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By: Peter Bales

No. 35, June 30, 2024

This week we’re going to focus mainly on the disciple Peter and some of his interactions with Jesus, especially the ones that happened by the lake. READ Luke 5:1-11.

There are many interesting things about this passage.  Imagine yourself in Peter’s place when Jesus tells them to try throwing their nets out in deeper water.  Many of us might consider that an insult—they’ve already been fishing all night! Obviously, something about Jesus had impressed Peter, who even calls Jesus “master.” Peter has already learned that he might want to listen to what Jesus is saying! 

1. Jesus tells Peter that from now on he will “fish for people.” Some commentators note that another meaning is to “take them alive.” What do you think it means to fish for people?

Notice that Jesus meets the disciples where they were. He came to them. This is good because the disciples sometimes needed extra help.  At times they seemed to have things really figured out, and other times they missed it altogether. The Bible has several stories about times when Peter blew it. We can relate to these because he sounds like a real guy that screws up sometimes.  Let’s look at these: 

READ Mark 8:27-30.  Notice that Peter seems to have more understanding than most.  Good job, Peter!  But let’s keep going… READ Mark 8:31-33. Mark goes on to describe a time when Peter spoke about things that he didn’t understand.  He was clueless and began to “rebuke” Jesus!

Peter may speak impulsively sometimes, but we see that he is a true disciple and follower of Jesus. One day, Jesus had been giving a hard teaching and many people deserted him, but Peter stayed: 

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”(Luke 6:67-69)

2. Sometimes Peter is “on” and sometimes he is very “off.” How do you relate to Peter? What are times you’ve acted impulsively, and Jesus had to correct you?

There are many ways that Peter might be similar to Judas, who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests who wanted Jesus arrested.  Judas’ actions may have been more premeditated, but when Peter denied Jesus three times it was the first steps down the same path.  The difference is that Peter had “Godly sorrow” which is the type of sorrow that leads to repentance. He turned back to Jesus.

Thankfully, Jesus is always looking to receive us back when we come to him. We see this with Jesus and Peter. After the resurrection, Jesus wants to make sure that Peter knows that he is still included. Let’s look at what happens with Peter in John 21:

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. (John 21:1-7)

3. What are ways that this story is similar to the previous encounter from Luke 5 that we read above?

Notice that again Jesus asks the disciples to do something that could even seem insulting—“throw your net on the rights side of the boat…” This sounds like somebody who is joking around! But Jesus is serious—and they find the fish and they realize it’s the Lord. 

4. What is a time in your life when Jesus asks you to do something that seemed a little crazy?

Notice that when the disciples worked hard and did it their way, they ended up with an empty boat and no fish! Our best efforts are meaningless compared to Jesus.  We really have nothing that we can bring to Jesus that has any value. Everything that’s not of Jesus needs to be purified.

This purification made me think of a crucible, which is a container used when you want to purify metal.  The crucible is heated up to remove the impurities from the metal. In a similar fashion, the Bible talks about purification and sometimes we will “pass through the fire” to be purified. Anything that is not of God’s kingdom will burn away. It may not feel good to be in the heat, but through the process we are made stronger and more like Jesus.

There is something else that a crucible is used for.  It could be called a “container of change.” This is because once the metal is melted into a liquid form it is often poured into a mold and can be shaped into any design that you want. Similarly, when we come to God we are purified and also reformed! We are shaped more and more into the image of Jesus!

Just like Peter, we may have our good and bad days, but over time God is doing a work in us and reminding us of our purpose and value in him. We may not meet Jesus in a fishing boat, but Jesus comes to us as well and asks us to follow him. 

5. What are the times in your life when you knew you had met Jesus?
6. Who are you following? What do you need to do to make sure you are following Jesus?

GOING DEEPER> READ the rest of John 21. Notice how Jesus reminds Peter of his purpose and reinstates him. Do you need Jesus to meet you over “breakfast” like he did with Peter? What would you want Jesus to say?  Take some time to pray and ask Jesus to speak to you about this.

(Download this study here.)

By: Peter Bales

No. 34, June 23, 2024

Last week we talked about the filling of the Holy Spirit. Another way to say this is that God shows up!  God show’s up and fills us with himself. Sometimes God shows up and it’s an interruption!  It might even be a disruption because it requires us to change our plans. Let’s look at an occasion where God showed up in a surprising way to two different people in Acts. READ Acts 9:1-19. 

Saul, who later was renamed Paul, was on a mission to put followers of the Way in jail and prevent the spread of this message. But God had a different idea!  God got Saul’s attention through a disruption.

1. What is so unusual about how God revealed himself to Saul.
2. What is a time that God got your attention in a big way?

Saul becomes the famous missionary, Paul, who ends up writing much of the New Testament and planting many churches. Sometimes we can read about him and feel like we’re all supposed to be like Paul. However, we’re not Paul! It’s helpful to notice the other people in the Bible that God uses—like Ananias. We may see Ananias as a “minor character” in the story, but God knew his name and used him in mighty ways.

