the dedicated dozen

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
red orange and green printed eggs screenshot
Photo by Boris Manev on Pexels.com

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

The phrase “They were all with the same passion” in Acts 5:12 has generated real discussion among scholars, because the grammar allows more than one possible referent. Some argue that Luke meant the entire body of believers, emphasizing the unity and spiritual harmony of the early church. Others believe the phrase points specifically to the apostles, highlighting their shared commitment to public ministry in the temple courts. The text itself does not settle the question definitively, which is why interpreters continue to weigh both possibilities.

The context, however, leans toward understanding the phrase as referring to the twelve missionaries. Luke has been describing their public ministry in Solomon’s Colonnade, a location where they regularly gathered to teach, preach, and perform signs. Immediately after the phrase, Luke notes that “no one else dared join them,” a statement that makes better sense if the referent is the apostles rather than the entire congregation. The general population held them in high esteem, but the intensity of their ministry—and the recent judgment of Ananias and Sapphira—made people hesitant to attach themselves casually to this group.

This dedicated dozen formed a recognizable core ministry team. Their pattern was consistent: daily proclamation in the temple area, followed by movement throughout the city as they visited homes, encouraged believers, and announced the gospel to those who had not yet heard. Their unity was not merely emotional but vocational. They shared a calling, a message, and a rhythm of ministry that shaped the life of the early church.

Within this group, some possessed particular gifts of healing. Luke highlights Peter as an example, not to elevate him above the others but to illustrate how God used these gifts to draw attention to the message. The healings were never ends in themselves. They served the larger purpose of gospel proclamation. As crowds gathered in response to the miracles, the apostles preached Christ, and the Lord continued to add new believers. The signs pointed to the word, and the word produced faith.

This passage portrays a ministry team marked by unity, courage, and Spirit‑empowered effectiveness. Their shared passion fueled their mission, and their mission shaped the growth of the church.

Lord, thank you for those who minister and lead in congregations. Grant them the same passion, and empower every gift they possess for the building up of your church.

two characteristics of New Testament leadership (video)

Posted in leadership, ministry, missions, spiritual gifts | Tagged | Leave a comment

death of a good couple

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
burial cemetery countryside cross
Photo by Mike on Pexels.com

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 present a sobering picture of how outward goodness can mask inward corruption. Their story is unsettling precisely because they were not obvious rebels or opponents of the church. They appeared to be everything a congregation would hope for in a faithful couple. Their lives, at least on the surface, displayed qualities that any community of believers would admire.

They acted in unity. There was no division between them, no evidence of marital conflict or competing agendas. Their decision was shared, deliberate, and coordinated. Many couples struggle to find such agreement, yet their unity was tragically directed toward deception rather than devotion.

They were committed members of the church. They were present, involved, and known among the believers. Their participation in the life of the congregation was not casual. They were part of the movement of God in Jerusalem, witnessing miracles, hearing apostolic teaching, and joining in the fellowship of the saints.

They were generous. They sold property and brought a significant portion of the proceeds to the apostles. Many would have praised such an act. Their giving was real, not imaginary. They contributed in a way that would have blessed others and supported the ministry.

Yet this “good couple” died that day because God refused to allow hypocrisy to take root in the early church. Their sin was not the amount they gave but the pretense they maintained. They wanted the reputation of sacrificial generosity without the reality of it. They desired the honor of holiness without the cost of integrity. In a moment when the gospel was advancing with purity and power, God made it unmistakably clear that deceit had no place among a people called to bear witness to His truth.

The judgment of Ananias and Sapphira stands as a warning that God values authenticity over appearance. He seeks believers whose lives match their confession, whose generosity flows from sincerity, and whose commitment to the mission is genuine rather than performative. The health of a congregation depends not on the number of people who look good but on the number who are good—honest, humble, and wholehearted.

Lord, fill congregations with truly good couples and individuals whose integrity strengthens the witness of the gospel and whose lives reflect the truth they proclaim.

What was wrong with this good couple?

Posted in commitment, discipleship, hypocrisy, integrity | Tagged | Leave a comment

community, not communism

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
ground group growth hands
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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

TThe fellowship described in Jerusalem was marked by extraordinary generosity and unity, yet it was not an early form of communism. It was a Spirit‑driven expression of love shaped by mission, not by political ideology. The believers acted freely, joyfully, and purposefully because the gospel had reordered their priorities and opened their hearts to one another.

