“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/act.6.1-7.esv

All,

This stands out because Luke says, “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.”  The number of disciples multiplied greatly after the issue with the Hellenism widows was solved in prayer. They all used their God given talents to do God’s purpose for this situation. Please pray that we and our friends will solve our problems today in prayer first. Please pray for the CLC breakfast next Thursday. 

“for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:27-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/act.4.27-31.esv

All,

This stands out because they said, “Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”. Do you need boldness in your conversations today?  I suspect more of us are like Peter and the rooster than we think?  Look at the difference in Peter now as he is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Please pray that we and our friends will ask the Holy Spirit for boldness in our speech and thoughts today. Please pray for the CLC breakfast in two weeks on 12/13. 

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:13-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/act.4.13-16.esv

All,

This stands out because Luke says, “But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.”  The truth is very compelling when confronted with it.  We live in a world of all kinds of personal truths and it is pretty chaotic. However, when we depend on the truth of Christ and have faith in Him, there is inner peace. Please pray that we and our friends seek truth in every circumstance today. Please pray for the CLC breakfast on 12/13. 

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:36-41‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/act.2.36-41.esv

All,

This stands out because Peter says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”.  Why would someone not want to repent?  Do they see themselves as knowing more than God. Maybe they honestly don’t believe in God. I know I’m full of pride when I don’t want to repent or either rationalize sin. I want to call the shots. That kind of mindset is the opposite of peace. Please pray that we and our friends hold God above everything and enjoy the fruit of the Spirit. Please pray for the CLC breakfast on 12/13. 

“Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:5-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/act.2.5-8.esv

All,

This stands out because Luke says, “each one was hearing them speak in his own language.”  When is the last time the Holy Spirit enabled you to understand something? I love having spirit filled discussions and learning from everyone in the room as the Holy Spirit is enabling us to understand the text. Please pray that we and our friends ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and discernment today. Please pray for the CLC Breakfast on 12/13. 

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20:30-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.20.30-31.esv

All,

This stands out because John says, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  It’s tempting to seek life from other sources like a loved one, new experience or possession, but John says we get life from believing that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus says we can’t follow Him until we lose our life. CS Lewis says it’s not a better self, but a transformed self. What difference will believing Jesus is the Christ make today?  Please pray that we and our friends seek Jesus today. Please pray for the men at the CLC Breakfast on 12/13. 

“When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.””
‭‭John‬ ‭19:6-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.19.6-11.esv

All,

This stands out because Pilate says, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”  Is it easy to forget who has ultimate authority when faced with the authorities of the world. We may try to appease them so we can work for God’s ultimate good. Does that kind of thinking lower our belief in God’s authority?  God will always empower us to do His will for our lives for His purpose. Please pray that we and our friends the fruit of the Spirit while spending time with our families. Please pray for the CLC breakfast on 12/13. 

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:36-38‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.18.36-38.esv

All,

This stands out because Pilate says, “What is truth?”  Is the truth difficult to determine?  We are in an age where it is common to have a “personal truth” about everything. That may sound non harmful for the moment, but ultimately truth is truth. We don’t have to believe in gravity until we hit something. Please pray that we and our friends seek truth from Jesus. Please pray for John and Hunter as they are building a group.

“Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.””
‭‭John‬ ‭18:2-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.18.2-7.esv

All,

This stands out because John says, “When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”  Why did they fall to the ground?  I can only imagine that when one was in the presence of Jesus, they felt His power. Have you been emboldened in a task when you ask Jesus to help you or when about His will?  Please pray that we and our friends trust Jesus and ask Him to empower us to do His will today. Please pray for Connor’s group as they are forming. 

“”I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:12-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.16.12-15.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”.  Jesus also said the truth will set you free. Free from what?  Satan is a deceiver and we live in a world where we are easily deceived to put our trust in something not worthy or something that will harm us. Don’t we want to see the truth always?  Do you ask the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions?  Please pray that we and our friends pray over our events today and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. Please pray for Mike Bryan.