Acts 4: When Ordinary People Become Courageous

Today, Dave Blow continues our look at the birth of the church in the book of Acts. What does it mean to be courageous and how can the Holy Spirit help us to have real courage in the world?

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Prior to the teaching and just before dismissing the children to KidsPoint, Dave showed this clip from The Wizard of Oz.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from this week's teaching?

2. Read Acts 3:1-4:31 (preferably in multiple translations). What part of the story or sermon stood out to you most? Was there a verse, idea, or challenge that particularly encouraged or stretched you?

3. Peter and John stopped and truly saw the man at the temple gate. Who are the people in your everyday life that are easy to overlook? What might it look like to pay closer attention to them this week?

4. Peter said, “What I do have I give you.” What gifts, abilities, experiences, or resources has God given you that could be used to serve and encourage others?

5. The sermon suggested that courage is not the absence of fear but moving forward despite fear. Can you think of a time when God helped you act courageously, even when you felt uncertain or afraid?

6. The early church responded to opposition with prayer, asking for boldness rather than safety. Why do you think they prayed this way? What might it look like for us to pray for boldness in our own lives and community?

7. The sermon connected courage and spiritual warfare with everyday choices such as forgiveness, compassion, hope, and truthfulness.

8. Which of these areas feels most challenging for you right now, and how might the Holy Spirit help you grow in that area?

9. Pray with and for one another, our church community, and our world.

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Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: david@theharbournewmarket.ca