3. What are ways you can relate to Ananias? 

Ananias is interesting because he isn’t mentioned other than in this one chapter in the Bible, yet he played such an important role in bringing the gospel to Saul. He’s a great example of doing life with God well. First, notice that Ananias is describes as simply a “disciple.” He’s not called an Apostle or even a preacher or elder. This is important, because it helps us see that God can use all of his followers in mighty ways!  Ananias was available to God and paying attention. 

It's also instructive to notice how Ananias talks to God. He needs some clarity and brings his concerns to God. He wants to make he understands the mission, especially because of who Saul is!  But God doesn’t rebuke Ananias for having this dialogue. Instead, God answers him!  He explains that Saul is his chosen instrument. Through this, Ananias begins to see what God sees. Instead of seeing Saul as a “disciple-killer” which was his reputation, he begins to see Saul as a future disciple! We know this because when he walks up to Saul he calls him “brother Saul.” What a statement of faith!

4. Ananias had a conversation with God. What does this tell us about how we interact with God? 

After the vision, Ananias went to Saul. God even told him what street it was on and said that Saul was expecting him. Ananias was quick to obey. This may not sounds like a big deal until we remember who Saul was. He had the authority to persecute disciples of Jesus! Ananias knew that God was going to use Saul, but God didn’t tell Ananias what exactly would happen when he went to see him. He trusted God, even though he wasn’t sure how it might turn out. 

Looking back from our position, 2000 years later, we see what a crucial role Ananias played in the conversion of Saul, which lead to the expansion of the early church and even the writing of parts of the Bible that we are still reading and studying today! But Ananias was just a disciple. He was obedient in small—even hidden—ways, not to be mentioned again in the Bible. 

This story also displays how God builds his kingdom—through us! Think about it. God didn’t need Ananias to go to Saul, yet God used Ananias. Over and over we see how God uses his people to accomplish his purposes, even when they don’t get it right at first. This is how he designed things. He uses his people to spread the gospel and expand his kingdom.

5. Ananias and Saul may have been unlikely candidates for doing great things in God’s kingdom, yet they were chosen. Who are some other people in the Bible who looked like the most unlikely persons that God would use, yet that’s exactly what God did?

God interrupted both Saul and Ananias, yet it looked a little different. Saul needed a big disruption. God showed up and it looked more like a confrontation. God used a bright light to get Saul’s attention and illuminate the fact that Saul was wrong about Jesus. This is what it’s like when God shows up sometimes—it exposes truth and lies. It helps us see where we are wrong and how to get back on track. 

For Ananias, it was not a confrontation. God’s interruption was more like guidance or direction. Ananias was already a disciple—a follower of Jesus. He didn’t need to change course, but he did need some guidance to know what God wanted him to do that day. He was doing life with God, and was already in a position to respond with obedience.

Notice that God’s disruptions are part of how he pursues us. He desires to lead us and have relationship with us!  Jesus described it like this in Luke 15:8-10, “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

6. What does this parable of the lost coin tell us about how God feels about us?

God can show up anytime he wants in our lives. It’s not always a “mountain-top” spiritual experience. Instead, it might be while we are just doing the normal stuff that we do every day.

Frederick Buechner, a novelist who got saved and became a minister, noted,

“All the absurd little meetings, decisions, inner skirmishes that go to make up our days. It all adds up to very little, and yet it all adds up to very much. Our days are full of nonsense, and yet not, because it is precisely into the nonsense of our days that God speaks to us words of great significance…”[1]

7. In what ways have you experienced God “showing up?”
8. What are steps you can take to become more aware that God is already with you and speaking to you?

GOING DEEPER>> READ Luke 15 and reflect on what these stories show you about God’s heart.

[1] https://www.frederickbuechner.com/quote-of-the-day/2022/5/20/the-sound-of-gods-voice.

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By: Peter Bales

No. 33, June 16, 2024

(This teaching is based on Alpha Film Series: How Can I Be Filled With the Holy Spirit by Nicky Gumbel, www.alphausa.org)

As you study the book of Acts it’s hard to miss the central role of the Holy Spirit. The power behind the “acts” is definitely the Holy Spirit. We can see how God gave us himself through Jesus, then after the resurrection, he’s given us himself through the Holy Spirit.  It’s a gift!  Let’s look closer at how this works.  READ ACTS 8:9-23.

Through this story we can see that the work of the Holy Spirit was evident. In fact, it was so obviously powerful that Simon wanted to buy the “abilities” that the apostles had. Simon had been a sorcerer and had made money doing it. But the Holy Spirit is not a type of magic that can be bought or sold!

1. What surprises you about this passage in Acts?
2. How is the Holy Spirit different than magic or spells?

The “filling” of the Holy Spirit can be a tricky topic.  Many of us have had different experiences that have changed our views. If you find it confusing or scary, you might be closed off to the work of the Holy Spirit. While this may be for good reasons, the goal is to learn what the Bible says and discover the truth about the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes, our misunderstandings can keep us from experiencing the Life with God that is available to us!  

