Scripture Focus: Acts 7.57-58
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

Reflection: The Wrong People
By Bridget Jack Jeffries

If you had to place a bet on whom God would use most to build up His kingdom based only on the first six chapters of Acts, you’d be smart to bet on Stephen. 

The book of Acts introduces Stephen to us as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6.5), as well as “full of God’s grace and power” (6.8). This was a man who even “performed great wonders and signs among the people” (6.8), a man who rhetorically annihilated all who opposed the gospel because of “the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke” (6.10). 

Moreover, Stephen seemed like a kindred spirit to Isaiah, who wrote, “Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword” (Isaiah 49.1–2). Stephen knew God’s call and allowed Him to fashion his mouth into a sharpened sword for His kingdom.

It might have been Stephen who spread the gospel throughout Asia Minor and Europe. It might have been Stephen who wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. Surely Stephen won’t need to die at the end of Acts 7! Surely God’s arm won’t be too short to save him! 

But Stephen did die. And instead of Stephen, God called a sinful man who had given full approval of Stephen’s death (Acts 8.1): Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the Apostle. It would be Paul who spread the gospel throughout his world. It would be Paul who wrote much of the New Testament. 

Do you admire Stephen, but have trouble relating to him? You’re not alone; Paul himself struggled with feeling unworthy (1 Corinthians 15.9-10). Many of us have felt like we’re the wrong people to build up God’s kingdom. We’ve led a past that contains divorce or addiction or sins that we think make us unworthy, and we let that past stop us from pursuing God’s kingdom with our whole hearts. We hold back on sacrificing our whole selves on God’s altar because we know how imperfect that sacrifice will be. 

We shouldn’t hold back. It’s okay that we’re imperfect because Christ has already been the perfect sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 10.14). That’s why God doesn’t just use the Stephens. He uses the Tamars (Matthew 1.3). And the Rahabs (Matthew 1.5). And the Pauls. 

If we’ll let him, God will use us, too. 

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; and a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. — Psalm 51.16-18

Today’s Readings
Isaiah 49 (Listen – 4:55)
Acts 7 (Listen – 8:49)

Read more about The Last Shall be First
Paul’s intention seems to be to humble himself, making himself as unimportant as possible.

Scripture Focus: Acts 6.1-7
“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.’ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Reflection: The Overflowing Plate
By Christian Englert

Regardless of vocation, a busy person will face temptation to add more to a full plate that cannot hold any more food. We see things that look luscious, healthy, and fulfilling. Taking on one more task in the kingdom of God might seem like a no-brainer. But we all have a limited capacity, and we need to be humble enough and wise enough to delegate to faithful people those things that we can’t fit on our plates. 

In the passage for today, the apostles felt the pressure of neglecting one task for another. If they focused on attending the tables, their teaching would suffer. So, they wisely sought people that could help with waiting on tables. They did not just seek out any group of people though. 

Rather, the apostles intended for a specific group of servers to be chosen. They were to be wise and “full of the Spirit.” That phrase is significant because Scripture states that the fruit of Spirit is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5.22-23) Those who are in Christ carry this Spirit and its fruits in them. Therefore, by choosing those “filled with the Spirit,” the apostles ensured those being served would experience these fruits and the nature of God.

When food continues to be piled on a full plate, eventually the plate will overflow. The same is true with schedules. They can become overbooked; resulting in overlooked tasks and compromised health. Even the most important thing we have to do in a week might be at risk of being done poorly, because the time required to complete it has been taken away.

When tempted to add to an already full plate, know that it is wise to ask for help. However, make sure you pay great attention to the person you choose to provide assistance. Are they someone who has the ability to complete the task at hand? Are they someone that is known to be reliable? This can be a difficult tension to manage but God will guide us in the process. Ask God for direction and watch for him to place the correct people in your path.

Remember that all things are to be done as though you are serving God, even when it takes a village to complete them.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Bless the Lord, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding, and hearken to the voice of his word.
Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his who do his will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. — Psalm 103.20-22

Today’s Readings
Isaiah 48 (Listen – 3:39)
Acts 6 (Listen – 2:35)

Read more about Faith Requires Humility
One reason faith is so difficult for today’s culture is that we devalue humility. And faith cannot exist without humility

Scripture Focus: Acts 5.29-32
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Reflection: Costly Obedience
By L.E. Mulford

In this short speech, Peter emphasizes obeying God in opposition to obeying the Sanhedrin. This was highly offensive to them because they viewed themselves as the spokesmen for God and did not differentiate between obeying their interpretation of the Old Testament Law and obeying God. 

Jesus did not follow the Sanhedrin and yet perfectly fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5.17). If God does not desire that we follow the 600+ legal requirements found in the Old Testament, as Galatians 2.16 demonstrates, what then does obedience to God look like?

If faith is our trust in God, obedience to God in doing good works is the natural expression of that trust. We are not meant to earn our faith through obedience, but rather to demonstrate our faith through obedience. James 2.17 goes so far as to say that faith without works is dead. 

In modern times, we don’t usually wrestle with the idea that we are bound to the laws of the Old Testament or to its Levitical priesthood. However, there are other unwritten laws and sometimes even religious leaders in our modern culture that many of us feel compelled to obey. So how can we discern whether our obedience is towards God or towards the power structures and the patterns of our culture—even our religious culture?

As with most things, we can look to the example of Jesus. What did his obedience cost him? What has my obedience cost me?

Jesus’s obedience took him to death on a cross (Philippians 2.8). 

