Today’s reading is Acts 21:1-14
“While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭21:10-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.21.10-14.esv
All,
This stands out because the group says, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Are we ok with the Lord’s will? What if it means possible harm? What if it hurts a idol in your life? Jesus wants ALL of our heart and He also wants the best for ALL of us, but that takes a lot of trust on our end. Do you know Jesus enough to give Him that much trust? He wants that kind of relationship with you today. Please pray that we and our friends trust Jesus in the areas where we typically only trust ourselves. Please pray for Wendie and Bill Britt. 

Today’s reading is Acts 19:21-41
“And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:35-37‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.19.35-37.esv
All,
This stands out because the town clerk says, “who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis”. Is there a idol that most of the “world” accepts as a god? Is there anything that, if taken away, would disrupt the fabric of society? I have things in my life that I would be upset about if taken away. I know I’m tempted to put these comforts up high and I get concerned if they are not secure. Would the sickness of a child make you question God? Loss of a job? Loss of friend? Loss of wealth? God wants us to enjoy these “things”, but He knows we will be hurt if we make them gods and place their importance above God. Please pray that we and our friends ask God if we have any idols in our lives today. Please pray for Wes and Brian as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Acts 19:1-20
“Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:18-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.19.18-20.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.” Has anything creeped into your thought life that you would be embarrassed to discuss with Jesus? We all remember the closet in “My heart Christ’s home”. Jesus is not only aware of what we have in the closet, but He wants to clean it out for us if we just give Him the key. He will not force us, but He wants us to be free from those entangling sins. Please pray that we and our friends continue to go to Christ with all of our good and our bad and give it to Him. Please pray for Andrew M. as he is building a group. 

Today’s reading is Acts 17:16-34
“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.17.16-17.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” Does the Holy Spirit provoke you during the day? Do you get uncomfortable with a certain conversation in which you are participating or something you are doing? Or maybe to touch base with a friend? It’s easy to be so busy that we don’t notice these nudges, but they are there. Think of the most meaningful moments from last Christmas. They probably came while you were busy trying to get something else accomplished. Please pray that we and our friends be attuned to the nudges of the Holy Spirit today and obey them. Please pray for Darren and Bruce’s group as they are forming. 

Today’s reading is Acts 17:1-15
“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:10-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.17.10-12.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” These were Jews who were already in the synagogue. They have heard these Scriptures since birth and now Paul is able to explain who Jesus is in the Scriptures. They were eager to read and examine the Scriptures now. God wants to speak to us through the Scriptures today. Please pray that we and our friends will eagerly examine the Word today for what God wants us to know. Please pray for Wes and Brian as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Acts 15:22-41
“Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭15:24-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.15.24-27.esv
All,
This stands out because the letter says, “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Christianity is so new now and the brothers and elders are praying to God to make correct decisions as they grow daily. Men are being killed and thrown into prison. The letter describes these men as “men that have risked their lives”. It could have said men that “love the lord” or are “very wise”. They gave up livelihoods, reputations and possibly their life so that OTHER people would know the love of Jesus Christ. Please pray that we and our friends deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. Please pray for the Wernowsky, Thrasher and Parson families as we enter the Christmas season. 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1th.5.16-18.esv
All,
On Thanksgiving day I want to break from the New Testament reading plan and send a favorite verse of mine. This verse is very powerful to me. It commands us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances”. And then it follows up with “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Its powerful because it’s so difficult. Rejoice always? Always? Pray without ceasing? Thanks IN all circumstances? All? It’s the will of God. Always; without ceasing; all circumstances. Difficult, but possible when our focus is on God. No matter the circumstance, we can be thankful that Jesus died for us because of His love for us that never ceases. Please pray that we and our friends have a thankful Thanksgiving today. Happy Thanksgiving. 

Today’s reading is Acts 14
“Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.14.1-7.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe”. There are many times when the Holy Spirit guided them to stay in a certain town and keep preaching or a angel would intervene. Here they were guided to flee. God has a purpose in all of our situations. We can’t assume He always wants us to use a certain tactic. He told Joshua to fight a city by walking around it 7 times. Please pray that we and our friends seek and listen to God for His plan for us today. Please pray for all that you are grateful for. 

Today’s reading is Acts 13:24-52
“As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:42-44‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.13.42-44.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.” We are wired to love truth. It’s been said that kids desire structure, even though they resist it. Our human nature wants independence to do as we want, but our true self(Spirit) desires truth. Please pray that we and our friends speak the truth IN LOVE today as God nudges us. You may be a conduit for something a loved one needs to hear. Please pray for Keener as he is forming a group. 

Today’s reading is Acts 13:1-23
“When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:6-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.13.6-12.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time”. Wow! Paul says a couple words and a opponent is blind. Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit. Was the Holy Spirit more powerful back then? Did Paul have more access to the Holy Spirit than us? Did Paul put away any idol in his life preventing a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit? The acts in the book of Acts are incredible because of the deep relationship the disciples had with the Holy Spirit and it was God’s purpose. Does God have a purpose for you today? Are you empowered by the Holy Spirit? Please pray that we and our friends trust God more today. Thank you for your prayers for the Cobb breakfast. It was great.