Let’s consider the statement, “Every person that belongs to Christ has the Holy Spirit, but not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit.” Read that again. Have you ever thought about that?  What’s the difference between having the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit? Let’s dig into that statement.    

FIRST- Every person that belongs to Christ HAS the Holy Spirit...  Look at these verses:

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” “…By this he meant the Spirit…” (John 7:38-39)

SECOND- …but not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit. Look at Ephesians 5:18. This is a letter written to believers, yet Paul says, “Do not get drunk with wine…instead, be filled with the Spirit…” And it doesn’t just happen once. We get filled and we keep getting re-filled!  More of the Holy Spirit.  We also see this in the early church.  They were already believers, yet in Acts 4:31 it says, “the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

3. What do we make of this? What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

I like the comparison to a pilot light. In a gas appliance like a water heater, there’s often a small flame that’s always lit.  When it’s time to heat the water, the gas really comes on and WOOSH!—It becomes a roar of flames!  The Holy Spirit is like this.  We all have the Holy Spirit in us when we turn to follow Jesus.  He is with us and never leaves. Like a pilot light?  However, we may not necessarily be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

There were many occasions where people in the Bible were filled with the Holy Spirit. Some were longing to be filled, like the disciples waiting in Acts 2. They were actively waiting and pursuing the Holy Spirit.  However, others, like we read about above in Acts 8, were simply receptive.

Paul was one who was hostile to the Holy Spirit, yet he was quickly converted and filled with the Holy Spirit, and even began to preach! Others are simply uninformed and haven’t been told about the Holy Spirit. This happened in Acts 19.  Paul asks them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” and they replied, “…we’ve never even heard there was a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2). Still others are seen as unlikely. You may think that the filling of the Holy Spirit is simply not for you!

4. Take a minute and be honest with yourself. What do you believe about the work of the Holy Spirit? What is your posture? Are you more LONGING, RECEPTIVE, HOSTILE, UNINFORMED, or UNLIKELY? What experiences have shape these feelings?

You may wonder what it’s like to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  That’s a great question that’s hard to answer because it may be different for everybody. It doesn’t always happen the same way.  Overall, it feels like.. LOVE.  Remember, the Holy Spirit is God with us and God is Love.  Romans 5:4 says it this way: “…God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).

When people are filled with the Spirit, various things may happen.  In Acts, you often see people speaking in different tongues and prophesying.  Sometimes people feel a warmth and may shake or tremble.  Others may experience great emotion such as joy and laughter—or even weeping at the revelation of God’s love. Some have felt a heavy weight that makes it hard to stand.  If you feel this you may want to sit or lie down!  Just rest in the Lord. 

Remember the fruit of the Spirit?  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control.  These should describe the experience of being filled with the Spirit. Yet many of us a fear about what may happen or feel undeserving.  You are God’s child and he wants to pour out his gifts on you!  The key is to simply ask.  Invite him and say, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Be filled, and keep being filled. Seek him and keep seeking.  Life with God includes being filled with the Holy Spirit, if you’re willing!

5. Do you think you are open to being filled by the Holy Spirit? What keeps you from being willing to receive?
6. What is a step you can take to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you?

(This teaching is based on Alpha Film Series: How Can I Be Filled With the Holy Spirit by Nicky Gumbel, www.alphausa.org)

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By: Peter Bales

No. 32, June 9, 2024 

As you read throughout the first chapters of Acts, there’s a lot going on.  The disciples change from being timid and confused to being bold preachers! God shows up in healings and other powerful ways. The source of all the action is the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is filling people and the changes are obvious to everyone!  The Spirit is empowering the mission—as well as passion!

Today we use the word passion to describe intense emotion for something.  This is partly right.  The original use of the word, however, always included suffering. So, it might be better to say that passion is “intense emotion for something that you are willing to suffer for.” Worldly passion often avoids the suffering part and focuses on what feels good in the moment, ignoring the consequences of passion.  However Godly passion is related to persevering for something that endures.  It comes from doing life with God!

1. How would you contrast worldly passions with Godly passions? 

Let’s meet Stephen. READ Acts 6:2-10.

Stephen goes on to recount much of the history of Israel to these Jewish leaders.  They went along with him for a time, but in Acts 7:51 he says, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?...” This is where they couldn’t take it anymore!  READ Acts 7:57-60.

2. What impresses you about Stephen?

Stephen is remembered as the first martyr of the church, killed for his faith in Jesus. It’s important to note that he was not seen as an Apostle, yet he was a powerful preacher and was seen as “a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). He may not have been among the leading Apostles, but he was no less full of the Holy Spirit. It’s notable that Acts 6-7 mentions five times that Stephen was full of the Spirit or power of God. Stephen was doing life with God!

3. What made a person an Apostle? How did the early Apostles differ from later apostles in Acts? 

Acts begins to move beyond the original Apostles and introduces some new people.  The early church was growing, and they needed some help.  Many would call Stephen a deacon, chosen to help take care of the church and free up the others to lead and preach. However, this didn’t stop Stephen from preaching when the opportunity arose.  You might say that Stephen didn’t know his “ceiling.” Sometimes we are given a task or job and that becomes our identity. Stephen’s identity was in Jesus and not in waiting tables.  He obviously didn’t see himself as just waiting tables! He was full of the Spirit and certainly wasn’t limited by his “job description!” 