Their choices were rooted in the mission Christ had given them. The early church understood itself as a community sent into the world to proclaim the risen Lord. Every decision flowed from that calling. Their generosity was not an attempt to build a new political or economic system; it was a practical response to the needs created by a rapidly growing missionary movement. The gospel, not a theory of economics, shaped their actions.

Their ability to give was grounded in the fact that they possessed private property. Scripture repeatedly notes that individuals owned land and houses, and that they sold these possessions voluntarily. Nothing was confiscated. Nothing was mandated. The apostles did not require communal ownership, nor did the church abolish personal stewardship. The generosity of the believers was meaningful precisely because it was chosen, not coerced.

Their aim was not to create a universal distribution system but to meet the needs within their own congregation. The believers in Jerusalem were facing unique pressures—persecution, displacement, and the sudden arrival of new converts from many regions. Their giving was targeted, relational, and pastoral. It was the family of God caring for its own members so that no one would be left behind as the gospel advanced.

Their resources were entrusted not to a governing authority but to the apostles, who were missionaries and shepherds. The church placed its gifts into the hands of those who were proclaiming Christ and guiding the community. This was an act of spiritual trust, not political allegiance. The apostles used these resources to support the ministry and to care for those in need, demonstrating that generosity and mission were inseparable.

Lord, cultivate in congregations a gospel‑shaped passion that makes generosity natural, joyful, and purposeful. Form communities where the needs of the saints are met, where resources strengthen the mission, and where love for Christ overflows into sacrificial care for one another.

What did that deacon say?

Posted in church, giving, poverty | Tagged | Leave a comment

prayers of a gospel congregation

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
man in green sweater holding his hands
Photo by Guillaume Meurice on Pexels.com

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 described in this passage form a living pattern for a congregation that longs to see the gospel take root in its community. They are not random expressions of spiritual desire but thoughtful, biblically shaped petitions that align a church with the heart and mission of God.

They are scriptural prayers, grounded in the ways God has acted throughout redemptive history. When a congregation prays in this manner, it is not inventing new expectations but entering the long story of God’s dealings with His people. These prayers echo the confidence of the psalmists, the boldness of the apostles, and the dependence of the early church. They remind the congregation that God has always guided, corrected, strengthened, and revived His people, and that He continues to work in consistent, faithful ways.

They are relevant prayers, shaped by the real conditions of the moment. They do not ignore hardship, conflict, or discouragement, nor do they overlook blessings, opportunities, or victories. These prayers interpret the present through the lens of God’s purposes. When the congregation faces trials, the prayers acknowledge them honestly. When God opens doors for ministry, the prayers celebrate them. In this way, prayer becomes a spiritual practice of discernment, helping the church understand what God is doing right now.

They are missionary prayers, rooted in the Great Commission. These prayers ask for courage to speak, compassion to serve, and clarity to proclaim Christ. They seek open hearts in the community and open mouths in the congregation. They express a longing for the gospel to advance, not by human strength but by the Spirit’s power. Such prayers keep the church outward‑facing, refusing to settle into comfort or routine.

They are effective prayers, not because of eloquence or emotion but because God chooses to work through them. Scripture consistently shows that God responds to the cries of His people. These prayers participate in God’s transforming work—shaping the congregation, softening the community, and aligning both with His will. They become instruments through which God brings change, renewal, and spiritual awakening.

Lord, make congregations into praying communities shaped by Scripture, attentive to the present moment, committed to the mission of Christ, and confident in the effectiveness of prayer. Make churches into gospel congregations whose prayers advance the work of the kingdom.

watch today’s video

Posted in gospel, missions, prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment

how to handle opposition

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
goats-animal-bock-billy-goat-67280.jpeg
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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 account of opposition following the healing at the temple reminds believers that doing good in Christ’s name will not always be met with applause. The miracle drew attention, but it also stirred resentment among those who felt their authority or comfort threatened. God included this story in the gospel record to prepare His people for the same reality: whenever the gospel advances, resistance arises. The kingdom of darkness does not yield ground easily. Yet the opposition itself becomes a stage for the gospel’s power to shine even brighter.