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Courage this morning. We're going to talk about when ordinary people become courageous. And uh you notice I have my handler here today, so I have the hard text of God's word, big print, and everything. So we're good to go. Well, over the last few weeks, we've been talking about the birth of the church. And we began with Jesus telling his followers to wait. Then we witnessed Pentecost, and we saw that ordinary people were filled with the presence of God. And last week we saw a community birth that was devoted to teaching fellowship and prayer and a shared life. And today we are going to learn about something that also marked the early church and something that doesn't get talked about a lot often, and that's courage. So not what we celebrate in the movies, not fearlessness necessarily or bravado. This is a courage that we encounter that's much deeper. The courage that knows that God is with you, and the courage to keep loving, even when it'd be easier to withdraw. So our uh our passage this morning is long, so we'll just uh dive into a few areas. Uh chapter 3, verses 1 to 8. And we see here that uh Peter and John are doing something quite simply. They're just walking to the temple for prayer. It's an ordinary day. Nothing about what we're going to read suggests that something remarkable is about to happen. So let's see what the text says this morning. 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 him attention, expecting to get something in return. Then Peter said, Silver and 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, 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, 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. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to them. Well, what was going to be just a simple walk into the temple turned out something far greater. And I think that's important this morning. God works through ordinary moments. So we see that Peter and John approach the temple and they encounter a man who'd been unable to walk since birth. Now, this man, history would suggest that had lived with this disability his entire life. Luke tells us that he was lame from birth and was carried daily to the Kent Temple Gate called Beautiful, and he simply begged from those entering the temple. And as we've learned before and we've seen before, that people in the ancient world who were disabled had very few opportunities, certainly none for employment or social advancement, and they were frequently dependent on family members for the generosity and for their survival. So although he was present at the temple every day, he remained on the margins of society, excluded from really full participation in most aspects of community life. And so after his encounter with Peter and John, he not only received physically a healing, but he also would have been restored into the worshiping community. And so he entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God. And we see that God's kingdom inch by inch is now breaking into the world through Jesus and his followers. How many people would have seen this beautiful story play out? Well, there would have been a lot. Certainly many would have been accustomed to his presence. Those of us who drive certain areas of the GTA know when there's someone standing at a light looking for spare change. And how often, of course, do we walk by? And back then they certainly would have walked by without really seeing this fellow. It would have been an inconvenience for sure. But Peter stops, and I love that detail. Peter stops. Peter looks straight at him, as did John. So before there was a healing, there was engagement. Before there was action, there was recognition. Peter saw the man, not as a problem, not as an interruption, not as a burden. Peter saw a person. And I think that's where the first act of courage often begins. Not with grand gestures, but with the willingness to simply notice people. And I think one of the challenges of modern life church is that we become very good at looking without seeing. We move quickly, we scroll quickly, we love to drive quickly, we work through our calendars quickly, we protect our schedules, and often we can miss the people that God's puts directly in front of us. And that could be anybody from a hurting neighbor to a lonely co-worker, you know, a struggling family member. And so I love this story where compassion interrupted Peter and John. They could have continued to the prayer meeting. They were busy people, they were going to birth a church, they are in the process of going to what would have been a time of worship or study. But they were interrupted. Compassion interrupted them. And that stopping changes everything in this text this morning. Peter says something direct. I got no money. Silver and gold, I do not have. And that can be anything, can it? A listening ear, a prayer, an invitation, a meal, kindness. The kingdom of God grows through ordinary acts of faithfulness. Well, Peter reaches out his hand. The man is healed. Instantly his life changes, and he begins walking, leaping, praising God. That would have been something. And of course, people are going to gather. Crowds always gather when something extraordinary happens, either good or bad. And again, Peter does something important here and so significant. He redirects attention. He refuses to make the miracle about himself. Instead, he points to Jesus. Again, he points to Jesus, a mark of spiritual maturity, which is remarkable, really, knowing Peter's journey. So when God works through us, the goal isn't self-promotion. We point to Jesus. That's our goal. And what a beautiful illustration. This encounter is just a wonderful demonstration of the rhythm, Christ's compassion, his power, where not only a physical healing is happened, but the restoration to a worshiping community entering the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. What a beautiful sign again of God's kingdom breaking through. Thy kingdom come. Now, if this was a modern church growth book, pick one off Amazon. The story might end there. A miracle. Crowd. Celebration. But the acts tells a more honest story. The moment the church began impacting people, opposition appeared. The religious leaders are disturbed. Peter and John are arrested, questioned, threatened. And that's going to introduce an important theme that runs throughout Acts. So faithfulness, we see, doesn't always lead to comfort. Sometimes faithfulness creates tension. Sometimes doing the right thing attracts criticism and following Jesus can cost something, church. Now, the leaders weren't upset merely because of a healing. They were upset with the big picture because these guys are proclaiming that Jesus is alive. So that immediately challenges their assumptions. It threatens the leader's authority, it disrupts the status quo. And I find it kind of ironic that whenever God begins doing something new, people often resist. And it's not because they're necessarily evil. Change can feel threatening. And that can certainly feel true in our own lives. But sometimes the Spirit calls us into a new way of living and new seasons of generosity, new seasons of courage. But it's so easy to resist growth because it requires letting go of what's familiar. Now let's briefly look at Peter. You can probably tell by now that he's one of my favorite characters for a