Book: Acts

The God who created us, who lives in us…is with us today. He’s here in this place. And as we sing, the God who sings listens to our praise. Our praise joins with the praise of all the ages, and all the angels. Sense the awe!

Prayer is pervasive in the New Testament. Just as Jesus prays at all the major events of his life, even so the followers of Jesus pray at all the significant turning points in the book of Acts. Just as prayer was habitual and routine in the life of Jesus, the early Christians devoted themselves to prayer.

Isn’t it funny how a meal can nourish and sustain you—literally give you life—and we hardly even notice? What if we paid attention to what was happening inside? What if we noticed who else is being given life by this meal?

We share faith. Because we share Christ. And the most visible place where that is put on display is in the church assembly. It’s what the word means.

I’d like to know what exactly they devoted themselves to. It must have been powerful (Acts 5:28). It must have been interesting. It must have been centered and focused (Acts 13:12).

What the New Testament calls for is intimate connection through deep commitment within a covenant community. One that blesses those inside, blesses those on the outside, puts the world on notice and causes the world to take notice. A people who inspire because they have been inspired.

If you are still standing against the fence, fingers clutching the metal rings, hoping against hope that today just maybe you might get picked, I’m here to tell you – you have been added. You’re on the team. You’re on the roll. You’ve been picked. The “less thans.” The “missing outs.” Welcome to the assembly of the wanted. The added. That includes you.

Baptism imitates the example of our Lord. It symbolizes our answer to the greatest commandment. It demonstrates the gospel. It is a uniting event. And it marks a crossing over, an exodus, out of slavery to self and into the freedom of God’s gracious kingdom of love. But like every story in scripture, it’s only significant because Jesus Christ meets us there. Follow him to the water. Call upon him in the water. Be buried with him in the water. And trust in his grace to rescue you from every troubled water.