The principle is clear and practical. Followers of Christ are called to act boldly and compassionately, doing as much good as possible so that others can see the difference Jesus makes. Acts of mercy, justice, and healing are not ends in themselves—they are signs pointing to the Savior. When such deeds disturb the status quo, some will react with irritation or hostility. The “rocking of the boat” exposes hearts that prefer calm waters to truth’s waves. But rather than retreating, believers are to use those moments as opportunities to speak of Christ.

Pressure to silence faith is not new. The apostles faced threats, imprisonment, and ridicule, yet they refused to stop proclaiming Jesus. Their courage was not defiance for its own sake but obedience to God’s command. They understood that the results belong to Him. Whether crowds respond with repentance or rejection, the responsibility of the messenger is to speak faithfully. God alone turns hearts and measures success.

This passage therefore calls the church to intentional witness. Good works should be done openly, not for self-promotion but to magnify Christ. When opposition comes, it should confirm that the message is reaching its mark. The same Spirit who empowered Peter to speak before hostile leaders now strengthens believers to stand firm in workplaces, communities, and nations where faith is unwelcome.

Lord, make the church courageous and purposeful. Teach believers to draw attention not to themselves but to the Savior who transforms lives. When resistance arises, remind them that it is part of the mission, not a sign of failure. May every challenge become another opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with grace, truth, and unwavering confidence in Your sovereign care.

watch today’s video

Posted in commitment, courage, evangelism, gospel, Jesus Christ | Tagged | Leave a comment

a Jesus centered gospel message

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
blue and red dress religious man illustration
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

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 uses the healing of the lame man at the temple gate as a divine opportunity to proclaim the gospel once again. The miracle itself is not the message—it is the doorway through which the message enters. The crowd gathers in amazement, and Peter immediately redirects their attention from the healed man to the living Christ. He reminds them that this same Jesus, whom they had rejected and handed over to death, is the very one whom God has glorified. The power that restored the crippled man’s legs is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Peter insists that faith in Jesus’ name is what made the man whole, not human strength or religious ritual.

He then unfolds the meaning of Jesus’ death. It was not a tragic accident but the fulfillment of divine prophecy. The suffering of Christ was necessary to accomplish the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of all things. Peter’s message is deeply theological yet profoundly practical: the cross was God’s plan to bring renewal to a broken world. The resurrection proves that Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet but the exalted Lord who reigns from heaven. Through Him, the promise of blessing given to Abraham now extends to all nations.

Peter’s sermon also carries a prophetic edge. He speaks of the coming day when Christ will return to judge and to restore creation. Those who reject Him will be cut off, while those who trust in Him will share in His renewal. The warning is clear—grace is offered now, but judgment awaits those who refuse it. Yet even this warning is wrapped in mercy, for Peter calls his listeners to repent so that “times of refreshing” may come from the presence of the Lord.

Finally, Peter hints at Israel’s continuing mission. God sent Jesus “first to you,” meaning that the covenant people were chosen to receive the gospel first so they could carry it to the Gentiles. The miracle at the temple gate thus becomes a symbol of Israel’s calling: once healed and restored by Christ, they are to walk forward and bring His message to the nations.

Lord, show the church how to proclaim this same Christ-centered gospel with power, compassion, and clarity.

watch the video

Posted in evangelism, gospel, Jesus Christ | Tagged | Leave a comment

when the fixture jumped

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
sadhu at nepal
Photo by Roxanne Shewchuk on Pexels.com

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

The healing of the lame beggar in Acts 3 was a stunning moment, but Luke makes it clear that the miracle itself was not the destination. It was the doorway. The man who had sat for years at the Beautiful Gate suddenly stood, walked, leaped, and praised God. His transformation was so dramatic that the entire temple court was stirred. People who had passed him countless times could not ignore what had happened. The miracle created a holy disturbance, and that disturbance opened the way for the gospel to be proclaimed.

This pattern mirrors Pentecost. The tongues drew the crowd, but the sermon pierced the heart. In the same way, the healing drew the crowd, but Peter’s message revealed the meaning behind the healing. The miracle was never meant to be isolated inspiration. It was meant to be a sign pointing to Christ, a catalyst for repentance, and an invitation into the kingdom.

This perspective shapes how prayer is understood. There is every reason to pray for those who suffer under the weight of disease, injury, or any form of bondage. Such conditions limit freedom, diminish joy, and create deep emotional and physical burdens. Scripture consistently portrays God as compassionate toward the afflicted, and the church is right to intercede for healing. But the prayers cannot stop at the physical need alone. Healing is not an end in itself. It is a mercy that can open a heart to hear the gospel, a testimony that can draw attention to Christ, and a moment that can awaken spiritual hunger.

