Day 4 - Concord Students Journey

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.  Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God,  they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.  When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.  Acts 3 1-6

Jesus' name is a word we hear in many contexts these days. You've probably heard it on TV or or some video. You hear it at school or out on the sports field. You are most likely to hear it in a church spoken by "Church People". We know that even those church people however may not live up to the calling that comes with the name of Jesus. No matter where or why we hear or speak the name of Jesus, we should know that He is just as powerful today, just as loving today, just as righteous today, and just as much of a healer today as He ever was. It is true that the faith we have in the name of Jesus allows for us to participate in the ministry of God's Kingdom here on earth! When we set our own priorities aside and reflect on just what Jesus has done for all of us, we will begin to experience the life change that God intended for us when He sent His son Jesus to be with us.

1. When you are with your friends, do they see you as a church person? 

2. When you use the name of Jesus are you doing so to show others the love of Christ the way that Peter and John did? 

3. How can today be a day where you share Christ even to those that have previously rejected Him?