4. What are ways that your current position, role, or job might contrast with your identity in Jesus? How can you live from your God given identity more?

Stephen went on to be killed by the crowds that day. Traditionally, he is viewed as the first Christian martyr. Some might see this as a loss for God, but he can use anything and turn it into good.  You might say there are no losers in the kingdom of God! While a great persecution broke out at that time and many more Christians died, the Gospel was also spread throughout the world as Christians fled from Israel and moved to safer places.  As they went the took their passion with them. 

5. What are ways that you’ve seen God use a terrible situation and bring good out of it?

Jesus knew that the disciples would endure hardships and persecutions.  He told them ahead of time, “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:19-20).

Then later in this same passage he says, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39).

I don’t think that Jesus is telling us to look for trouble or persecution, but it may come. This isn’t a surprise. Remember our definition of passion- “intense emotion for something that you are willing to suffer for.” The point that is sometimes missed is that IT’S WORTH IT. 

The gospel of Jesus is worth whatever persecution or suffering may come!  The way to proceed and endure is through the power of the Holy Spirit—life with God!  John Mark Comer writes that “…much is said about what to believe and what is right or wrong… but so little is said about a lifestyle that is conducive to life with God” (Practicing the Way, 25). In other words, is your life style leading you to God or away from him? Does it stir up your passion or deflate it?

6. How passionate are you about your life with God? What might be blocking it and what could you do about that?

GOING DEEPER> READ Psalm 34.  Read it again and consider our part vs. God’s part—perhaps make a list. Pray that God will stir up your passion for him and his ways!

(Download this study here.)

By: Peter Bales

No. 31, June 2, 2024

READ Acts 5:17-32. 

Think about what it means to be “true.” You might think of aiming a weapon, like a bow and arrow. If it is true then it will shoot straight—accurately and consistently. We also think of being true to ourselves, which often means not trying to fit in, but being who you naturally are. There’s no right or wrong way to do that, just be you!  

Of course there can be problems with both of these examples. How do we know what true is? We need to measure it against something. Consider lumber for building a house.  If you’ve ever used a 2x4, then you might have noticed that it’s not actually 2 inches by 4 inches—it’s smaller!  Over the years, for many reasons, the boards have changed.  They aren’t true 2x4s, they are nominal 2x4s. We know this because we can measure them.

1. What does being “true” mean to you? 

God is our standard. The word for aligning ourselves to his standard is: obedience.

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29), then he also said, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). Notice the word “obey” in those statements.

Most of us don’t like the word obey very much. We don’t like being told what to do. In fact, when we are told what to do, sometimes it makes us want to do it more! Anyone relate to that?

Think about how it works in relationships. Obedience is a good starting point, but if people do just the minimum it doesn’t feel very good.  If a husband just did the minimum that his wife asked that’s not as good as doing things out of love for each other.  As a parent we like it when our children obey, but we’d rather them do things out of love because they know we want the best for them.

2. How does it feel when someone just does the bare minimum in a relationship?

When we come to Jesus, we invite him to be our Lord and Savior. He becomes our King. That means that we are his servants, and we desire to obey him. It may sound harsh, but you can’t make Jesus Lord of your life and keep doing everything that you want to do! When we turn to follow Jesus, we leave our ways behind.

If you are trying to follow Jesus, but having trouble with obedience there are two main issues. First, God knows what’s best. He created us and he really knows what is best for us. Our ways will often get us in trouble or keep us from experiencing the best life that God created us for. The issue on the flip side of this is that it shows that we don’t really trust God. We still think that we know what’s best. Perhaps we are afraid to obey God because we aren’t sure how things will turn out.

One of the main roadblock’s to obedience is the fear of man. It’s another way of saying “people pleasing.” Remember that Peter said they had to obey God and not men. Even he could feel the pressure between what people wanted him to do verses God.

Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). In other words, our obedience reveals who we are trusting in! If we obey the Lord, it shows that we are trusting in the Lord.

3. What was a time when other people’s opinions have affected your decisions? How did it turn out?

Here’s another verse that might be helpful from Mark 8:15, “’Be careful,’ Jesus warned them. ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.’” What is the yeast of Herod? People pleasing! Herod represents the political spirit- the power that comes from persuading people and doing what is popular. We see this when Pilate allowed Jesus to be crucified even though he said “I find no fault in him” (Luke 23:4). Pilate was doing what men wanted rather than God. Jesus said watch out for this. Stay away! Don’t just do what is popular.

4. What were some other times in the Bible when following the crowd wasn’t a good idea?

When we are kids, rules to obey are important. It helps us stay safe and learn before we can understand why the rules are there. As we grow in our obedience we learn to not just obey because of the rules, but we obey because of love.  Think about this statement: “Mature obedience is less about God telling you everything to do and more about aligning your life to your new identity in Jesus.”

