The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States Weekly Devotions: Grow Pray Study Guide - "Peter the denier, restored, preached boldly (and effectively)" for Saturday, 23 September 2017

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States Weekly Devotions: Grow Pray Study Guide - "Peter the denier, restored, preached boldly (and effectively)" for Saturday, 23 September 2017
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Ø Questions marked with this symbol are particularly recommended for group discussion. Group leaders may add other discussion questions, or substitute other questions for the marked ones, at their discretion.

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"Peter the denier, restored, preached boldly (and effectively)"

Saturday, 23 September 2017

Acts 2:1

The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim religious Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Jews by birth and proselytes; Jews from Crete and from Arabia. . . ! How is it that we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done?” 12 Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?” 13 But others made fun of them and said, “They’ve just had too much wine!”

14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!

15 “These people aren’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el:

17 ‘Adonai says:

“In the Last Days,

I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,

will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;

and they will prophesy.

19 I will perform miracles in the sky above

and signs on the earth below —

blood, fire and thick smoke.

20 The sun will become dark

and the moon blood

before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes.

21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)]

22 “Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua from Natzeret was a man demonstrated to you to have been from God by the powerful works, miracles and signs that God performed through him in your presence. You yourselves know this. 23 This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and, through the agency of persons not bound by the Torah, you nailed him up on a stake and killed him!

24 “But God has raised him up and freed him from the suffering of death; it was impossible that death could keep its hold on him., 37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call!”

40 He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”

41 So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.

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Did Jesus’ restoration of Peter make a difference? Oh, yes! Pentecost was the Hebrew harvest festival, and came 50 days after Passover. On this day of Pentecost, just 50 days after the Passover when Jesus died on the cross, God sent the Holy Spirit in a powerful way. Some skeptics claimed the Spirit-filled Christians must have started drinking early. Peter, who just 50 days earlier had feared to call Jesus his Lord even to a servant girl, now forcefully told them this wasn’t inebriation. It was God pouring out the Spirit, as promised in Joel 2:28. The Spirit used Peter’s bold preaching of Jesus as Savior to touch so many hearts that it changed the disciples from a tiny, almost irrelevant group to a movement of thousands.

• Peter quoted some scary-sounding images from Joel: “wonders in the heavens,” “blood and fire and smoke.” He ended the quotation at the key point: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How can that message make earth’s problems less scary to you? Peter said, “This Jesus, God raised up. We are all witnesses to that fact” (verse 32). The Jerusalem authorities and Roman rulers hated that message. They might have easily proved Peter and the early Christians wrong by just producing Jesus' dead body. But Peter knew they couldn’t do that, because it wasn’t there. How does “this Jesus, God raised up” provide hope to your outlook on life and death?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, through the Spirit’s power, the same Peter who denied even knowing you at Passover boldly preached your victory 50 days later at Pentecost. Send your power into my life, stirring me to live boldly for you. Amen.

Family Activity: Jesus asked Peter to share God’s love with others. How does your family work together to share God’s love with others? Select a way to serve others together. Ask an older child or youth to research some volunteer opportunities in your area. He or she could explore the church website (cor.org) for mission ministries in which your family can participate. Consider brainstorming about some less-structured ways you can serve others with God’s love such as helping others in your neighbor or at school. At a family gathering, ask the child or youth to present these opportunities to the rest of the family. Pray and ask God’s guidance as you discuss the possibilities. Choose one or two ways your family can share God’s love with others.

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Dave MaGee
Dave has served in rezlife Student Ministries since 2006, serving as the Director since 2013.
Dave grew up in a large UMC in the Houston, Texas area, attended Vanderbilt University for college, and went to Duke University for seminary. He has served in full time youth ministry since 1999.
In ministry Dave has a passion for teaching the Bible and theology, leading missions, and raising up student leaders. In his free time, Dave is an enormous sports fan, especially SEC football and Duke Blue Devils basketball.
I have had the privilege of growing up in and being part of a church my entire life. I primarily grew up going to a large United Methodist Church in Houston, stayed involved in my faith while in college, attended seminary, and then have served as a youth minister since finishing seminary. Hopefully both in my internal and external faith live I have sought to become a deeply committed Christian. But I have a confession to make. It really wasn’t until around 2 years ago that I truly invited the full Triune God into my life. Let me explain…
A couple years ago I was with a group of fellow Christians and I asked them: "If you had to answer the question: Out of 100% - how much of your faith life, church life, sermons you’ve heard, Bible studies you’ve been part of (etc.) has been focused upon the different parts of the Trinity - the Father, Jesus the Son, or the Holy Spirit? Would each one be equal at 33.33% or have some parts of the Trinity been more focused upon than others?” What was interesting was among that group of faithful believers, some said that the Father had been the most focused on, maybe 50-60%, others said Jesus had the most focus, 50% or more, but every person in the group agreed that 3rd on their list of 3 was the Holy Spirit, many saying only 10% or so of their focus.
I decided that from that time forward I needed to invite the Holy Spirit into my life in a more intentional way than ever before. The verses in Acts 2 share that God will “pour out my Spirit,” and when that Spirit fills people their lives are changed! I believe God is present in all times and places, and as Romans 8 tells us nothing can separate us from the love of God. But why hadn’t I been daily asking the Spirit of God to pour into me? If I potentially have the capacity to be filled with the love, power, and presence of God, why hadn’t I been seeking with all my might for that to be part of my life? For the last couple years I have been purposefully saying the name of the Holy Spirit when I pray. In moments of need, or weakness, or unknowns I have been praying that the Holy Spirit might fill me.
Maybe you are a little like me and you’ve been living and focusing in awesome ways upon the Father and the Son. Consider adding into your daily prayer life and walk with God the humble request that might change your life – “God pour out your Holy Spirit on me.”

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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:

• Mary Maughn and family on the death of her sister, Rita Knipstein, 9/12

• Suzanne Capps and family on the death of her husband Norman Capps, 9/10

• Steve and Tom Langhofer and families on the death of their mother Phyllis Langhofer, 9/9

• Wendell Lady and family on the death of his sister Phyllis Langhofer, 9/9

• Dan and Emma Entwistle and family on the death of their son Hunter Entwistle, 9/8

• Denise Mersmann and family on the death of her aunt Darlene Powell, 9/6

• Family and friends of Carol Morel on her death, 9/6

• Angela Green and Family on the death of her uncle Melvin F. Sayers, 9/5

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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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