Week 4 | Healing and Boldness in the Name of Jesus

Big Idea: God works beyond our belief.

Scripture: Acts 3:1-26

Intro:

Have you ever seen something so crazy you didn't believe what you were seeing? Like it was so out of character or so insane you didn't understand it?

I remember when Ashley and I had just gotten married, we were part of an organization that traveled across the United States, giving assemblies in schools to talk about bullying. One of our first stops was in Oklahoma City on our way to Chicago, and let me tell you, that trip had some unforgettable moments.

We booked a hotel in Oklahoma City that seemed a bit sketchy at first glance—and when I say “a bit,” I really mean it was pretty bad. As soon as we checked in, the person at the front desk was obviously out of it, like they had no idea what planet they were on. But we figured, how bad could it be?

Well, it was worse. When we got to our room, the bed had actual burn marks on the blankets, and when we pulled back the top sheet, there was blood underneath. Not exactly the kind of detail you want to see in your travels! Naturally, we went back to the front desk to ask for a different room. They gave us another, which—get this—had stab marks through the comforter. No blood this time, though, so I guess that was technically an upgrade?

Later that night, needing some air and a break from the horror movie we were apparently living in, I went out on the balcony to relax. As I was standing there, the front desk lady came out, walked up to a car, leaned in, and made a drug deal right in front of me. I stood there, watching in disbelief, thinking, “This can’t actually be happening.” But it was.

It was like a scene straight out of a movie—only we were the unwilling stars.

Tension:

Why am I saying all this? Because the story we are about to dive into in Acts is nothing short of extraordinary, leaving people stunned and in awe.

What happens next is a moment that defies human expectation, where God shows up in a way that leaves the onlookers in absolute amazement. They struggle to comprehend the reality that God is moving, doing something so incredible that it exceeds their ability to fathom. They are caught off guard, perhaps even in disbelief, because the work of God is often beyond what we anticipate.

And I think we can all relate to this feeling, can’t we? We’ve all had moments in our lives where something happens—whether it’s something deeply painful or incredibly joyous—that just leaves us speechless, unable to fully grasp the magnitude of what’s happening. It’s not always easy to make sense of these moments in real-time, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t real, and that doesn’t mean God isn’t at work.

Personally, I remember an experience I had at a hotel that left me feeling completely overwhelmed. It was a situation where I couldn’t see or understand what was happening, and yet, even in the midst of that confusion, God was still moving. Whether it’s in times of hardship, like the one I faced, or in moments of awe and wonder, like the people in Acts experienced, we all encounter situations that stretch our capacity to comprehend.

When it comes to God, His ways are often beyond our understanding.

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We can’t always figure out what He’s doing or why He’s doing it, but we can trust that He is working for our good and His glory. Even when we don’t understand, even when we are amazed beyond belief, we are called to glorify Him through it all. God is constantly at work, doing things we cannot imagine, and our role is to stand in awe, to trust Him, and to praise Him even when we can’t fully fathom His plan.

In those moments of bewilderment, whether good or bad, we are reminded that God’s power and wisdom go far beyond our human limitations. Just like the people in Acts, we are invited to witness His works and be amazed—not because we understand every detail, but because we serve a God who is infinitely greater than our ability to comprehend.

Big Idea:

God works beyond our belief.

Truth:

At this point in Acts, we find ourselves at the very beginnings of the church. The movement is still in its infancy, and the primary focus remains on the Jewish people who are becoming followers of Christ. These early Jewish converts play a critical role in the story of the church’s formation. Without them, none of us would be here today.

The message of Jesus first took root among them, and through their witness and faith, the gospel spread to the ends of the earth.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 3

The fact that Peter and John still attended the temple and kept the Jewish customs is evidence that these first seven chapters of Acts are Jewish in emphasis. No Christian today who understands Galatians and Hebrews would participate in OT practices.

As we reflect on all the incredible events that will unfold in the rest of this book, it’s fascinating to notice what happens right at the beginning. One of the first stories we encounter is that of a lame beggar who receives miraculous healing at the hands of the disciples. This moment, though seemingly small in comparison to what’s to come, is actually deeply symbolic.

It’s a glimpse—a foreshadowing—of the larger, spiritual reversal of the curse that is about to unfold through the gospel. This beggar’s physical healing is a picture of the spiritual healing that God is preparing to offer to all people. And where does this miracle take place? Right at the doorsteps of the temple.

This is significant. The temple was the center of Jewish religious life, the place where God’s presence was believed to dwell. Yet, here on the outskirts of that sacred space, God is showing His people something new: that He can bring healing and restoration in ways they’ve never imagined.

It’s not just physical healing, though that is profound in itself. It’s the beginning of God’s plan to heal humanity from the deeper spiritual brokenness caused by sin. The beggar, once unable to walk, now leaps to his feet, praising God—just as we, once bound by sin, are invited to walk in new life through Christ, praising God for the freedom He gives.

In this story, God is sending a powerful message to His people: “I can heal you, too.”

