Student Devotion Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

Key Verse: Acts 2:32, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."

"Man raised from the Dead!" It sounds like a headline you'd read in the National Enquirer. But this fact is the basis for Christianity. The heart of the gospel isn't a list of rules or regulations. It's Jesus' message that we need-and can have-new life. And this new life is available to anyone who believes Jesus died and arose from the dead.

In Acts 2:14-33 Peter follow up the incredible baptism of the Holy Spirit with an awesome Pentecost sermon. He speaks the truth about the Holy Spirit-that God had promised it and kept that promise. And then Peter boldly proclaims that the Jesus they'd all watched die is alive again. More than anything else, this defined the beliefs of the apostles and the early church. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity because Christ would still be dead.

The truths about Jesus in Peter's sermon have always been the Church's central message; it should be a message we claim for ourselves. Because Jesus is alive, we can have a relationship with him and he's working in our lives on a daily basis. IT gives us confidence in the hope that one day we, too, will be resurrected. This week we'll look at what the resurrection means to us on a daily basis.

Student Devotion Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Key Verse: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." I Corinthians 6:19-20

It was dramatic . Rushing wind...pyrotechnics...crowds reeling in amazement...and one of the most effective sermons ever preached. This is how the Church was born at Pentecost. In one day more than 3,000 people began the church in Jerusalem.

Those believers were the start of something big. Since then the Church has faithfully passed the message of Jesus Christ from generation to generation throughout the ages. Eventually someone told you. The church you're now a part of grew from the message of Christ that the early Christians presented thousands of years ago.

The Holy Spirit of God made a surprise entrance at Pentecost, assuring us that from then on we'd be able to do things that used to be impossible. The Spirit now empowers us, guides us to the truth, teaches us, and helps us share our faith. With the Spirit, amazing things are suddenly a possibility.

As believers, one of our main tasks is to remain connected to the Holy Spirit. This week we'll look at how the Spirit helps us and find out how to take advantage of the many miraculous opportunities the Spirit gives us every day.

Student Devotion Week 3: The Church Founders: The Choosing of Matthias

Key Verse: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that hte body of Christ may be built up." Ephesians 4:11-12

Every story has a beginning, and yours goes all the way back to the disciples. One disciple in particular, Peter, is a big figure inthe Church. He's depicted in paintings, he wrote a couple of books in the New Testament, and it's said he has this sweet gig at the pearly gates. But back in the book of Acts, none of this was on his radar. In fact, all the disciples were a little confused. Jesus had always made the decisions, but suddenly the disciples-a group of ordinary Joes-were alone. They must have thought, We're here, but what are we supposed to do?

They went to work anyway, starting with the decision to replace Judas. Jesus had selected 12 disciples; therefore, it seemed important to continue to have 12. The disciples prayed that God would show them the right person, and God did. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.

From there it's all history. Everything was happening according to God's plan. Little did the disciples know they were the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ. The church you attend today can be traced back to these original followers of Christ.

This week we're looking at the apostles, the people Paul referred to as the foundation of the Church. As we study them, try to put yourself in their shoes. Think about what it would've been like to see the early Church get started. Imagine how people might have treated them. Try to picture the kind of faith the apostles must have had.