At the temple gate sits a beggar who has not walked for years, the story he tells about himself says nothing will ever change. Then one day Peter and John stop beside him, and for the first time he walks into the temple on his own feet (Acts 3-4). This sermon shows the collision between the stories we feed our lives with and the story of Jesus, the only one that truly transforms people and about which, like the apostles, we cannot stay silent. Listen and see which story is shaping your life today.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In Acts 4 the religious leaders ask Peter and John by what power they healed the beggar. What does their answer reveal about where the apostles' authority comes from?
- The leaders see the healed man with their own eyes, yet they forbid speaking about Jesus. Why do you think it is so hard for them to accept what they saw?
- For years the beggar told himself the story that he would never leave his place outside the temple. What stories about yourself do you carry, and how can the story of Jesus change them?
- The speaker pointed out that the Greek word used for healing is also used for salvation: being made whole and restored physically, emotionally and spiritually. How does this change your understanding of salvation?
- Peter and John say they cannot stop speaking about what they have seen and heard. What makes it easier at times to believe quietly than to talk about your faith?
- Who can you tell this week about how Jesus is changing your life, and how do you plan to do it?