The healing of this lame beggar is not just a one-time miracle; it is an invitation to all of us. We are all, in some way, like that beggar—broken, in need of healing, unable to walk on our own. And God, in His great mercy, offers us the same healing power, both physically and spiritually.

And what should be our response? The same as the beggar’s: to rise up, to walk in the new life God has given us, and to praise Him with everything we have.

This story also reminds us of the role we play as the church today. Just as the early disciples were instruments of God’s healing, we, too, are called to be agents of His restoration in the world. The same power that healed the beggar is at work in us through the Holy Spirit. God wants His people not only to receive His healing but also to extend it to others.

We are invited to join in His mission of bringing restoration and hope to a world in desperate need of it. And when we do, like the beggar, our lives become a testimony of praise to the God who heals and restores.

I wanna talk about how this is a moment we're having and earth are colliding: USE WHITE BOARD TO ILLUSTRATE HOW HEAVEN AND EARTH WERE ONE —> SEPARATED BY SIN —> AND NOW THEY ARE COMING BACK TOGETHER —> ONE DAY FULLY OVERLAPPED AGAIN.

Read Acts 3:1-26

Acts 3:1–26 (ESV)

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

There were three results of the miraculous healing of the lame beggar. First was joy to the beggar himself, which he expressed by praising God.

John F. MacArthur

In Acts 3:1-26, we encounter a powerful and transformative moment in the life of the early church. Peter and John, two of the apostles, are going to the temple for the hour of prayer. As they approach the temple, they pass through the Beautiful Gate, where a man who had been lame from birth is being laid daily to beg for alms from those entering.

This man, having lived a life of dependency, sees Peter and John and asks them for money. He expects nothing more than a small, temporary relief for his immediate needs. However, what happens next far exceeds anything he could have imagined.

Peter, fixing his gaze on the man, responds not with money, but with something infinitely more valuable: “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” In an instant, the power of Christ is revealed as the man is healed. Peter takes him by the hand, and immediately his feet and ankles become strong. He doesn’t just stand—he leaps up, walks, and then enters the temple with them, praising God.

The people in the temple, who had seen this man begging for years, are filled with amazement and wonder at what has happened. This event isn’t just a miraculous healing; it’s a profound sign of God’s power and the beginning of something even greater.

This healing produced three major outcomes.

First, it brought immeasurable joy to the beggar himself, as John MacArthur notes. His joy was evident in his response—walking, leaping, and praising God. The man who had once been defined by his disability, sitting at the temple gate in a position of helplessness, was now restored, fully able to enter the temple. This transformation was more than just physical; it was spiritual. His newfound ability to walk was a symbol of a deeper reality: God’s restoration and redemption.

Second, the healing astonished the people who witnessed it. They were filled with wonder and amazement. This man, whom they had always known as a beggar, was now praising God in their midst. His life had been radically changed by the power of Jesus, and it was undeniable. The miracle stirred up a sense of awe, opening the hearts of the people to the message of the gospel that Peter would soon proclaim.

Third, this miracle offered a glimpse into God’s larger plan of redemption. The temple, in many ways, symbolized a replica of the Garden of Eden—a place where humanity once walked closely with God. In healing this man at the temple gates, God was giving a small preview of what He intends to do through His Son and the spread of the gospel. Just as the beggar was restored to wholeness, God’s ultimate plan is to bring humanity back into fellowship with Him, to restore the brokenness caused by sin, and to bring us back to a state of intimacy with Him, just as it was in Eden.

This story is a window into God’s heart for His people. He longs for the same relationship with us that He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and through Jesus, He is making a way for that to happen. The beggar’s healing is a picture of the greater healing and restoration that is available to all of us through Christ. Just as the man was physically healed and brought into the temple to praise God, we too are invited to experience spiritual healing, to be made whole, and to walk in fellowship with God once again.

God’s plan to bring people back to Eden—to restore what was lost—is unfolding through the gospel. And just as the healing of the beggar was a sign of what was to come, so too are we, as believers, living testimonies of God’s power to heal, restore, and bring us back into right relationship with Him.

Through Jesus, God is making all things new, and He will accomplish His purpose. He is bringing His people back into His presence, back into the fullness of life with Him. And the invitation is extended to all of us to rise up, walk in the newness of life, and praise God for His incredible work of redemption.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Peter seizes this incredible moment to speak directly to the people gathered, making it clear that this miraculous healing is more than just a one-time event—it is a sign for them. He reminds them that the Savior, Jesus Christ, came for their sake, and that this moment of physical and spiritual healing is a reflection of the salvation that is now available to them.

The healing of the lame man is not just a display of God’s power, but an invitation—a personal invitation to each of them to experience the same joy, freedom, and restoration.

Peter doesn’t just leave them with amazement; he brings the message home. He tells them that just as this man has been physically healed, they too can be spiritually healed. The Savior came and died for them, offering a way into the kingdom of God, which is not some distant promise but is here and now. The same power that restored the beggar’s body is the same power that can restore their hearts.

