adding new leaders

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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adding new leaders

Acts 6:1-7 (JDV)

Acts 6:1 However, in those days, when the disciples were increasing, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
Acts 6:2 The Twelve called for the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be acceptable for us to leave preaching the word of God to assist with tables.
Acts 6:3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men testified about, full of the Breath and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.
Acts 6:4 But we ourselves will stay busily engaged in prayer and assisting people with the word.”
Acts 6:5 This word pleased the whole company. So they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and the Sacred Breath, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.
Acts 6:6 They had them stand before the missionaries, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

adding new leaders

As the congregation in Jerusalem grew, it became necessary to add more leaders. The complaint from the Hellenistic Jews was merely the catalyst for this change. If these leaders had not been added, the primary purposes of the Twelve (proclaiming the gospel; teaching the kingdom, and prayer) would have been slowed down by their administrative responsibilities. So, the congregation wisely chose to add these leaders.

Notice that the names of these men indicate that they were part of the group that had voiced the complaint: they were Hellenistic Jews. These men were respected in the community already, and would be well accepted as leaders.

Lord, give us the wisdom to recognize when a change in leadership is needed, and to choose new leaders wisely.

complaints don’t have to kill! (video)

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purpose for the rescue

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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purpose for the rescue

Acts 5:17-42 (JDV)

Acts 5:17 Then the high priest got up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
Acts 5:18 So they forced hands on the missionaries and put them in the jail publicly.
Acts 5:19 But an agent from the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,
Acts 5:20 “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.”
Acts 5:21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin — the full council of the Israelites — and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.
Acts 5:22 But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,
Acts 5:23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
Acts 5:24 As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.
Acts 5:25 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
Acts 5:26 Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.
Acts 5:27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked,
Acts 5:28 “Didn’t we strictly direct you not to teach in this name? Notice, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Acts 5:29 Peter and the missionaries reacted, “We must obey God rather than people.
Acts 5:30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, on whom you had laid violent hands by hanging him on a tree.
Acts 5:31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of failures.
Acts 5:32 We are testifiers of these things, and so is the Sacred Breath whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5:33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to take them out.
Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, got up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.
Acts 5:35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men.
Acts 5:36 Some time ago Theudas got up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was taken out, and all his persuaded ones were dispersed and came to nothing.
Acts 5:37 After this man, Judas the Galilean got up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also was destroyed, and all his persuaded ones were scattered.
Acts 5:38 And now, I am saying to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. If this plan or this work is that of humans, it will be torn down;
Acts 5:39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to tear them down. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
Acts 5:40 After they called for the missionaries and had them flogged, they directed them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.
Acts 5:41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.
Acts 5:42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

purpose for the rescue

The God who rescued the believers in Jerusalem from their sins proves himself capable of rescuing them from their enemies. He sometimes uses divine agents (angels) as he did when he broke the missionaries out of jail. Sometimes he intervenes through human agents, as he did through the wise counsel of Gamaliel. In each case, the purpose for the rescue was to continue the believers’ witness to the life available in Christ. The results of the rescue were joyful worship, and constant evangelism.

Lord, we will keep proclaiming your gospel, and trust you to keep rescuing us from anything that might prevent us from reaching the nations with the good news.

Fried chicken and TV is not the purpose for our rescue! (video)

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the dedicated dozen

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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the dedicated dozen

Acts 5:12-16 (JDV)

Acts 5:12 Many signs and marvels were being done among the people through the hands of the missionaries. They were all with the same passion in Solomon’s Colonnade.
Acts 5:13 No one else had the audacity to stick with them, but the people spoke well of them.
Acts 5:14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers – multitudes of both men and women.
Acts 5:15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
Acts 5:16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean breaths, and they were all healed.

the dedicated dozen

Scholars are not in agreement on the referent of the phrase “They were all with the same passion” in verse 12. Does it refer to all of the believers, or all of the missionaries (the twelve apostles)?

My guess is that Luke was referring to the twelve missionaries who met daily and preached at Solomon’s Colonnade. Luke explains that this group did not grow because people were afraid to join them, but that everyone respected them.

This dedicated dozen formed a core ministry group. They would preach once a day at the temple area, and go about from place to place throughout the city.

At least some among this core ministry group had gifts of healing. Peter is mentioned here as an example. The purpose of the healing ministry was to draw people’s attention to the preaching ministry, so that new believers were always being added to the Lord.