The early church understood this. Miracles were never treated as spectacles. They were signs—visible expressions of God’s power designed to lead people toward the deeper miracle of salvation. When the beggar was healed, the crowd gathered. When the crowd gathered, the gospel was preached. When the gospel was preached, lives were changed. The physical restoration became the doorway to spiritual restoration.

This remains a wise pattern for prayer today. Intercede boldly for those in bondage. Ask God to break chains, restore bodies, and bring freedom. But also ask that every act of mercy becomes a pathway to Christ, that every healing becomes a testimony, and that every answered prayer becomes an invitation to the gospel.

Lord, shape our prayers so that they lead people toward the good news of Christ, and use every act of mercy to open hearts to your saving grace.

watch the video

Posted in evangelism, healing, prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment

every day

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
appointment black calendar countdown
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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

The repeated phrase “every day” in Acts 2 is not a casual detail. It is Luke’s way of showing that the life of the early church was not built on occasional religious moments but on a rhythm of continual devotion. The Spirit had come, the gospel had been preached, and three thousand new believers had entered the community. What followed was not a weekly gathering but a daily way of life shaped by the presence of Christ and the power of the Spirit.

Their devotion to the apostles’ teaching was not sporadic. They immersed themselves in the word every day, letting the truth reshape their minds and reorder their priorities. Their fellowship was not an optional add‑on. They stayed connected every day, forming relationships strong enough to sustain both joy and suffering. Their shared meals were not merely social events. They ate together every day, expressing unity, gratitude, and mutual care.

Prayer was not reserved for crises. They prayed for one another every day, interceding, praising, and seeking God’s guidance. Their generosity was not occasional charity. Whenever a need appeared, they responded, treating one another as family. Their worship was not confined to a single location. They met at the temple every day, and they gathered in homes every day, weaving praise into the fabric of ordinary life.

Because their devotion was daily, their witness was daily. The community around them noticed their joy, their unity, and their integrity. They enjoyed the favor of the people every day. And the Lord added to their number not weekly, not monthly, but daily. The mission advanced because the congregation lived as a mission‑shaped people.

This picture challenges modern rhythms. A weekly faith cannot sustain a daily mission. The early church grew because its life with God was continuous, not occasional. The Spirit formed a people whose devotion overflowed into their relationships, their habits, and their witness.

Lord, make us a congregation on a mission. Instill in us a passion that cannot be contained within a weekly routine, and shape us into a people whose daily lives reflect your presence and advance your kingdom.

watch today’s video

Posted in bible study, church, commitment, discipleship | Tagged | Leave a comment

a God thing

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
backlit dawn foggy friendship
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

a God thing

Acts 2:14-41 (JDV)

Acts 2:14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.
Acts 2:15 You see, these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it’s only nine in the morning.
Acts 2:16 Instead, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Breath on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:18 I will even pour out my Breath on my slaves in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy.
Acts 2:19 I will give marvels in the sky above and signs on the land below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
Acts 2:20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
Acts 2:21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be rescued.
Acts 2:22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man supported with evidence to you by God with miracles, marvels, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know.
Acts 2:23 Although he was given over according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, with lawless hands you took him out – fastening him to a cross.
Acts 2:24 God got him up, removing the birth pangs of death, since he was incapable of being held in its grasp.
Acts 2:25 You see, David says about him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Acts 2:26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,
Acts 2:27 because you will not leave my throat behind in Hades nor allow your devout one to see decay.
Acts 2:28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence.
Acts 2:29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Acts 2:30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat the product of his loins on his throne.
Acts 2:31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left behind in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
Acts 2:32 “God got this Jesus up; we are all testifiers of this.
Acts 2:33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Sacred Breath, he has poured out what you both see and hear.
Acts 2:34 You see, it was not David who ascended into the sky, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand
Acts 2:35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’
Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2:37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the missionaries: “Brothers, what should we do?”
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Seriously change your mind and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your mistakes, and you will receive the gift of the Sacred Breath.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call for.”
Acts 2:40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be rescued from this corrupt generation!”
Acts 2:41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand throats were added to them.

a God thing

Pentecost was a moment of unmistakable divine activity, but the heart of the miracle was not the sound of many languages. The tongues drew a crowd, but the gospel transformed the crowd. Peter’s first task as an evangelist was simply to clear away the misunderstanding: this was not intoxication or emotional frenzy. Something holy was happening, and it demanded explanation. His sermon then provided the framework for discerning whether a spiritual event is truly from God.

