Thoughts on...
April 26: Third Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 3:(1-11), 12-19, (20-21)

Are you looking for a miracle? Who isn't? Miracles remind us of God's presence in the world. They assure us that we are not on our own but there is a God who is bigger and stronger than any of us.

The early church must have felt powerless. Jesus had been crucified and they were powerless to stand up to the Roman government because of their fear. Following the resurrection, the apostles were charged to go out into all the world sharing the message of Christ but how could they present the power of the risen Lord without the risen Lord physically present?

In Acts 3, the Apostles are given the power to perform a miracle and the crowd gathers around them in curiousity, fear and amazement. And here opens up a teaching moment. This miracle is followed by a sermon explaining the basis of the miracle itself.

In the crowd's ignorance, they misunderstand the miracle. The miracle is not that the lame man was healed, although it is an amazing event in his personal life, the miracle is that God's power is still at work in a world that sought to kill it. This miracle reveals the power of God and our need for repentence as we doubt and even ignore the power of God in our life everyday.

We look for visual miracles that are easy to see and have the wow factor. Visual miracles definitely affect us. But there are quiet miracles that bring greater comfort in the midst of our everyday life, quiet revelations that offer us hope, peace and even faith. In repenting of our sins, and turning to God our sins are wiped out and remembered no more. That is the greatest miracle, that in our ignorance we are granted forgiveness and a deeper relationship with the one we often times ignore.

God is at work in this world offering us power for life, repent and believe the Good News. We are forgiven.

Thoughts on...
April 19: 2nd Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 4:32-35

Sharing is the first word that comes to mind when reading this Acts passage.

Questions for reflection:
What is easy to share? What is hard to share?
What would make you want to share?
How much should you share?
When should you share?
With whom should you share?

Think about children sharing: if you want something you cry "Share" but if you have it and someone asks you to share there are a couple of reasons for not wanting to share.
1. you are still playing with it
2. you're afraid of what someone will do to it - will they break it? will they refuse to give it back?

The early church was founded on sharing. "The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions..." vs 32 The question begs to be asked, is this the way the church today is suppose to be? Are we to sell everything and put it into the church pot and then have the church redistribute it among the members as they have need? Many a cult has been born out of this concept. If this idea of sharing no longer works in our world today, what can we glean from this passage? What can we learn from the sharing of the early church?

Caution against consumerism?
What unites us as a congregation?
Rallying together when someone is in need - phyisically, emotionally, spiritually.
Giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Join us Sunday at Efland Presbyterian Church to find out just what direction the sermon takes.