Lord, thank you for those who minister and lead in our congregations. May they always have the same passion, and use all their gifts to build up your church.

two characteristics of New Testament leadership (video)

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death of a good couple

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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death of a good couple

Acts 5:1-11 (JDV)

Acts 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
Acts 5:2 However, he put aside for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the missionaries’ feet.
Acts 5:3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Sacred Breath and put aside for yourself from the proceeds of the land?
Acts 5:4 Didn’t it stay yours while it stayed with you? And after it was sold, wasn’t it under your jurisdiction? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”
Acts 5:5 When he heard these words, Ananias fell and stopped breathing, and a great fear came on all who heard.
Acts 5:6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Acts 5:8 “Tell me,” Peter reacted to her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
Acts 5:9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Breath of the Lord? Notice, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Acts 5:10 Instantly she fell at his feet and stopped breathing. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.
Acts 5:11 Then great fear came on the whole congregation and on all who heard these things.

death of a good couple

Ananias and Sapphira had many admirable qualities , and gave every impression of being a good couple.

  • They were not in conflict with each other, but acted in unity.
  • They were committed church members.
  • They were even generous.

But this “good couple” died that day because God does not want to endorse hypocrisy and pretense. He is looking for genuine believers who are committed to reaching their community with the gospel, not just appearing to do so.

Lord, fill our congregations with honestly good couples and good individuals who are more interested in integrity than appearance.

What was wrong with this good couple?

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community, not communism

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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community, not communism

Acts 4:32-37 (JDV)

Acts 4:32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and throat, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
Acts 4:33 With great power the missionaries were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was on all of them.
Acts 4:34 You see, there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,
Acts 4:35 and laid them at the missionaries’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.
Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the missionaries called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),
Acts 4:37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the missionaries’ feet.

community, not communism

The special relationship that the believers had in Jerusalem was indeed a commitment to each other, but it was not an instance of communism. Here’s why:

  • They made their choices not based on a political dogma, but based on their mission to spread the gospel.
  • They were able to do what they did because they owned private land which they had the power to sell.
  • Their goal was not to establish a distribution system, but to meet needs within their own congregation.
  • They entrusted their resources not to the state, but to the missionaries.

Lord, give us a passion for sharing your gospel that makes us want to share our resources with the needy among us.

What did that deacon say?

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prayers of a gospel congregation

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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prayers of a gospel congregation

Acts 4:23-31 (JDV)

Acts 4:23 After they were let go, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Acts 4:24 When they heard this, they lifted up their voices with the same passion to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the sky, the land, and the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 4:25 You said through the Sacred Breath, by the mouth of our ancestor David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things?
Acts 4:26 The kings of the land take their stand and the rulers assemble at the same place against the Lord and against his Messiah.
Acts 4:27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your devoted servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
Acts 4:28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, give attention to their threats, and grant that your slaves may speak your word with all boldness,
Acts 4:30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and marvels are performed through the name of your devoted servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Sacred Breath and began to speak the word of God boldly.

prayers of a gospel congregation

The prayers mentioned in this passage serve as a pattern for the prayers of a congregation which is focused on reaching its community with the gospel.

They are scriptural prayers. They show how God dealing with the congregation is consistent with how he has dealt with the faithful in the past.

They are relevant prayers. They reflect on what is currently happening — good or bad.

They are missionary prayers, seeking boldness to obey the Great Commission.

They are effective prayers. They change things because God wants to change things through them.

Lord, make us people who pray these kinds of prayers. Make our churches gospel congregations.

watch today’s video

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how to handle opposition

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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how to handle opposition

Acts 4:1-22 (JDV)

Acts 4:1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,
Acts 4:2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 4:3 So they forced hands on them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening.
Acts 4:4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Acts 4:5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem
Acts 4:6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.
Acts 4:7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”
Acts 4:8 Then Peter was filled with the Sacred Breath and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:
Acts 4:9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was rescued,
Acts 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised up from the dead – by him this man is standing here before you healthy.
Acts 4:11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the head corner.
Acts 4:12 There is rescue in no one else, for there is no other name under the sky given to people by which it is necessary to rescue us.”
Acts 4:13 When observing the boldness of Peter and John and realizing that they had been uneducated and amateur men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:14 And since they were seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
Acts 4:15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves,
Acts 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? Because an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone residing in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
Acts 4:17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”
Acts 4:18 So they called for them and directed them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:19 Peter and John reacted to them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;
Acts 4:20 because we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:21 After threatening them further, they let them go. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.
Acts 4:22 You see, this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.

how to handle opposition

This story is in our gospel guidebook because God wants us to know that we will face opposition in our attempts to share Christ.