God doesn’t tell us everything we need to do in a day.  Instead, he wants us to grow in him and understand his ways. He has given us a new identity. Obeying God is acting like our true selves in Jesus! Aligning ourselves with him and what he says about us!

To know what he says, we must look at Scripture first of all. The Bible is our guidebook to understanding the ways of God. Then, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us interpret what the Bible says and how to apply it to our lives. Finally, we follow peace. God will help us discern what to do and when we need to adjust course.

In the end, obedience is a heart position. It’s a position of submitting ourselves to God and continually attempting to follow his leading in our lives. Then, like the Apostles, God can use us to do mighty things as he blesses the world through our obedience to him.

5. How can you grow in your obedience to God? What are your roadblocks?

(Download this study here.)

By: Peter Bales

No. 30, May 26, 2024

When I was a kid, I love to play with toys called Transformers. They looked like cars and trucks but would turn into action figures!  My favorite ones were an entire set of construction vehicles that would all combine to make one huge warrior that would fight off the bad guys!  Their theme song said, “More than meets the eye!”

Things aren’t always what they appear to you. It reminds me of trying to name colors with my wife. I might see grayish-blue and she will be adamant that it’s green!  HA!  We are looking at the same thing, but seeing something different! 

What did the crowds see with Jesus? Some thought he was a miracle worker, but others saw him as a criminal and had him crucified. What about the disciples? They were often considered trouble-makers that were stirring up trouble and leading people away from their Jewish traditions and religion! 

In Acts 3, God used Peter and John to heal a crippled man. The crowd was amazed. The next verse says, “Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. ‘People of Israel,’ he said, ‘what is so surprising about this?’” (Acts 3:12 NLT). 

Peter was definitely seeing things differently than the crowd. He saw an opportunity and wondered why they were surprised!

1. We can probably relate to the crowd’s reaction. What surprises you about Peter’s perspective and mindset here.

READ Acts 4:1-14. Peter and John had great boldness, despite getting thrown in jail and the threats made against them. Where did their courage come from? Verse 8 says that Peter was “filled with the Spirit” as spoke and gave all the glory to Jesus.

2. What was a time that God helped you do something extraordinary? Something that you know was beyond your own strength to do?
3. Have you ever noticed God’s power working in someone else? How did you know?

The religious leaders were so threatened by the disciples that they threw them in jail for the night. They wanted to do more, but they could not deny that a great miracle had taken place. Notice that they asked Peter, “By what power or what name did you do this?” (vs. 7). They knew something amazing had happened. They interrogated the disciples, then verse 14 tells us, “But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” It’s hard to argue with transformation, when it’s standing right in front of you!

4. What does the religious leaders actions tell us about their hearts and motives?
5. What are ways that we can be more open about the transformation in our lives?

The religious leaders saw the miracle, but the truth of the kingdom of God was hidden. This might remind us of a time when the Disciples asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” READ Matthew 13:10-17. 

6. After reading this, in your own words, why did Jeus speak in parables?
7. Why do you think that the truth is hidden from some people?
8. What has helped you discover truth and not get “calloused.” 

You might say the problem that many people have is that they simply aren’t looking! Like Jesus says, their eyes are closed. When they encountered Jesus, some thought he was just the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Others claimed he was a criminal and deserved to be crucified. Yet he was God! Others saw the disciples as simply “unschooled, ordinary men,” yet they were living in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

After the crippled man was healed, the disciples had more trouble and ended up in jail. On the surface we see persecution, but the disciples saw opportunities. They saw the kingdom expanding! Did the disciples run and hide? No, they seemed to only get more courageous! Here’s what they prayed after the ordeal: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30).

9. What was a time when you endured a hardship or struggle and realized afterward that it made you even more passionate and courageous?

Here’s a simple illustration to challenge us to consider what we see. We live life in the middle circle. This is our experience. It represents where we have been and our comfort zone. Places we know. The next circle is what we think might be possible. We all dream of accomplishing more. But there’s a limit. The outer circle might represent what we imagine is possible. The problem with this is that Jesus invites us to ask for the impossible. He may be calling us beyond what we’ve even imagined. It may be well outside the limits of what others think we can do. But this is the kingdom lifestyle. Living with a heavenly perspective. Seeing what Jesus sees! Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” I call this “living in the impossible!”

10. What is your greatest challenge to seeing from God’s point of view. What can you do to improve that?

(Download this study here.)

By: Peter Bales

No. 29, May 12, 2024

READ Acts 3:1-10.

The question we are considering today is, “What do we have?” So many times, when people get honest, they admit feeling inadequate and weak. Many of us are afraid that others will find out we don’t know what we are doing and that we are bluffing our way through life! Sound familiar!??

But we may be stronger than we even know. For example, let’s remember what happened to Moses. READ Exodus 4:1-5. Moses thought he wasn’t up to the job and he asked God to send someone else!  

