Transition. It's a word we're hearing often these days. Other words for it are evolving, shifting, and changing. We've always used these words to describe our times, but for the first time we're applying them to the little league season, vacation plans, the school year, and going out to eat. Roll into one all the transitions causing upheaval in your life right now, and you still don't even come close to the transition you'll discover in Acts 10. Read vs. 1-23 and check off what you see as cataclysmic changes. Experience a settled peace that can help you weather any change.
What does that term bring to mind for you? Do you have a positive initial reaction, or are you somewhat turned off by that description? This weekend we are introduced to a Roman Centurion, a “God-Fearer,” whose prayer-time is interrupted by God fueling his passion to find out more about Jesus.
Jesus Christ heals you
Those were Peter's words to a man who had been paralyzed for eight years. Shortly after, in the same name of Jesus, Peter raised a woman from the dead. If only Jesus could do the same things among us today. COVID would lose its threat. Death would lose its power. We could live a different kind of life. He can. He does. This is the Jesus we adore and worship. This is the Jesus who sets his table before us again this weekend. This is the Christ who makes us whole. If only he were here now? He is. That’s why we gather with God's people to worship and adore him.
If asked to name a favorite disciple of Jesus, most of us wouldn’t quickly think of Barnabas. Our study of Acts might just change that. May the Spirit bless you through the record of his service. More than history and more than an example; his life is a testimony to the power of the gospel that is also at work in you. If God so used Barnabas for such grand things, who knows how me might use you. Register to receive 250-word devotions on this same text, Monday – Friday, at st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
The last 15 weeks have truly been a challenge, haven't they? Perhaps for you it's been a roller coaster of emotions, spiritual challenges, and the grind of constantly changing information and lack of routines. This week, some normalcy is returning. We will be able to, for the first time in 15 weeks, gather on-site for worship. Today we will pause our Acts series and learn from the Apostle Paul what it is to rejoice in the LORD always!
You could say of very few, "That person turned the world upside down." But you could say that of the Apostle Paul. What's even more dramatic is the same Spirit who turned Paul upside down has turned you upside down and is turning our world upside down today through Paul's words. You can run from the Spirit, but you better keep looking over your shoulder, because you can't outrun him. May the Spirit bless your love for his Word. To receive 250-word devotions on this same text, Acts 9:1-19, this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
In our study of the Book of Acts this weekend, we come to two people who couldn't have been more different. Philip was a Jew; the man he met was a Gentile. Philip was a Christian; the man he met was a pagan. Philip was (likely) not wealthy; the man he met was. Philip was white; the man he met was black. What could they possibly have in common? How could they possibly live in peace? Read Acts 8:26-40, pray for the Spirit to teach you how to give grace to every race, and join us online for help and courage to do so.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 8:26-40 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Jesus encountered a man who said that. But it could have been any of us. Every one of us has at times felt a disconnect between our faith and our life. In the section of Acts before us today, a man demonstrates that disconnection. He's outside the kingdom of God. Then through the Spirit's gift of faith, he's inside the kingdom of God. But that's when things get interesting. Read about Simon the Sorcerer, Acts 8:9-25, and ask the Spirit to bless his Word to you today.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 8:9-25 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
“There was great joy…” What brings you great joy? Throughout this season, perhaps joy has been a challenge to find. Perhaps it, like Charlie Brown's football, seems to always elude you. We could say it is our circumstances, all that is happening, but the words above are written at a time of great displacement and persecution and yet great joy. Today we will see how God crosses cultural boundaries and brings his great joy.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 8:4-8 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Who is the greatest baseball player who ever lived? Dimaggio? Robinson? Oliva? Rodrigez? Or substitute for "baseball player" the greatest runner, the greatest author, the greatest president, or whatever your hobby is. Who is the greatest? In the slice of first century history called The Book of Acts, we encounter a man we might call the greatest in many ways. Study Acts 8:1-3 with us this weekend and meet him. Let God speak to you through his Word in our worship services, in the Sunday night Growth Group, and in daily devotions. It won't make any of us the greatest, but we will better appreciate how God works in today's world . . . and in your world.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 8:1-3 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Have you ever wondered how your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents weathered the hardships of the Great Depression? Their stories of suffering are harrowing to most of us. In our more reflective moments, maybe more likely these days, we might ask, "How would I handle that?" God has an answer for you. He delivers it through his servant Stephen. Find Acts 7:54-60 and join us to receive God’s answer in our online worship. Let Stephen show you how your suffering, whatever it is, will lead to glory.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 7:54-60 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Though we won't be able to pet sheep this weekend, we have the wonderful privilege of seeing Jesus, our Good Shepherd, one more time. Stephen, as he preaches his first and last sermon, his funeral testimony, he recounts for us the tremendous love of God, the Good Shepherd, for his people throughout history. We will see his love and grace transcend nations, locations, isolation, time, and even rejection by his stiff-necked sheep. This is our loving Good Shepherd!
