verse 18 says we'll have power when we dwell on the amazing love God has for us. In verse 19 Paul says that if this happens, then we can be filled completely with God's power. This is a pretty amazing prayer. And all of this is for you. Why don't you pray this for your life?

Ask God to do the things for you that are mentioned in today's Scripture passage.

Pray this prayer for your friends, family, and church as well.

Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Day 2

Ephesians 5:18 (New International Version)

¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

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This is one of those verses that can be a little confusing. don't we already have the Spirit? Then why do we need to be filled again? Did the Spirit leave? Absolutely not! Paul knew that all believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling in hem, but Paul also knew that not all believers rely on the Holy Spirit all the time. While the Spirit is always with us, we choose every day whether or not we want the Spirit to be in control. We can be filled with ourselves, or we can be led by the Spirit. Paul reminded us to choose to be filled with God's Spirit each day, rather than just doing our best on our own.

Would you describe your life as being filled with the Spirit? Why or why not?

Ask God to help you empty yourself and be filled with the Spirit today.

Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Day 1

Acts 2:1-4 (New International Version)

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^a]">[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (New International Version)

¹³And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

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I don't know about you, but I've never seen tongues of fire. Ever. On anyone. So how do we know we have the Spirit in our lives? The disciples got this grand miracle, but what about us? Paul tells us in Ephesians that we receive the Spirit when we first believe in Jesus Christ and become Christians. You have the Spirit right now. And even though you man not have seen a grand miracle like the apostles did when they received the Spirit, that same Spirit is in you. The Spirit empowered the early disciples, and he will do that for us as well. The real question is will we rely on the Spirit?

Think back on some of the moments in which you knew the Spirit was working in your life. How can we stay in touch with the Spirit on a continual basis?

Are you doing those things?

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I would love to read your comments of moments when you knew the Spirit was working in your life!

Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Memory Verse

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? you are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)


Introduction

It was dramatic. Rushing wind...pyrotechnics...crowds reeling in amazement...and on of the most effective sermons ever preached. This is how the church was born at Pentecost. In one day more than 3,000 people began the church in Jerusalem.

Those believers were the start of something big. Since then the Church has faithfully passed the message of Jesus Christ from generation to generation throughout the ages. Eventually someone told you. the church you're now a part of grew from the message of Christ that the early Christians presented thousands of years ago.

The Holy Spirit of God made a surprise entrance at Pentecost, assuring us that from then on we'd be able to do things that used to be impossible. The Spirit now empowers us, guides us to the truth, teaches us, and helps us share our faith. With the Spirit, amazing things are suddenly a possibility.

As believers, one of our main tasks is to remain connected to the holy Spirit. This week we'll look at how the Spirit helps us and find out how to take advantage of the many miraculous opportunities the Spirit gives us every day.