variety of reasons. But doing some research here only a few weeks earlier, likely around 50 days, so he hasn't had a lot of time with this new life. But 50 days earlier approximately, Peter stood around another fire denying that he even knew Jesus. And here he is now at the temple, attracting crowds, but not only attracting crowds, boldly declaring the name of Jesus and extending healing to a man who had never walked. Well, what happened? I don't think the answer is that Peter suddenly became courageous. I think that would be a stretch. I'm not sure life happens like that. I believe the answer is the Holy Spirit. And Acts chapter 8, or Acts and verse 8 says, then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, did what he did. And that changes everything. Filled with the Holy Spirit. It's not self-generated courage, it's spirit-generated courage. And that's good news because we're not all naturally courageous all of the time. And so I would say to you this morning that courage is moving forward despite fear, because we trust that God is present in our life. Now, I would say I'm thankful that I probably won't have to stand before religious authorities like Peter did. I probably won't get arrested. I would say again, I probably won't get arrested. But we face opportunities for courage every day, don't we? The courage to apologize, the courage to forgive, the courage to speak truth and kindness, and the courage to remain hopeful during difficult seasons. And they shape our lives. They may be small, but they shape our lives. And so the leaders ask, by what power or name did you do this? Peter didn't have a 15-minute sermon prepared. It was one word. Jesus. By what power or name did you do this? Jesus. Not Peter's brilliance, not Peter's strength, Jesus. Well, Acts continually points us back to the source. The church exists because of Jesus. The mission belongs to Jesus. The power comes from Jesus. And another great verse, chapter 4, 13, they recognize that they were unschooled ordinary men. Ordinary. Sounds like us. And that should encourage all of us this morning. The religious leaders saw nothing impressive about Peter and John, certainly no elite credentials, no social status. Yet something was unmistakable. They took note that the men had been with Jesus. Not that they had impressive resumes, not that they were famous. And I would say that's the greatest witness we can have to be with Jesus. Now I'd be remiss in moving on without a little conversation about spiritual warfare and spiritual courage. And we talked, I guess, two weeks ago now, that the work of the Holy Spirit involves spiritual resistance. And we've seen that over the years depicted in many, many ways. And spiritual warfare is not only about dramatic encounters. Last week I shared during our prayer time that we had had uh Sherry and I had had close friends lose their son who would be in his 40s to a drug overdose, and he took his own life and they came home and found found him deceased in the home. And so we got a text on the Saturday night. We prayed last Sunday, and I had an appointment to go and visit with them. Last Sunday was a great Sunday. We had our time of community. I can't think of anything different than happened. And I started feeling just off on the way home. Got home, changed my clothes, and I was feeling awful. Like I had the worst case of the flu ever. And I couldn't place it. And Sherry asked me what I wanted for lunch, and I said, nothing. Like nothing. And I knew I had this appointment in probably a couple hours. It would have been around noon. And so I thought, boy, you know, well, let me just text them and confirm. So I text, text, text, hey guys, how you know, we am I good to slip up? And uh they're like, oh yes, yes, we're really excited about you coming. And I was feeling awful. So I retired to the lazy boy in the back room and uh took a nap for an hour, woke up feeling a little better, and said to Sherry, you know what? I'm heading up. I know the Lord wants me to be there. I was feeling a little better, but not much. I got there. We just had a beautiful time, a visit, they made coffee. I walked through the note that was left with them, encouraging them, and I started to feel physically better. I can't explain it. I don't think you get the 14-minute flu. I have no explanation. However, I've been working through this text and have been reading through Acts, reading through Acts, and um I think the I think sin, Satan, the fallen world, that's alive, that's present. We don't talk about it a lot, but uh I think this week I experienced what that oppression feels like. But as I drove up there, it just kind of in prayer, because I had no idea what what to say, um, God was with us, and we've had subsequent uh conversations this week. So, another take on spiritual warfare. It's out there. Well, eventually, Peter and John are released from prison, and uh what uh what I love is the church gathered to pray. They don't pray for safety, they don't pray for boldness, they prayed for being enabled to speak God's word with great boldness. So the early church knew that the answer to opposition was not withdrawal, it was a deeper dependence on God. And Acts says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. So again and again and again and again, we see that this is a church that was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. So, what do we do with this? What does that mean for us this morning? And quickly, a few things. Courage begins with compassion. We're called to notice people rather than to rush past them. Simply put. Second, offer what you have. We don't all have money, but I would submit we all have something. God works through ordinary gifts offered faithfully. Thirdly, expect some resistance. I'm learning more and more each day that following Jesus does not always lead to comfort. But you know what? At the end of the day, it always leads towards life. Remember that courage is not fearlessness, it's trusting God in the midst of fear. Trusting God's presence in the midst of fear. And finally, the most powerful witness may simply be that people recognize we've been with Jesus. People know there's something different. And we've been with Jesus. So again, our stories and Acts are about ordinary people transformed by an extraordinary God. And certainly Peter and John were ordinary. The early church was ordinary, yet through the Holy Spirit they became courageous, not perfect, not fearless, but courageous. And I believe that's what God continues to do today, just taking ordinary people like us, forming us to love boldly, serve faithfully, and welcome generously and live courageously. And, you know, at the end of the day, whenever that is, I would be quite happy if someone said about me, Dave's been with Jesus. I think that would be a uh a suitable something to put somewhere. A long time down the road. Anyhow, church, that's my word for you this morning. And as uh Craig and Rick come back up, let me just pray for us. Well, thank you, Jesus, for loving us, and thank you for equipping us to do what you have called us to do. Give us courage to go into the hard places, give us eyes to see around us, but to really see, and ears to hear and uh identify and work with those who are hurting. We thank you for again your continued love, your compassion, and for offering us the opportunity to follow you. In Jesus' name. Amen.