1. How did God equip Moses for the task that Moses was called to?

How about another story? One time a large crowd was listening to Jesus teach for a long time. The disciples suggested sending them away to get food. Here’s what Jesus said: “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” (Mark 6:37-38)

Jesus took those 5 loaves and two fish and feed the multitude—and still had 12 basketfuls leftover! 

2. What can we learn from these stories about underestimating God?
3. What is a time where you didn’t have very much to offer and God multiplied it?

Let’s go back to the passage in Acts. Peter says, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The fact that the man is healed is amazing!  What’s also amazing is the way that he was healed. Peter must have known that he had something to give the man. We might call this a gift of faith and it’s mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9). It’s when you have extraordinary (even supernatural) faith that God is going to do something. Peter had that kind of faith and he told the man to get up and walk!

4. What did Peter have to offer the man?

Peter took a risk, but he knew what God could do. He had seen many healings and felt the Holy Spirit moving him to act. Peter encountered a need, and he took action. Many of us have tried to act in faith but it didn’t work out, so we got discouraged. We may not see results like Peter did on the first try, but we must continue to believe God and step out in faith. 

5. What was a time when you were disappointed in God? What encourages us to trust and try again?

Think about this- What would you do differently if you knew God was going to back you up and come through? What bold prayer would you pray?  What step of faith might you take? Peter saw the need and acted in faith. Sometimes, we get numb to the needs around us and just accept things. We’ve gotten comfortable or perhaps we feel powerless to make a difference. John Mark Comer says, “We are so used to death, disease, injustice, and chaos that we forget- they are the intruders in God’s good world” (John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way).

One of the main things that we have is our presence. We can make an impact just by being there. Why?  Because you are not just you anymore. You are doing life with God! God has poured out his Holy Spirit on us, so it’s never “just” us! When we encourage someone or try to meet a need, he is there to give us the power we need. He is our source of strength.

6. What is a time when God showed up in your life and surprised you?

Just like Peter, God helps us pray bold prayers. Why? Because he wants us to! In Matthew 17:20 Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Wow! He wants us to speak bold prayers and even speak to the ‘mountains’?! I don’t think he’s talking about literal mountains. He talking about problems that seem as big as mountains. He wants us to pray and ask for the impossible!

As we see with Peter in Acts 3, we want to remember what we have available to us—God is with us. When God is with us there is no lack! We have enough for every challenge. We also see that God will put opportunities right in front of us. We can ask Holy Spirit to lead us and then pray with boldness! For many of us, learning to live like this will feel like starting to use muscles that we’ve never used before! It takes time to practice and grow.

7. What are the places in your life that you feel challenged to take a step of faith?
8. What are the mountains that you can be speaking to? What are the challenges you want to overcome?

GOING DEEPER>>> READ Ephesians 3:14-21 and mediate on God’s love for you and invitation to dream big dreams!

(Download this study here.)

By: Peter Bales

No. 28, May 5, 2024

What was peer pressure like for you as a teenager? I remember the pressure to fit in and try to look cool. I wanted to have the right brand of clothes and I was always worried about my hair. Of course, it was never enough to make me fit with the cool kids, but I tried! Our community can lead us to dangerous things, but it can also be positive, depending on who your peers are!    

The Bible includes a story of when peer pressure really got the Israelites in trouble. Moses had been up on the mountain with God so long that people began to grumble and complain. They even convinced Aaron to melt their jewelry into a golden calf. Then they sacrificed to it and said that this calf was the god that brought them out of Egypt! Seems crazy to us, but throughout history we see times when the crowds did some senseless things. In this case, God commanded the Levites to punish the Israelites with the sword and Exodus 32:28 says, “…that day about three thousand of the people died.” It was a sad day, indeed!

We’ve been studying Acts 2 where God pours out the Holy Spirit. Read about Peter ending his message to the crowds in Acts 2:36-41.

1. What did Peter tell the crowds that they must do?
2. What else is interesting about Peter’s message to them?

When the law was given to Moses about 3000 were killed because they rebelled against God. When the Spirit was given in Acts about 3000 were added to the church!  This is an interesting parallel. Part of Peter’s message to them was about how Jesus fulfilled the covenant promises to Abraham and David. When Peter says, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah,” he is declaring that Jesus IS the fulfillment of these covenants! The crowd’s response was that “they were cut to the heart” (v37).

Let’s see what happens next. READ Acts 2:42-47.

3. Notice and list what these young believers did. What surprises you? 

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DOING STUFF!

As we read about what the early church was doing, we have to remember that it is in the context of the Holy Spirit being poured out on them. Sometimes we read these things that were happening and we try to duplicate it. We want the recipe! This brings us to an important question to ask as we study the Bible, “Is this descriptive or prescriptive?” Here’s what it means: 

Descriptive- This is just describing what happened then.

Prescriptive- This is describing what happened and what we are also supposed to do!

You can see why this is important to understand as we read the Bible. It can be a very difficult question to answer sometimes! 

4. What are some descriptive things about the early church that don’t necessarily apply to us?
5. What are some prescriptive practices about the early church that we are commanded to carry on? 