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 7:1-53 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
How did you get the face of an angel? No, this weekend our theme isn't about a beauty makeover, although in a way it is. Nor is it a listing of cheesy pickup lines, although this one ain't bad. This question is prompted by deep theology inspired by the Holy Spirit, demonstrated by St. Stephen, and now passed on to us. We’re glad you joined us online to study Acts 6:8-15 and to receive the Spirit's blessing through it.
Can you believe this is already our 7th weekend of virtual worship? We've been blessed to receive the powerful gospel message via video, but we can't wait to be together face-to-face again. It seems likely that when we again gather we will at first be restricted to smaller groups than the several hundred people we’re used to. Our Minister of Worship, Ms. Laabs and her worship teams are discussing what that might look like for us. We'll keep you posted while this fluid situation unfolds. God-willing, soon we will be able to receive the Lord's Supper the way our Lord Jesus intended, together.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 6:8-15 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Show me a perfect church and . . . I'll show you heaven. Dr. Luke records how the earliest
Easter people sometimes didn't act like Jesus came out of the grave. But then, because they
knew he did, they repented and set a new course. Sounds like us. Luke didn’t record the
book of Acts to hold up the early Christian church as an impossible example to follow. His
purpose was to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the
growth of Jesus' church. And that sounds like us, too. We are glad you found us and invite
you to contact us if we can serve you.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 6:1-7 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
The four-year-old looked up from her chicken nuggets and announced to her parents,
“We’re all gonna die.” Her parents looked up startled and fearful they had allowed her to
see too much COVID coverage on TV. But then she continued matter-of-factly, “But Jesus
moved the stone.” No matter what has happened in this world or will happen, the best
news is this: Jesus moved the stone. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is true. Let’s
celebrate it together, even from a distance.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 5:29-33 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
We don’t dwell on it, at least not most of us, but from time to time something happens that
makes us give some thought to what our final words might be. History has recorded the last
words of some famous people. But none matter more that the final words Jesus Christ
spoke from the cross. They demonstrate not only did he know how to live and die, but
because of his words, we know how to live and die. May Jesus bless your meditation on his
final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Jesus on the night of his betrayal, pauses to invest in his disciples one by one as he gathers
in the upper room with them. He pauses to show his love for each of them - love that
confronts sin but also forgives. Jesus uses the same one by one approach with us as he
displays his love for us on his way to the cross and empty tomb.
On Palm Sunday, the crowds turn out waving palm branches, laying their coats, and cheering for Jesus. A few months later, the whole city is astir again as Jesus' disciples are, by faith, healing the sick, driving out demons, caring for the poor, and proclaiming life in Jesus’ name. The faith-filled excitement collides with the cold, selfish, fearful jealousy of the religious leaders. Today we see how two groups are stirred up, one by jealousy, and a second by faith.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 5:17-26 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad
I can't count how many people I've talked to recently who are struggling with fear, anxiety, and worry. Isolation, pandemic, and an invisible illness that can infect without one's knowledge is all a bit terrifying and like something out of a novel or the movies. Perhaps that's why Outbreak is one of the top movies streaming on Netflix right now. This weekend we turn our focus from what we are currently enveloped in to see our Savior's powerful hand at work in his early church. As we gather digitally this weekend, we will see how Jesus used signs and wonders to give legitimacy to his apostles while also providing a message so contagious that the region came to experience it, and many were added to their numbers.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 5:12-16 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
This week in our study of Acts we meet two interesting characters: Ananias and Sapphira. They're beautiful names, aren't they? But they rank right down there with Judas in the biography of Biblical characters. Why? For the same reason you've noticed shelves devoid of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Their greed. Our study of Acts is taking us deeply into every area of our lives. It takes courage to let the Spirit do that, but it’s how the Spirit works. Grab your favorite mug and fill it with coffee, tea or, as some do, just hot water. Know that your brothers and sisters around the region are doing the same. May Jesus bless your attention to his Word.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 5:1-11 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Tom Wilsmann
People have always known Christians are different. The Book of Acts shows us in the first few chapters two ways that difference was apparent: how they died and how they viewed economics. Christians' drastic and unreasonable generosity was one reason they gained attention and turned the world upside down. God's grace breaks the power of money over us and makes us more generous. God's grace to us makes giving that grace to others our greatest thrill.
To receive 250-word devotions on Acts 4:32-37 this week, Monday – Friday,
go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Kelly Huet