DAY ONE - Lather, rinse, repeat
Acts 11:1-18
In this section we get another recounting of Peter's experience regarding Cornelius and the Gentiles. considering the short manner in which most New Testament stories are told (most are given only a few verses), why do you think this story in particular is given 66 verses?
Consider yourself as Peter: what dream has God given you to prepare you for an unexpected and otherwise unpleasant event? (Peter was prepared to go among the "unclean", with whom he never otherwise might have sat with.)
Consider yourself as Cornelius: what message have you had to be prepared in advance to hear? (Cornelius might not have accepted a Jewish messenger or foreign religion.)
Consider yourself as the apostles and brethren in Judaea: when have you balked at another's actions, thinking them not in line with your perception of the gospel or it's practices? (The brethren were getting caught up in practices or traditions instead of principles and doctrine.)
Consider yourself as Peter: what dream has God given you to prepare you for an unexpected and otherwise unpleasant event? (Peter was prepared to go among the "unclean", with whom he never otherwise might have sat with.)
Consider yourself as Cornelius: what message have you had to be prepared in advance to hear? (Cornelius might not have accepted a Jewish messenger or foreign religion.)
Consider yourself as the apostles and brethren in Judaea: when have you balked at another's actions, thinking them not in line with your perception of the gospel or it's practices? (The brethren were getting caught up in practices or traditions instead of principles and doctrine.)
DAY TWO - Defining and redefining
Acts 11:19-26
Acts 10 and 11 talk about taking the gospel message to those who were not Jewish. As you can see by the amount of scripture dwelling on the topic, this was a big deal at the time. As this new church emerges, the leaders and members struggle to find their way, defining and redefining what it means to be a Christian, and how to integrate their Jewish faith.
How have you defined and redefined your idea of what a mother is? Where have you taken your ideas from (scripture, ancestors, church, friends, mentors, etc)? What has changed your definition over the years? What is your current definition?
How have you defined and redefined your idea of what a mother is? Where have you taken your ideas from (scripture, ancestors, church, friends, mentors, etc)? What has changed your definition over the years? What is your current definition?
DAY THREE - Your ability
Acts 11:27-30
"Every man, according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren."
When we are called to serve, we are called to give according to our ability. What does it mean to you to give according to your ability? How do you determine what is enough? What is too much? What is the difference between being stretched to grow and being stretched too thin?
As mothers, our day to day actions are about giving relief to our husband and children. How do you serve them according to your ability? How do you determine where and how you might need some help? When in the past have you realized something was beyond your ability? How did you deal with it?
When we are called to serve, we are called to give according to our ability. What does it mean to you to give according to your ability? How do you determine what is enough? What is too much? What is the difference between being stretched to grow and being stretched too thin?
As mothers, our day to day actions are about giving relief to our husband and children. How do you serve them according to your ability? How do you determine where and how you might need some help? When in the past have you realized something was beyond your ability? How did you deal with it?
DAY FOUR - The big bully
Acts 12:1-11, 20-25
Herod is acting like a classic bully. Write down the characteristics in this passage that show him as such. Now mark the one action that the church felt they could do on behalf of Peter.
This is a dramatic, gritty story. This is about prison, death, torture, dingy jail cells, torn clothing, persecution. It may be a few short verses, but the story played out in real life, with Peter being roughly apprehended, thrown into a stone cold prison cell, maybe beaten and starved and mocked. With James' death just earlier, Peter probably thought this was the end of his life also. While we quickly discover the happy ending of deliverance, while Peter was in this trial it certainly didn't give a feeling of peace and love and happiness.
Just like hits moment in Peter's life, our own lives can have dark, gritty times. Have you or your children ever been the victim of bullying? How was that circumstance similar to Peter and Herod's? In this story, an angel of the Lord is sent to deliver Peter from the hands of his bully, but it isn't until Peter is actually out in the streets that he realizes he is actually being delivered. How were you able to be delivered? Did you see it happening as it did, or did it take some time? Draw as many appropriate parallels as you can between this scripture story and your own story.
PS - Did you notice in the last 5 verses that God delivered justice to Herod? Remember that he does not like when others bully those who love him. Vengeance is his.
This is a dramatic, gritty story. This is about prison, death, torture, dingy jail cells, torn clothing, persecution. It may be a few short verses, but the story played out in real life, with Peter being roughly apprehended, thrown into a stone cold prison cell, maybe beaten and starved and mocked. With James' death just earlier, Peter probably thought this was the end of his life also. While we quickly discover the happy ending of deliverance, while Peter was in this trial it certainly didn't give a feeling of peace and love and happiness.
Just like hits moment in Peter's life, our own lives can have dark, gritty times. Have you or your children ever been the victim of bullying? How was that circumstance similar to Peter and Herod's? In this story, an angel of the Lord is sent to deliver Peter from the hands of his bully, but it isn't until Peter is actually out in the streets that he realizes he is actually being delivered. How were you able to be delivered? Did you see it happening as it did, or did it take some time? Draw as many appropriate parallels as you can between this scripture story and your own story.
PS - Did you notice in the last 5 verses that God delivered justice to Herod? Remember that he does not like when others bully those who love him. Vengeance is his.
DAY FIVE - Are we crazy?
Acts 12:12-19
Have you ever felt like Rhoda, where you are bursting with joy so much at something so awesome, and everyone looks at you and says "Are you mad (crazy)?" The NIV translation says "You are out of your mind."
What was the last time you were so stoked over something you learned, read, saw or experienced?Did you feel the excitement brimming over? Did you try to share with everyone you came across? Did they look at your like you were out of your mind?
Jot down your memory of this experience and take a moment to feel that joy all over again.
What was the last time you were so stoked over something you learned, read, saw or experienced?Did you feel the excitement brimming over? Did you try to share with everyone you came across? Did they look at your like you were out of your mind?
Jot down your memory of this experience and take a moment to feel that joy all over again.
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