IT HAPPENED TOGETHER.

The key to learning how to apply Scripture to our own lives is to look for the timeless principles. What can we learn from these stories that we can also apply today in our own lives? One big theme that we see throughout is how these things happened as they did life with God together. The believers were assembled and after the Holy Spirit came, they met together even more!

Here are some principles we can draw out of this passage about how the believers did life together. First, something was happening that wasn’t ordinary. They were yielded to the Holy Spirit and something new was happening! They were living with common-unity, or community. It says that they were eating together, sharing their possessions, and had the favor of others. There was a unity going on—even between people that were quite different and wouldn’t normally get along at all!

6. In what ways do we see people yielding to God and living in common-unity today? How can we do this better?

Another trait that we see among the early believers was that they were selfless. This is not a surprise as we look at the example of Jesus, but what is surprising was how radical it was! They sold their possessions, gave to the needy, and shared what they had. Instead of living for themselves, they were sacrificially caring for each other and had a God-focus. They were in awe of the miracles God was doing and they praised God together.

7. What is the most surprising act of selflessness that you’ve witnessed for the Lord?

The way that the early believers lived was quite unusual, even in their day, but it was very attractive to those who saw how they were living. It wasn’t hyped or forced, but came from a sincere change in their lives and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Others saw how authentic it was and wanted to join. Therefore the community multiplied and spread rapidly! In summary, “They were yielded community—selfless, God-focused, attractive, and multiplying!”

Community is a buzz-word these days, but some of that comes as a reaction to extreme individuality. The definition of individual has changed drastically over the past 300 years. Before this time, it referred to something that was unified and inseparable. They were part of a larger whole.  In some ways, the focus on individuals has been good, but we must make sure we are paying attention to the importance of community. God designed our life with him to also be life together—with one another!

8. Why is it so difficult to live in community today?
9. What are ways we can improve this?

GOING DEEPER>> READ Ephesians 4:2-3 and meditate on how you bear with others in love. Then consider how it feels when others are humble, gentle, and patient with you.

(Download this study here.)

By: Peter Bales

No. 27, April 28, 2024 

Don’t you love when somebody predicts that something will happen and they say, “See, I told you so!” We may not appreciate their gloating in this case, but in a similar manner, God predicted things in the Old Testament that didn’t happen for centuries!  Let’s look at one of those occasions in Acts.  The Holy Spirit had just been poured out on the disciples and the crowds who were around, “…made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” READ more in Acts 2:14-21. 

This is a big moment.  Something incredible is going on.  Yet what does Peter get up and say? He says that THIS was prophesied by a guy named Joel hundreds of years ago!  This was that!

1. What sticks out to you in what Peter said to the crowds?

It’s interesting when the New Testament quotes from the Old Testament.  Often it may read a little differently because the Apostles were likely using a Greek version of the Hebrew Bible called the Septuagint that was translated around 250 BC. It’s also interesting because Peter quotes from the book of Joel.

We don’t know exactly when Joel was written.  The setting is during a plague of locusts when the Israelites were not following the ways of God.  In Joel 2:13 it says, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” The people are under the judgment of God, but he’s inviting them to repent!  Then we get to this passage in Joel 2:28-32 that Peter quotes from. It says that later, God will pour out his Spirit on all people! Peter stands up and says that “later” is now! 

2. What do you think it means that Joel’s prophecy came to pass when the Holy Spirit was poured out?

Is it confusing to hear that Peter said he was living in the “last days?” It might be helpful to think about this in context of the Covenant with Moses, or the “law” given in Exodus and Deuteronomy. After the Resurrection, God was doing a new thing and the time of the Mosaic Law was coming to an end! This ending of the “Age of Law” and the beginning of the New Covenant is in the background of the entire New Testament. For a period of time, there was overlap between the two. Scholars argue about the end of the Mosaic Law, but by the time that the temple was destroyed in 70 AD and then the Jews were either killed or driven out of Jerusalem in 135 AD, the Jewish sacrificial system that had been given to Moses was all but extinct and Judaism took an entirely different form.    

3. What are ways that you see the tension between the Law of Moses and the New Covenant in the New Testament? 

Joel says that the Spirit will be poured out on all people so that “sons and daughters will prophesy.” This can mean a lot of different things, but the simplest definition might say that to prophesy is to “say what God is saying.” Sometimes, it means something in the future, but often it’s just sharing God’s perspective and sharing a message from the Lord. However, just because you can prophesy doesn’t mean that you are a prophet!  The Bible emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is for everyone—we are all equipped to hear from the Lord and say what he is saying! 

4. How have you understood what prophesy is? How might this be different?
5. What are ways that you’ve been able to say what God is saying? How was it received? What is hard about this? 

The end of this passage in Joel has language of judgment, such as, “the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,” etc. These are the types of warnings common in the Bible about judgment coming to a people, often through invasion or physical hardships.  (The sun isn’t literally turned to darkness, of course.) Since Peter quotes this, how does the coming of the Holy Spirit relate to Judgment?

