Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 3 (Daily Devo)
The Christian life is like a set of dominos that are all set up in a row. God sets things into motion by tipping over one domino and that one falls and knocks over the next one. Those actions continue to make more dominos fall over, and before you know it, a sequence of events has been set in motion that can never be stopped.
I’m sure that analogy is flawed in many ways, but God set the gospel in motion when he created the world. The Father, the son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit have forever existed in eternity, and when they created the world that domino was set into motion knocking down all the sequential domino's until one day there would be a New Testament church that was birthed out of the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
In Acts, action often leads to a revelation of what God is up to. Meaning, Peter and John heal a lame man at the beginning of the chapter, and that leads to a bunch of commotion, which leads to Peter’s second sermon in the book of Acts. It’s in that important sermon where he testifies about Jesus’ death and the prophets that all pointed towards Jesus coming as the Messiah.
Action leads to opportunity. I don’t think we always know what God is doing. But what we do is step into obedience with faith, trusting that God will use one event to lead to another, which leads to another, which leads to another and so on. And before you know it, you’re in front of thousands testifying about Jesus. Well...probably not thousands.
What do you need to do today that would be a small step of obedience, by faith? What is the next domino you can knock forward into motion so that you can be a part of this beautiful story of redemption that is constantly unfolding. Be faithful in the little moments. Live your life just knocking over one domino at a time.
May God bless your family this week.
If you decide to use our Devo this week, download the PDF and save it on your iphone. It’s what I personally do so that I can just pull it up and lead my family. Grace and peace. Let us know if we can help your family in any way this week.
Josh Walker (@joshdwalker) is the co-founder and owner of One Fifty Media House, a Houston, TX based Audio and Video Design Team. He is the writer and author of music products such as Family Devo, Grammar Time and Hymns For Selena. He is married to Angela and has two beautiful children: Nathan and Charity Joy.
Day 1: Acts 3:1-6
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.org)
- Q42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
- A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. (bolded version for younger children)
READ:
[1] Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. [2] And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. [3] Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. [4] And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” [5] And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. [6] But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”- Acts 3:1-6 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: In what name was Peter and the other apostles performing these miracles?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father thank you that in Jesus’ name there is power. You are the great miracle worker. We want to see your power in our lives.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: ACTS 3:7-10
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.org)
- Q42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
- A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. (bolded version for younger children)
READ:
[7] And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. [8] And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. [9] And all the people saw him walking and praising God, [10] and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. - Acts 3:7-10 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
Suggested Question: The man was healed and began to do what? The crowd saw him and were filled with, what?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, your gift of power and presence in our lives is truly life changing. It should cause us to be filled with lots of wonder and joy. Let us understand what you did for us so that we can be filled more deeply with wonder and joy.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: ACTS 3:11-16
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.org)
- Q42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
- A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. (bolded version for younger children)
READ:
[11] While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13] The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14] But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. [16] And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. - Acts 3:11-16 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
Suggested Question: Who does Peter say is responsible for Jesus’ death?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, the Jews rejected Jesus just like we all have turned to our own way. We have preferred other things in our lives too. Thank you for the love and grace we have in Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: ACTS 3:17-21
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.org)
- Q42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
- A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. (bolded version for younger children)
READ:
[17] “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. [18] But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. [19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, [20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, [21] whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. - Acts 3:17-21 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Are people that reject God still held responsible even if they acted “in ignorance”?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, you had a plan that was set forth before you even created this universe. Jesus suffered for us and we can never be the same.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: ACTS 3:22-26
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.org)
- Q42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
- A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. (bolded version for younger children)
READ:
[22] Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. [23] And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ [24] And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. [25] You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ [26] God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” - Acts 3:22-26 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Peter is saying that all of the Old Testament prophets, starting with Moses, were all pointing to the coming of Jesus, the Christ. Why is that important?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, everything was pointing towards the coming of Jesus. You have opened our eyes to this truth. Thank you for the beauty of the gospel. Help us live in light of this truth every day.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.