The principle is this: boldly do as much good as you can in order to draw attention to the difference Jesus can make. When you do, expect people to be annoyed at the rocking boat. Use this opposition to do the same thing: proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. When people pressure you to keep your faith quiet, don’t give in to the pressure. Do what God wants, and let him take care of the results.

Lord, make us people who intentionally draw attention to you, even when others want us to draw back.

watch today’s video

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a Jesus centered gospel message

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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a Jesus centered gospel message

Acts 3:12-26 (JDV)

Acts 3:12 When Peter saw this, he reacted to the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness?
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
Acts 3:14 You denied the Sacred and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you.
Acts 3:15 You killed the source of life, whom God raised up from the dead; we are testifiers of this.
Acts 3:16 And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you observe and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this completeness in front of all of you.
Acts 3:17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.
Acts 3:18 In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets – that his Messiah would endure this.
Acts 3:19 Therefore seriously change your mind and turn back, so that your mistakes may be wiped out,
Acts 3:20 that periods of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.
Acts 3:21 The sky must welcome him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his devoted prophets an age ago.
Acts 3:22 In fact, Moses said: The Lord your God will get a prophet up for you like me from among your brothers and sisters. You must listen to everything he tells you.
Acts 3:23 And every throat who does not listen to that prophet will be eliminated from the people.
Acts 3:24 “In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days.
Acts 3:25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the land will be blessed through your posterity.
Acts 3:26 God got his servant up and sent him first to you to empower you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”

a Jesus centered gospel message

Peter takes advantage of this new window dressing miracle to preach another Jesus centered gospel message. He explains who Jesus is. He explains why Jesus had to die, and why he was raised from the dead. He offers hope of renewal and future blessing through Christ. And he predicts the second coming of Christ, along with a warning that those who refuse to trust in Jesus today, will be eliminated at his return. He even hints at the mission of these Israelites, because he says that God sent Jesus “first to you.” Once they receive Jesus, he will send them to the gentiles with this same gospel message.

Lord, show us how to spread the gospel message about Jesus.

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when the fixture jumped

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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when the fixture jumped

Acts 3:1-11 (JDV)

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer (the ninth).
Acts 3:2 Some man – lame from the womb – was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those coming into the temple.
Acts 3:3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for charity.
Acts 3:4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.”
Acts 3:5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them.
Acts 3:6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
Acts 3:7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.
Acts 3:8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God.
Acts 3:9 All the people saw him walking and praising God,
Acts 3:10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and a condition of ecstasy at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.

when the fixture jumped

Just like the miracle at Pentecost, the healing of the lame beggar was not supposed the be an end of itself. It too was window dressing, aimed at drawing a crowd so that the onlookers could hear the gospel. The beggar had been a fixture to the temple courts. Everyone expected to see him when they entered. But when he was there jumping around and praising God, they would all want to know what caused the change.

We should pray daily for those who are in bondage, and crippling diseases or injuries create a bondage. Our prayers should target those cases of bondage and ask God to bring those people to freedom from them. But we cannot afford to let our prayers stop there. We need to pray for healing as a means to openness to the gospel.

Lord, help us to mold our prayers so that they lead people to the gospel.

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every day

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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every day

Acts 2:42-47 (JDV)

Acts 2:42 They stayed busily engaged in the missionaries’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Acts 2:43 Every throat was filled with fear, and many marvels and signs were being performed through the missionaries.
Acts 2:44 Now all the believers were at the same place and held all things in common.
Acts 2:45 They were selling their possessions and property and divided up the proceeds among everyone, whenever any had need.
Acts 2:46 Every day they stayed busily engaged, meeting together with the same passion in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with delight and sincerity of heart,
Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to the same place those who were being rescued.

every day

We could transform our individual spiritual lives, our congregations, and our community if we seriously applied merely two words of this passage. Those two words are “every day.”

The Pentecost congregation got into the word every day.
They stayed connected with each other every day.
They ate with each other every day.
They prayed for each other every day.
They shared with the needy whenever a need presented itself.
They met at the temple every day.
They went from house to house every day.
They praised God every day.
They enjoyed the favor of the community every day.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the Lord added to their numbers, not weekly, but daily. They were a congregation on a mission. That is the kind of congregation the Lord wants to add to.

Lord, make us a congregation on a mission. Instill in us a passion that cannot be fulfilled on a mere weekly basis.

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