Today’s Community Scripture – 5/16/2025

With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.” They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that? They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.” They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Acts 4:8–22 (MSG)

– Reflection:

In Acts 4, we see uneducated, ordinary people doing amazing things to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and continue Christ’s ministry in the world. They preached with eloquence, healed the hopeless, and challenged the authorities that used power to stifle any opposition. When I consider the world around me, torn apart by division and turmoil, with problems that seem way too big, I feel helpless. I am ordinary. I don’t think I can make a difference. Yet the stories about the disciples in Acts 4 encourage me. Uneducated, ordinary men were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the Body of Christ at work in their world. Other people saw that transformation and knew that they were “companions of Jesus.” Reading this passage reminds me that you are the called and are equipped right where you stand. GOD gives us everything we need to complete the work He has for us.

– Where do we go from here?

I wonder if people observing us will conclude that we are “companions of Jesus.” Will they see something in us that reminds them of Jesus? Do we reveal his character of peace, compassion, and courage? Do we continue his ministry of justice, healing, and hospitality? May Christ use us as his Body in these days. May the Spirit transform us from ordinary individuals into companions of Jesus. Stay on your paths.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, we entrust ourselves to You. Shape our lives to be more like Christ’s life. Empower us to live in Christ’s way. Use us, ordinary us, for Your kingdom. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

Today’s Community Scripture – 5/13/2025

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!” Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?” Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

Acts 2:1–13 (MSG)

– Reflection:

I was mistaken about the disciples already having the Holy Spirit yesterday when they were choosing a replacement for Judas. They needed the 12th member to honor the prophecy properly. Now they have twelve again and are ready to go into the upper room and receive the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came to all of them, it was not only the twelve, but all who were with them. So many that those who were outside were thought to be drunk because of the languages they spoke while all the non-believers watched. That must have been a powerful sight, and to be one of those who experienced it had to be truly amazing, because I remember my encounter with the Spirit. You gain a quiet confidence that you now know what needs to be done.

– Where do we go from here?

In my reflection, I stated that you have that positive direction you know you are going in. We are still human, though, and have to truly believe and begin that walk. Sometimes we see the path but still aren’t walking it. I want to see where this leads me, so I am walking my path; God wants you to walk your path too. I bet doing so will create some amazing work for the world and hopefully change it for the better. Having a direction is only the beginning; the next step is where the work starts—in the walking. Let’s get to it so we can reach our first milestone, trial, or blessing.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit and its power to set us correct and place us on our path. We know that we can’t see the end but do know where our arrow is pointing to get us to our destination. Our faith will moves us through any obstacles that will pop-up as we move through the work you have for us. In Jesus’ name we Pray. Amen.

During this time, Peter stood up in the company there were about 120 of them in the room at the time and said, “Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been. Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry. “As you know, he took the evil bribe money and bought a small farm. There he came to a bad end, rupturing his belly and spilling his guts. Everybody in Jerusalem knows this by now; they call the place Murder Meadow. It’s exactly what we find written in the Psalms: Let his farm become haunted So no one can ever live there. “And also what was written later: Let someone else take over his post. “Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us

Acts 1:15–21 (MSG)

– Reflection:

Speaking about Judas, for me, used to be a thought that talking about him gave him energy and strength, considering how he brought down the one true savior of the world as it was just coming to be. However, as I have continually read the WORD, it states repeatedly that it was written this way: Jesus had to be sacrificed to save all of us. This doesn’t give him a pass, as he still had free will to honor himself and pursue what he wanted to be. He was working behind the scenes, thinking it would be something small and over quickly. That never works, by the way; it is always going to be more than expected. Now that everything has happened and Jesus has gone, and the Holy Spirit has come upon those to move through the world and speak the GOOD NEWS, there needs to be a replacement for Judas. Even though he performed one of the most powerfully negative acts in history, he still had a place in the ministry of Christ. Now that a replacement is necessary, they held a ceremony that narrowed it down to two men, and one was chosen. His name was Matthias.

– Where do we go from here?

Moving through the Bible and the different stories, I have to be honest: I missed this in my earlier readings. I knew the group grew but never really thought about Judas being replaced. That is a huge thing to accomplish with all the things that were happening in such a short period of time. The group had a task that needed to be completed and went about it in the fashion that they had learned from Christ himself: prayer. I ask now, when you go to read this portion of the Bible and see the way to replace Judas, would you have chosen a different way? I think a lot of groups and companies do things the worldly way. The Bible says they chose from the men that were with them from the time when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Sounds great to me, because this person would have seen everything that any one of the twelve had. Choose from within.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, the Bible has so much information that has not changed but seems new each time we read it. We know your words haven’t changed; it is the time when we read them that makes the difference. Your amazement at what you expect from us is incredible. Thank you for allowing us into your Kingdom. Amen.

Today’s Community Scripture – 5/7/2025

So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas, son of James. They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.

Acts 1:12–14 (MSG)

– Reflection:

Here’s a powerful reflection I wanted to share. What I’m describing hopefully resonates deeply with the idea that faith is both the foundation and the fuel for everything we’re called to do. Sometimes we look outside ourselves for the missing piece when, in reality, God has already placed within us what we need to begin—we just need to activate it. The comparison to the disciples waiting on the Holy Spirit is spot on. They had faith, the teachings, and experiences with Jesus, but they still had to wait in obedience and expectation. That waiting wasn’t passive; it was preparation. And when the Spirit came, it didn’t give them something entirely new—it ignited what was already planted: the desire to complete what we start. That’s often the hardest part. We can have the tools, the knowledge, even the vision—but without the will to finish, we stall. That’s where honoring our time and space, as you said, becomes sacred. Every moment is an opportunity to steward what God has given us—our gifts, our energy, our presence.

“We have to get to it.”
Yes. And we don’t go alone. We go with the assurance that God is already working in us, even when we don’t feel it.

– Where do we go from here?

The next step is to move from revelation to realization—to take the truth that God has already placed within us what we need and begin to act on it with intention. This means identifying the areas in our lives where we’ve been waiting for a sign, a resource, or a feeling and instead choosing to step forward in faith. It’s time to activate what’s been planted: to complete the projects we’ve started, to show up fully in the spaces we occupy, and to trust that God is already working through us. Whether it’s reaching out to others, starting a new initiative, or simply committing to finish what we began, we do it not alone, but with the assurance that the Spirit is already moving. We honor our time, our gifts, and our calling by getting to it—faithfully, boldly, and with purpose.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for waking us another morning to do the work on our lists. You know the outcome of the work you have placed in us and we have the faith to honor you to complete what you placed on our hearts. Thank you Jesus. Amen.