Tuesday 11/9/21

  • Read Acts 21: 17-36

Random thought alert: Yesterday we read about Philip with the four unmarried daughters. I love how the focus shifts from physical offspring to spiritual offspring in this new season for the church. These four women get remembered forever in these pages!

James, in verse 25, references the decision made in chapter 15 regarding the Gentile believers. If you missed Keith’s sermon from Sunday, October 17- it is well worth going back and listening.

Not being Jewish, we no doubt miss a lot of the purification issues, food issues, and temple issues. But it’s hard to miss the strain between the Jewish and Gentile believers.

Paul surely has the right to not go through the purification- after all he himself tells us in the beginning of the book of Ephesians that we as believers have been made holy. But he chooses to set aside his rights for the good of the whole community.

  • Are there ways right now that you could set aside your ‘rights’ in order to promote unity and community?
  • How do you see or not see this happening in our church season right now?

Monday 11/8/21

  • Read Acts 21: 1-16

Watch the following video from our friends at the Bible Project:

  • What stands out to you from the video? Any questions or thoughts?
  • What route would you take, who would you visit, if you knew you wouldn’t see them ever again?
  • What have been the hard tasks that the Lord has given you that you set about to do? How did following His desires for you work out?
  • What is before you now that you know the Lord has for you, but you are hesitant?

Sunday 11/7/21

Our predictable rhythm leads us to spend our Sabbath in worship and prayer.

Pray and worship in the ways that you connect best to the Father’s heart. Think through another list of thankfulness.

Saturday 11/6/21

  • Read Acts 20: 13-38

Paul has a sad farewell with the elders of the church in Ephesus. He served them well and long- three years. I love his deep affection and love for those the Lord has put in his path. It is surely a model to me.

He leaves them with some things to do. These seem good for us to also ponder today:

  • Keep watch over yourself (v28). What do you think this looks like in your life?
  • Be shepherds of the church of God (v28). Who is there around you that you are a shepherd of? Kids? Younger siblings? Friends?

We are all further down the path than someone, we can all shepherd people.

  • Through hard work help the weak (v35). Paul quotes Jesus saying how good it is to give versus receive. Where and how could you grow in generosity?

Friday 11/5 /21

  • Read Acts 20: 1-12

Hmmm…. what a wild story!

  • When have you witnessed a clear miracle? No other explanation…the work of the Spirit alone. Describe what happened and how you felt.

I’ve never seen someone raised from the dead, and I’m guessing that you haven’t either, but the Spirit is surely at work amongst us.

  • What are works of the Spirit that you see here at Riverside, in your Home Group, or with friends?
  • What about your spiritual life is bringing you excitement in this season of life? (obviously in this passage, Paul’s speaking was pretty exciting!)

Thursday 11/4/21

  • Read Acts 19: 23-41

Of course it wouldn’t be a journey with Paul without a little rioting!

Paul has been so successful in his endeavor to share the good news, that many people quit spending money to prop up the ‘false god’ industry. This might seem laughable- but think about the ‘false god’ industry in your sphere:

  • Alcohol
  • Drug addiction (escapism)
  • Pornography
  • Materialism
  • Recreation that prohibits our God worship
  • Worship of the self:
  • Worship of food/ gluttony
  • Work
  • Family/ friends/ people
  • Entertainment

Other ideas…?

All of these things, and some of them completely ‘good’ things- like friends and family- can become idols or false gods for us.

Spend some time right now asking the Spirit to search your heart to reveal anything standing in the way of you offering your whole self to God for His glory.

Wednesday 11/3/21

  • Read Acts 19: 1-22

It’s like these chapters are a whirlwind—Paul in a new place every chapter. Similar rhythms are evident as he preaches and teaches both the Jews and the Greeks. He is incredibly focused on the task that God has given him.

I also appreciate that he is on the lookout for the Spirit’s work. He recognizes some disciples in verse 2 but is wanting them to receive the Spirit so that they have God’s power to live and serve inside of them.

Then we see some Jews try to appropriate the power of the Spirit (v 13), only to be rebuked.

Then we see repentance and a godly fear of the power of the Lord Jesus resulting in an incredibly spreading of the word.

The following is a short video by our Bible Project friends just about the Holy Spirit- take a look:

  • How do you see evidence of the Spirit’s work in your own life?

Perhaps it is evidenced in your changed character to match what is described in Galatians 5, or perhaps you see yourself equipped in unique ways to build up the body as described in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. However you see it happening, the Spirit does a predictable work in all of us- conforming us to the image/ character of Jesus and using us to bring glory to the Father through our gifts.