The first marker was scriptural grounding. Peter anchored the experience in the prophecy of Joel, showing that what the people were witnessing had been foretold. A genuine work of God does not contradict Scripture; it fulfills it. The Spirit’s activity always harmonizes with the Word the Spirit inspired.

The second marker was Christ-centeredness. Peter moved quickly from the phenomenon to the Person. The miracle was not an end in itself; it was a sign pointing to Jesus—his life, his death, his resurrection, and his exaltation. Any spiritual experience that does not magnify Christ is suspect. The Spirit’s role is to spotlight the Son, not to draw attention to the experience itself.

The third marker was repentance. When the crowd heard Peter’s message, they were “cut to the heart.” A true work of God produces conviction, humility, and a turning toward the Lord. It does not merely excite or entertain; it transforms. The Spirit’s presence is known not by noise but by changed hearts.

The final marker was growth. Those who received the message were baptized, and the church expanded. The Spirit’s movement leads to the gathering of people into the community of faith. It builds, strengthens, and multiplies the church. The miracle of Pentecost was not the sound of languages but the birth of a people.

These markers remain essential for discernment today. Not every stirring, emotion, or unusual event is a work of God. But when Scripture is fulfilled, Christ is exalted, repentance is awakened, and the church is strengthened, the fingerprints of the Spirit are unmistakable.

Lord, grant discernment to recognize your work, and courage to join ourselves to whatever you are doing in our time.

watch today’s video

Posted in dependence upon God, evangelism, miracles | Tagged | Leave a comment

window dressing

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
street lights
Photo by Jose Francisco Fernandez Saura on Pexels.com

window dressing

Acts 2:1-13 (JDV)

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost was in progress, they were all together at the same place.
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from the sky, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 They saw tongues like fire that divided up and sat on each one of them.
Acts 2:4 Then they were all filled with the Sacred Breath and began to speak with other languages, as the Breath enabled them.
Acts 2:5 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under the sky.
Acts 2:6 When this sound happened, a crowd came together and was in uproar because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect.
Acts 2:7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Notice, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
Acts 2:8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native dialect?
Acts 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who reside in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Acts 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts),
Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.”
Acts 2:12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

window dressing

The events of Pentecost are sometimes reduced to a single dramatic feature—the speaking in tongues. Many assume that if the church today could simply reproduce that phenomenon, revival would break out in the same way. But Luke’s narrative does not support that conclusion. The lasting miracle of Pentecost was not the sound of many languages; it was the response to the gospel. The tongues drew the crowd, but the message pierced the heart. The true power was not in the sign but in the proclamation.

Luke’s account reveals a deliberate sequence, a rhythm of preparation and divine action that shaped the entire movement of the early church.

The first movement was prayer. The believers gathered with one mind, waiting on God, seeking His direction, and aligning their hearts with His will. Their unity was not organizational but spiritual. They were not strategizing; they were surrendering. Pentecost began in an upper room long before it spilled into the streets.

The second movement was preparation. Before the Spirit came, the believers ensured that leadership was in place. They recognized that the coming harvest would require shepherds, teachers, and guides. The appointment of Matthias was not a bureaucratic decision but an act of obedience. They were preparing nets for a catch they could not yet see.

The third movement was God’s sovereign action. When the moment arrived, the Spirit descended with unmistakable power. The sound, the fire, and the languages were signs that God Himself had initiated the mission. But the miracle reached its fullness only when Peter stood up and preached Christ crucified and risen. The Spirit empowered the message, and the message drew the multitude into repentance and faith.

Jesus had told His disciples that He would make them fishers of men. The pattern He demonstrated in Galilee—long nights of waiting, nets prepared in obedience, and sudden abundance at His command—was the same pattern that unfolded at Pentecost. The church prayed, prepared, and waited. Then Christ directed the cast, and the nets filled beyond expectation.

This remains the pattern for gospel advance. Not manufactured excitement, not human technique, but prayerful unity, faithful preparation, and divine intervention.

Lord, get us ready for the next big catch.

watch today’s video

Posted in dependence upon God, evangelism, prayer | Tagged | 1 Comment