Pastor's Ponderings: Monday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 4:13-22 (September 8, 2025)

September 8, 2025:  Monday Bible Study on Acts 4:13-22

Good morning my dear friends in Christ. Over the weekend we had several members who experienced the severe weather on the far west side of Tucson on the west side of the Tucson Mountains. They did have some damage to outdoor furniture and shade covers, and one lost windowpane. Prayers of thanksgiving that they were OK as this moved through their areas of the west side. Please keep Larry and Joyce in your prayers as Larry recovers from back surgery, and post operative complications with medications. It’s been a difficult time for them. Larry is now in recuperative care.

Today we continue with our study of the Acts of the Apostles. We know that Peter and John have been brought before the Sanhedrin for a hearing. I am not sure that we could call it a trial yet. Obviously, this group of high power and wealthy Jews thought that this problem had been solved when they murdered Jesus, but here it is again, the same kind of miracle healing, and the same messages about Jesus the Messiah. The big difference here in this passage is that the Sanhedrin has no popular support in the actions that they might choose to take, and Peter and John are not claiming Messiahship for themselves. The two of them are just people who were known to accompany Jesus who the leaders killed. The Sanhedrin could find no reason to destroy them, and yet they had to do something. So, they brought Peter and John back before them, and told them they were to no longer speak of, or mention, the name of Jesus to anyone. But even at this Peter and John claim that they cannot contain the things that they have been talking about! They are moved to speak with a power that is beyond themselves, and to do the works of Christ which continue through their actions of healing and preaching. Both Peter and John, and perhaps the other disciples, had come to understand that no matter what the danger and threats of the Sanhedrin, such danger and its consequences would only be temporary, short lived compared to the eternal promises of the Savior to bring them to Himself when their lives ended.  Those very same promises belong to you and me. I know that none of us want suffering and pain in our lives, but like these disciples, we should know that compared to the love of Christ and His promises in eternity, worldly difficulties hold no power over our Christ Promised Eternal Life and Salvation.  You and I know that holding on to this promise becomes more difficult when we are not gathered with the Body of Christ, the Church, and the people of faith who are part of our faith family. What are we really admitting when our response to attending Sunday worship, or other Festival Services during the year? We believe that we are too committed in other places, too busy with our families or with work, or we are just tired and need to recover on Sunday separated from the Church with which Christ has gifted all of us. All too often we look at this gift as just another commitment that we are too busy, too tired, or too frustrated to take on. Peter and John really had every reason to stay away from speaking about Jesus, and every reason to be in the shadows, yet they knew they must speak and act with the power of the Savior in their lives. They had given their hearts to their Master and Savior and were compelled to continue forward with the ministry which Jesus had begun, revealing God's Truth and Love for His children. Their personal experience of Christ while they were able to be with Him transformed their living and their thinking, moving their lives to devotion which transcended their fear of any threat which they might have to meet head on.

Today, if the church seems less significant in the world, it is not the church that is less important, but it is those of us who have lost our way and forgotten the sacrifice and Love of Christ for our lives which has made us think that we don't need Christ's Church.  The Church is Christ's gift for all people.

Thanks for being with me today. May the riches of Christ's Love call you home to His Church. With Love in Christ, Pastor Kim