The Bible Is not Enough: Acts 10 Daily Devo
The Bible isn't sufficient.
I can hear what you're thinking....HERESY! AWAY WITH THIS 'GOSPEL FAMILY' NONSENSE!! :)
But wait...let me explain.
THE GOSPEL CATEGORY EXPANDS
In Acts 1o God orchestrated a series of events that led Peter to Cornelius' house (a devout, God fearing man). God was demonstrating that the Gospel has no barriers marked by ethnicity or nationality (Jew or Gentile). "What God has made clean, do not call common." (verse 15)
Peter preached the gospel of "good news" and "peace," and the Holy Spirit fell on all of Cornelius' family and close friends. The believers with Peter heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
This amazed Peter. And in this moment the mystery of the gospel started to reveal itself more fully. Peter said, "can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people..?"
THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS THE WORD
The Holy Spirit came when Peter preached the word. There was a connection between the word being read/preached and the power of the Spirit coming to bring faith and life change.
In our home we have regular Family Worship times. We read the Bible together. But if the Spirit of God does not animate the text, and bring it to life for my family, then it is just another book on the self.
My children are young (6 and 3) and don't have a functional relationship with God yet. They are in the learning phase. They sit with us and hear God's Word. But what they need is the Holy Spirit to fill their hearts and open their minds to the truth and good news of the Gospel.
BUILDING THE FIRE
But how does faith come?
"..faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
- That is what we are doing with our Family Worship times.
- That is what we are doing when we go to church.
- That is what we are doing when we are reading the Bible in our own personal time with God.
- That is what we are doing when we are studying God's word.
- That is what we are doing when our children are in Bible class.
- etc. etc. etc.
We are continually putting God's Word before our children and praying that the Holy Spirit will open their heart (like Lydia from Acts 16).
One pastor talks about it like building a fire. You start to stack kindling around the fireplace. Small, easily combustible sticks and twigs that are used to start a fire. But the 'fire' of the gospel, inside of the heart, can only be started by the Holy Spirit.
We can try hard but our efforts are meaningless unless God lights the match. Our small man-made, religious fires (in us or our kids) will eventually die out. But the fire that is started by the Holy Spirit will never die out. It will grow and grow into a bonfire that will shine like the stars in the night. The light of the world, a city on a hill (Matthew 14).
Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible is not enough.
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 10:1-8
READ:
[1] At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, [2] a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. [3] About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” [4] And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. [5] And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. [6] He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” [7] When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, [8] and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. - Acts 10:1-8 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you?
- Suggested Question: What three things to you notice about Cornelius? (devout man, feared God, man of prayer)
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Holy Spirit, make us into the kind of people that have a holy fear and respect for you. Make us people that turn to prayer with every life situation.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: ACTS 10:9-16
READ:
[9] The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. [10] And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance [11] and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. [12] In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” [14] But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” [15] And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” [16] This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. - Acts 10:9-16 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you?
- Suggested Question: Just like Cornelius, Peter was a man of _____. (prayer)
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, thank you that through prayer we can talk with you. Help our family to have ears that would hear what you are teaching us.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: ACTS 10:17-33
READ:
[17] Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate [18] and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. [19] And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” [21] And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” [22] And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” [23] So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. [24] And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. [25] When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. [26] But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” [27] And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. [28] And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. [29] So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” [30] And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing [31] and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. [32] Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ [33] So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” - Acts 10:17-33 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you?
- Suggested Question: What is God doing in this story? Why would God cause all of these pieces of the story to lead to this moment?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, in everything you have your plans. Plans to share the good news of the gospel with our family and friends. May we be apart of that work.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: ACTS 10:34-43
READ:
[34] So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, [35] but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. [36] As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), [37] you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, [40] but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, [41] not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. [43] To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”- Acts 10:34-43 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What comes ‘through’ Jesus Christ? (good news, peace)
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, your gospel (the gospel of Jesus) is good news. It has brought peace to our souls and into relationship with you. Let us grow in our relationship with you and use our family to promote the good news of this gospel in our community.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: ACTS 10:44-48
READ:
[44] While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [45] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. [46] For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, [47] “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. - Acts 10:44-48 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Was was the connection of spiritual events that occurred? (word was preached - Holy Spirit came - men and women were baptized)
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Holy Spirit we need you to fill us with your power and love. Awaken the words that we read through the Bible to affect our daily lives to honor God.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.