Setting up the Tabernacle, Part 1Exodus 40:1-15. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2#“On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3#And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. 4#And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5#And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 6#You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, 7#and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar,…

Setting up the Tabernacle, Part 2Exodus 40:16-38.This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did. 17#In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. 18#Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19#And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 20#He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21#And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the…

ChallengeActs 3:17-21.“And now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. “But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. “Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, “whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” Dear Citizens of Heaven,In his hard-hitting sermon, Peter also offered a lifeline to his hearers. Yes, they were guilty of the murder of God’s anointed Messiah, but on their part, it was out of Foolishness (v.…

ClarificationActs 3:12-16.And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied before Pilate when he had decided to release him. “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, “and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. “And his name – by faith in his name – has made this man strong whom you see…

AmazementActs 3:8-11.And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God And recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. Dear Family,One cannot quite imagine the gratitude the crippled beggar felt. To have had no hope of more than alms one minute, to a normal, healthy body the next, and without warning! Exultation (v. 8). The man was overcome with joy. It is as if…

A Cripple HealedActs 3:1-7.Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”And he took him by the right…

Community LifeActs 2:42-47.And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many signs and wonders were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Dear Household of Faith,A large number of new believers changed the dynamics of relationships. The…

Soul HarvestActs 2:37-41.Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”And with many other words, he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Dear Ambassadors of the Risen King,Any…

Peter Responds, Part 5Acts 2:29-36. “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.“Being, therefore, a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would see one of his descendants on his throne,“he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.“This Jesus God raised up, and of that, we are all witnesses.“Being, therefore, exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.“For David did not ascend into the heavens,…

Peter Responds, Part 4Acts 2:25-28. “For David says concerning him,‘I saw the Lord always before me,for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;my flesh also will dwell in hope.For you will not abandonmy soul to Hadesor let your Holy One see corruption.You have made known to me the paths of life;you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'” Dear Family, Peter refers the crowd to the prophecy of David in the Psalms (Psalm 16:8-11). This strengthens Peter’s claim that Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (v. 23). Position (v. 25).David, speaking in the assumed position of Jesus, declared that he would always be in God’s favor. The right…