ripple effect: vacaville

Read Acts 4:23-37.

1. How do you think everyone would have felt when Peter and John got back from jail? Happy, because their friends were back? Petrified, because of the gag order? Angry, because the religious leaders still didn’t get it?
2. Regardless of how they felt, they still decided that prayer would be the best route. It gave them perspective to realize that they served a God who is in control. Yeah, there was definitely a conspiracy against Jesus from Herod and Pilate; but that didn’t change the fact that God was in control.
3. Oh, and the whole threat thing…well, they put it before God and asked for BOLDNESS. Heck yeah. They are owning the fact that threats were made, but they are also owning the fact that they have a job to do.
4. Here we go again. This time God brings something like a Holy Spirit earthquake. It’s on like Donkey Kong…

5. I really do think life would be better if we could all share our possessions. I’m not for Communism, but I do like the idea of sharing and not having ownership.
6. God was providing for the disciples while they are preaching. Everyone had what they needed. Can you imagine selling your home to distribute the money for the church to use?
7. Here’s Barnabas. I love his name because it means “Son of Encouragement.” He must have been one nice guy. Cyprus is that little island south of Greece, right? Anyway, he sold his land to give to the disciples. We’ll be hearing more from him…