The joy that this man now experiences—walking, leaping, and praising God—is available to them as well. It’s not just a moment of amazement to observe from the sidelines; they are invited to take part in it.

But Peter’s message is also a call to repentance. He is offering them more than just a moment of inspiration—he is offering them the fulfillment of everything they, as a people, have been waiting for. For generations, the Jewish people had been looking for the Messiah, the one who would redeem and restore Israel. Peter is saying that this has now been fulfilled in Jesus. The kingdom is at hand, and they can enter into it through repentance and faith in Christ.

This call to repentance is not just about feeling sorry for past sins; it’s an invitation to turn toward something better—toward the fulfillment of God’s promises, toward Jesus, who is the answer to their deepest longings. It’s a call to know Him, to experience the grace and healing that He offers. Just as the beggar experienced both physical and spiritual healing, Peter is urging the people to receive the same spiritual renewal that comes through Christ.

Application

As we reflect on this passage and consider what it means for our lives today, I want to remind you of something incredibly important. The promise that Peter extended to the people in Acts is not just a historical event—it’s a living promise that is being offered to each one of us right now.

The same freedom, the same healing, the same invitation to experience new life in Christ is available to you today, just as it was to the people back then.

The invitation isn’t limited to a select few or something that was meant only for the people in that moment. No, the promise of salvation, of entering into the kingdom of heaven, is for everyone—including you. You can experience the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus. Freedom from guilt, from shame, from whatever it is that has kept you feeling stuck or distant from God. In Christ, there is complete restoration, a fresh start, and a hope that transforms everything.

Present the Gospel and a call to respond to it.

The Gospel Message:

God's Love and Creation: God created us to be in a loving relationship with Him. He desires for us to live in harmony with Him and His creation.

The Problem of Sin: Sin is anything that goes against God's will and separates us from Him. It includes actions, thoughts, and attitudes that fall short of God's perfect standard. Because of sin, we are unable to have the relationship with God that He intended for us.

Jesus' Sacrifice: God, in His love, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bridge the gap caused by sin. Jesus lived a sinless life and willingly died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. His resurrection from the dead demonstrates His power over sin and death.

New Life Now and Forever: By trusting in Jesus and accepting His sacrifice, we receive forgiveness for our sins. This not only assures us of eternal life with God after we die but also transforms our lives now. We experience a new relationship with God, peace, purpose, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

Invitation to Respond:

Would you like to accept this gift of forgiveness and begin a new life with Jesus today?

Imagine what it would feel like to let go of the burdens you’ve been carrying, to stand up like the beggar in Acts, fully restored and praising God. That’s the promise on the table. The same Jesus who healed that man physically is offering to heal you spiritually—to give you new life, to welcome you into the kingdom of heaven, not just someday in the future, but starting today.

The kingdom of God is here and now, and Jesus is inviting you to be a part of it. This is your opportunity to receive the incredible gift of grace, to step into the freedom found in Christ, and to live in the joy and peace that only He can give.

The question is, will you accept the invitation? Will you step into the promise that’s been extended to you? The time to respond is now—Jesus is waiting, and He’s ready to welcome you into His kingdom today.

God’s Power is Greater than Our Expectations:

Just as the beggar expected only a small donation to meet his immediate needs, we often come to God with limited expectations.

God works in ways far beyond what we anticipate.

He not only meets our physical or surface-level needs but offers us deep, spiritual restoration and transformation. This passage challenges us to broaden our faith, trusting that God has greater plans for our lives than we can imagine.

Are there areas in your life where you have limited expectations of what God can do? Invite Him to work beyond those limits.

Repentance Leads to Healing and Joy:

Peter’s call to the crowd wasn’t just to witness a miracle but to experience one themselves through repentance and faith in Jesus.

The physical healing of the beggar was a sign pointing to the deeper spiritual healing that is available to all of us.

When we turn to Christ, we experience not only forgiveness but also restoration and joy.

Just as the beggar leapt and praised God, repentance leads to a life of joy and renewal in Christ.

What is holding you back from experiencing the fullness of joy that comes from turning to Jesus? Take that step of repentance and trust Him to bring healing to your heart.

Landing

As we close, let’s remember that the story of the lame beggar is more than just an isolated miracle from the early church. It is a living picture of what God desires to do in each of our lives. Like the beggar, we may find ourselves in need—whether that need is physical, emotional, or spiritual. But just as Peter and John extended their hand in faith and offered healing through the power of Jesus, God extends His hand to us today, offering restoration, healing, and a fresh start.

The question for us is: how will we respond? Will we stay on the sidelines, content with small expectations? Or will we, like the beggar, take hold of God’s offer, stand up, and leap into the new life He has for us? The Savior has come, the kingdom is here, and the power to transform our lives is available to us through Jesus.

This week, let’s not only witness God’s work in our lives but also respond with the same joy and praise as the beggar. God is still in the business of healing and restoring, and He is inviting each of us to experience His power.

Will you take that step of faith today?

Pray