What may be harder for each one of us to answer is this: have I obeyed even when it hurts? It might cost my bank account, my privacy, my personal space, or my rights. Can I love God and my neighbor by obeying God even when it doesn’t make earthly sense? If I have faith, and if I trust Him, then I can. 

The love of Jesus took him to the cross to die. He asks us to take up our own cross in obedience daily, to live every day by dying to our own rights, and to love and serve our neighbors. 

Does your love for God and your faith in Him give you the freedom to obey Him—even when it hurts?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Let them know that this is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it. — Psalm 109.26

Today’s Readings
Isaiah 47 (Listen – 2:52)
Acts 5 (Listen – 6:49)

Read more about Between Gerizim and Ebal
The tribes standing on Gerizim would pronounce the blessings that would come from obedience…

Scripture Focus: Acts 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Reflection: Firefall of the Spirit
By Jilian Brown

In the ten days following the ascension, Jesus’ disciples clung to His promise, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24.49) What sort of power? Would it be physical power or characterized by an inner knowing? Surely the disciples could not guess what form their “clothing” would take.Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, was the grain festival fifty days after Passover. (Leviticus 23.15) Due to its late spring date, this festival was often the most heavily attended by Jewish foreigners due to favorable weather and travel conditions. This was an optimal time for the message of Christ to go forth to many nations. The tongues of fire which swept through the upper room and landed on each person present were reminiscent of the guiding presence of God in the burning bush with Moses and the pillar of fire for the wandering Israelites. It was unmistakable that these flames were His spirit falling.

In Yosemite National Park, there is a phenomenon called “Firefall.” It only takes place around the second week of February and only if conditions are perfect. If winter snowfall was adequate that year and the temperature is warm enough to melt the snow, the runoff at Horsetail Fall is hit by sunset light to create the miraculous illusion of a fire waterfall. 

The conditions were not only perfect, but pre-ordained that Pentecost day. The harvest of souls was ready and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit upon the disciples sparked the birth of Christ’s church. The three thousand added that day were able to take the saving message of Christ back to their corners of the world where His grace was able to pour forth on the nations just as Joel prophesied. (v.17-21)

The firefall of the Spirit is always perfectly timed and always flows through individuals toward communities. The gifts of the indwelling Holy Spirit are available to all who will “repent and be baptized.” (v.38) Our fire may take the shape of a hand of service or a dollar sign of generosity instead of a tongue of language, but every gift is given for the purpose of building up the church. (Ephesians 4.11-16) What is your firefall? To whom is it flowing? It is meant to be shared.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Bless God in the congregation; bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel. — Psalm 68.26

Today’s Readings
Isaiah 44 (Listen – 5:12)
Acts 2 (Listen – 6:35)

This Weekend’s Readings
Isaiah 45 (Listen – 4:39), Acts 3 (Listen – 3:33)
Isaiah 46 (Listen – 2:12), Acts 4 (Listen – 5:15)

Read more about Too Much to Hold
“God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Scripture Focus: Acts 1.3-8
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

From John: Student Writers month is here! Between today, July 15, and continuing through August 10th, you’ll be hearing from ministry students. These students have joined our program to receive free writing coaching, seminars by special guests, and the experience of working for a ministry client. Not only will you be blessed by their writing, you have the opportunity to bless them. Approximately 90% of donations to The Park Forum during this time will be directed to scholarships/stipends for these talented students. Give during this time to support our ministry and theirs.

Reflection: Patience and Urgency
By Savannah Green

The Holy Spirit. A member of the Trinity, a gift to believers, and yet often a mystery. We hear the phrases, “The Spirit told me…” and “Where is the Spirit leading us?” in Christian communities. But what do we mean when we say this? Do we know what we are saying? Do we know the power of the Spirit working inside of us?

Acts 1:3-8 takes place between the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Jesus, we see in verse 3, appeared many times to the disciples over a span of 40 days. When Jesus was with the disciples, there was one thing he spoke of often: the kingdom of God. 

In verses 4-5, Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. They must remain in Jerusalem until they are baptized with the Spirit. When the disciples expected commands of action for the kingdom of God, Jesus commanded them to wait.

The disciples were in waiting. They were in anticipation. They hoped for restoration of the earthly kingdom of Israel, but Jesus spoke of something else. He spoke of a spiritual restoration of the kingdom where God reigns over the hearts of women and men. Spiritual restoration requires the Holy Spirit, the main character in Acts. Throughout this book, we see how the Spirit transforms the disciples’ perspective of the kingdom of God. Jesus redirects the disciples’ away from earthly power. Now, the disciples wait for the Holy Spirit, anticipating a spiritual kingdom. 

But why wait? Perhaps the disciples wondered why they must wait to begin proclaiming the kingdom. Isn’t this good news worth sharing now with urgency?

Urgency needs guidance and power. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” The Holy Spirit empowers kingdom proclamation and service. The gospel is worth sharing now with urgency, The Spirit fuels the urgency to witness to others. 

We can hear the command “you will be my witnesses” just as the disciples did. Letting the Spirit shape our lives testifies to God’s reign over our hearts. This is not something we can do on our own. Jesus’ command to wait reveals the necessity of the Spirit. The Spirit is essential as we proclaim God’s kingdom and serve with urgency as Christ’s witnesses.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.” — John 15.1-3

Today’s Readings
Isaiah 43 (Listen – 4:06)
Acts 1 (Listen – 3:58)

Read more about Fruitful in Suffering
We can be fruitful in the land of our suffering, not by our own cleverness, craft, or scheming, but by the Holy Spirit.