Reaching Out & Sharing Your Story

It is God’s Story in YOU!! Transforming you to be a new you like Jesus. It’s not your power, it’s not you helping you, it is submission to His will and His power flowing through you!

In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter had to refute the accusation that the believers were drunk. In this sermon, he had to refute the notion that he and John had healed the man by their own power.

Incidental Details...

Ninth hour is 3 pm…Hour of Prayer.

Lame man, since birth. Used to be carried and set at the gate to beg

Beautiful Gate - Show Maps

- People see the Church as a source of help & resources.

The giving of alms was an important part of the Jewish faith, so beggars found it profitable to be near the temple. Since the believers had pooled their resources (Acts 2:44–45), the two Apostles had no money to give; but money was not what the man needed most. He needed salvation for his soul and healing for his body, and money could provide neither. - BEC Wiersbe

A CAREFUL QUESTION: What can we do do to help break the cycle of dependent benevolence?

Are we helping them stay dependent of the gifts or to become dependent on the GIVER?!

If we fill a wallet, or a cupboard but never really share the Gospel - we haven’t helped them beyond this world.

SO THERE IS THIS TENSION - Hear me, please - We MUST help with food and money - but WE MUST SHARE THE GOSPEL, that Jesus died to forgive sins and break the power of sin —> To Set people free!

Offer jobs and the Gospel.

“God is good”: Homeless man receives job, outpouring of support

by Jenny Mount · Apr 22nd, 2021 12:11 pm

https://disrn.com/news/god-is-good-homeless-man-receives-restaurant-gift-card-and-outpouring-of-suppor

Last Updated Apr 22nd, 2021 at 4:31 pm

A homeless man's boss posted on social media asking for recommendations for affordable motels, but instead received an outpouring of support. Kenneth Smith was hungry and half asleep just outside a Fort Worth Outback Steakhouse a few months ago when a woman leaving the restaurant approached him and asked if he was alright. ‘No, I'm not OK at this time," Smith said. The woman gave him a $100 gift card to buy dinner. "I actually chilled after I got through eating because I was big and full," Smith said later. While he was sitting in the booth at the restaurant, he got to talking to the managing partner, Laura Hodges. "Hey, I don't ever want you to want for food or go hungry," Hodges told Smith. "I want you to always have somewhere that you can get a warm meal. So, here's my business card. Bring it anytime."

Hodges helped feed Smith for almost five months before he asked for a job.

Smith is now on staff bussing tables and cleaning. However, Smith still needed help finding a place to stay, so Hodges posted on a local Facebook page asking for recommendations of motels with affordable rates. Instead of recommendations, commenters have now paid for six weeks at a nearby Extended Stay hotel, as well as donated more than $2,200, a bike, clothing, kitchen items, and groceries. "I had absolutely no idea that people were going to latch onto that," said Hodges. "All they wanted to do was throw assistance out there and resources in any way that they possibly could." Smith is saving up his money for a car, then a home, and one day hopes to have his own food service business. "This is a whole new beginning that God has blessed me with, so I'm trying to get on this right good track that he wants me to stay on," Smith continued. "God is good. If he can do it for me, he can do it for anybody else."

- We need to Truly SEE Each Other in Light of Christ!

benevolence and benevolent!

mended and broken!

transformed and transforming!

I think it is safe to say that we are all on a trek of Sanctification.

Resist the urge to compare yourself to someone across the sanctuary. That does no good, Look to God the Father and allow Him to lead you.

PETER is a great example of this: He submitted to the Father and he BECOMES a Magnificent Example of A WITNESS and DISCIPLE!!

But we can learn from his example, we can learn from his transformation - Because was NOT always so steller.

FSB - PETER THE APOSTLE (Πέτρος, Petros).

An apostle of Jesus Christ and one of the three named pillars of the early church in Jerusalem.

Peter was the first Christian missionary to the Gentiles,

a Christian missionary to the Jews,

and a Christian martyr in Rome.

Also called Cephas. Faithlife Corporation. “Logos Bible Software Factbook.”, April 22, 2021.

Introduction to Peter - Barry, John D., eds. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.

Simon Peter is one of Jesus’ first disciples and later becomes the spokesman of the Twelve.

Although Jesus gives Simon the name “Peter” (“rock”; Πέτρος, Petros; in Matt 16:18; Mark 3:16; Κηϕᾶς, Kēphas; in John 1:42),

Peter’s ability to live up to it is often in doubt in the Gospels.

Peter’s rebuke of the Lord (Matt 16:22–23; Mark 8:32–33),

his falling asleep in the garden (Matt 26:40; Mark 14:37),

his attack on Malchus (Mark 14:47; John 18:10–11),

and his denial of Jesus (Matt 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:55–61; John 18:15–27) all support this perception.

However, Jesus’ reinstatement of Peter in John 21:15–17 (“Do you love Me … feed My sheep”) communicates His confidence in and selection of him as the head of the early church.

Luke demonstrates this in the book of Acts, which portrays Peter as a bold proclaimer of the gospel (Acts 2:14–41; 3:12–26; 4:8–21),

a miracle worker (Acts 3:1–11; 9:32–35, 38–42),

an authoritative figure in the early church (Acts 1:15–26; 5:3–10; 8:14–17; 15:7–11),

the first missionary to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1–45),

and a missionary to the Jews outside of Jerusalem (Acts 12:17).

Ultimately, Peter demonstrates his total devotion as a follower of Jesus when he dies a martyr’s death in Rome (1 Clement 5:4).

- True Transformation in the Gospel is a Catalyst in our lives to LOOK for EPHESIANS 2:10 opportunities like this lame beggar.

- Benevolence SHOULD Open Doors for the Gospel

Remember where you were – LOST

Remember those that helped – LEARN to do the same.

Remember to tell your Story – LEAK God’s Story!

FOLLOW UP for the story - tGbtg!! v. 12-16 —> Peter turned to a fearless proclaimer of the TRUTH, The True Gospel.

Acts 3:12–16 NASB95

12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

What NOW?

Acts 2:38 (NASB95)

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.