Let’s remember what John the Baptist said when he was talking about Jesus: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (John 3:11 NIV). The “baptism of fire” is usually thought to mean that God will bring judgment—a type of cleansing or purifying fire that makes things right.

Another way to think about this is that the coming of the Holy Spirit pushes back the darkness—it’s an inbreaking. It’s just like a light that comes on and makes the darkness go away! It’s interesting that when the Spirit came there were something like “tongues of fire” that separated over the heads of the believers that were gathered. 

In John 16: 18-19, Jesus spoke to Peter and told him, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [Hell]  will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The “gates of Hell” are no match for the Holy Spirit residing in the church! 

6. In what ways do you think that the coming of the Holy Spirit is connected to Judgment?
7. What are ways that you’ve seen the Holy Spirit come and “push back” the darkness?
8. What can we learn from Peter’s message about living with the Holy Spirit for today?

GOING DEEPER>> READ Hebrews 8 and consider how the New Covenant is different and “better” than the covenant of Moses.

(Download this study here.)

By: Erica Marchino (Edited by Peter Bales)

No. 25, April 14, 2024

Are you a good communicator? What about a good listener?

There’s a funny scene in the old Uncle Buck movie where he can’t get a word in over the phone because his wife is talking so much and not listening. Can anyone relate to that? Perhaps you’ve been the person trying to get a word in—or maybe you are the person who has trouble listening?  Communication is an important part of any relationship and requires both talking AND listening.

Communication is the sending and receiving of information. That’s how we form relationships- it’s how we get to know each other! Think of a young couple beginning to show interest in each other. They may spend hours on the phone telling stories or passing handwritten notes. This is a formative time for the relationship. Conversation is how you get to know someone. Spending time together, you find out who they are, what they like and dislike. These days we communicate through forms of social media or texting, which doesn’t always make it easier to build healthy relationships.

1. What was your communication like when you were forming a new friendship or dating your spouse? How has that changed?

We also learn to communicate and build relationship with God. One of those ways is through worship, which doesn’t just happen on Sunday morning. We can turn a car ride or an afternoon walk into worship to God! Another main way that we communicate with God is through his Word- the Bible. As we do, we partner with the Holy Spirit and listen for what he is saying though the Scriptures. If we want to build a personal relationship with Christ, we must learn to be consistent in prayer and then learn to listen for a response and the Bible is our foundation.

Priscilla Shires' study Discerning the Voice of God explores how we hear God speaking to us. Knowing and hearing His voice can be difficult for people. How do we listen? Will God really speak to us? I think it helps to think about who you are talking to in prayer.

How do you picture God as you are praying? When you pray do you go into the throne room and pray to a mighty powerful God? Or are you on a walk or having lunch with a more informal Jesus that’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt? Everyone is different on this. And it may look different to you on different days or in different situations.

2. How do you picture God interacting with you as you pray. What’s he doing?
3. What is hard for you about prayer?

READ Exodus 3:2-4. God used a very unique way to communicate with Moses!  In the Old Testament, God often spoke through prophets, signs, visions, or external forces. God has used many different ways to talk with us, but it’s not like talking to someone on the phone.

God spoke to Abraham (he was still called Abram at this point) in Genesis chapter 15 through a smoking firepot. God wrestled with Jacob later in Genesis chapter 32. It says that Jacob was alone and wrestled with a man till daybreak. He spoke to the slaves as He led them out of Egypt in Exodus Chapter 13 through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night!

4. What is the weirdest way that God has communicated with you? What is the main way he uses to talk to you?

In the New Testament, God continues to use people, thoughts, and experiences as He did before, but after Jesus died on the cross and ascended to Heaven, he sent us a Helper—the Holy Spirit. In the OT the Holy Spirit was only given to a specific person for a specific time. We see David cry out in Psalms 51:11 “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Can you imagine? No, we can’t! The day we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior we had access to the Holy Spirit as he came to live in us.

The primary way God speaks to us still today is through His word. In Experiencing God, Dr. Henery Blackabee writes, “It is really very simple. I always read the Word of God. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to bring me the mind and heart of God. When the Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God, I always know that I have the will of God and can proceed.”

You might be wondering where to start?  How do we become better communicators with God?  The starting place is the Bible, so consider how you can partner with the Holy Spirit as you read. As you find things that God is saying to you, write the date beside it and write a note in your Bible. Keep track in a journal somewhere. Then go back and see how that situation turned out in life. How did God answer or work it out? Maybe you didn’t get the answer that you expected, but perhaps God was still communicating with you.

Journalling can be an amazing way to hear God speaking. Write down what you think he’s saying and see what happens. The key is to have a rhythm of communicating with God and keep practicing! Find time each day for quiet or a devotional but the key is to make listening to God a priority. In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” He’s speaking with us!  We want to make sure we are listening and prepared to hear.

5. What are some of the ways God is still communicating with us? What’s easiest for you?
6. What is a spiritual discipline that helps you communicate with God?
7. What is one small thing that might make a big difference in your communication with God?