Spiritual Disciplines – Page 7

Acts 21 on 10/30 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 21 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul’s journey to Jerusalem was filled with both love and warning. The believers at Tyre urged him through the Spirit not to go, but Paul’s heart was set on obeying God’s call (vv. 4–6). In Caesarea, the prophet Agabus bound himself with Paul’s belt, foretelling his arrest in Jerusalem (vv. 10–11). Even then, Paul would not turn back—he was ready “not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13). His companions could only answer, “Let the will of the Lord be done” (v. 14).

In Jerusalem, Paul was warmly received by James and the elders (vv. 17–20). To counter false rumors that he rejected Jewish law, Paul joined in a purification ritual at the temple (vv. 23–26). But when some Jews from Asia saw him there, they accused him of defiling the temple by bringing in a Gentile, which sparked a violent mob (vv. 27–29). Roman soldiers rushed in to stop the chaos, arresting Paul and carrying him away as the crowd shouted, “Away with him!” (vv. 30–36). Yet even then, Paul asked to speak to the people (vv. 37–40)—still seeing opportunity for the gospel where others saw only danger.

🌀 Reflection:
Are you willing to follow Jesus when obedience costs your comfort—or even your safety? True faith stays the course, trusting that God’s will is good even when the path is hard (vv. 13–14).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage someone who’s facing hardship for their faith—write, call, or pray with them today, reminding them that the Lord’s will is worth every step (vv. 12–14).

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 20 on 10/29 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 20 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul encouraged the disciples and traveled through Macedonia and Greece, strengthening the churches (vv. 1–3). On the first day of the week in Troas, he taught late into the night; Eutychus fell from a third-story window and was taken up dead, but God restored his life through Paul, and the believers were greatly comforted (vv. 7–12). Paul then hurried past Ephesus, aiming for Jerusalem by Pentecost (v. 16).

From Miletus he called the Ephesian elders and reminded them of his humble, tearful, and courageous ministry—teaching publicly and from house to house, calling all to repentance and faith (vv. 18–21). Though the Spirit warned of chains ahead, Paul’s aim was to finish his course and testify to the gospel of grace (vv. 22–24). He declared himself innocent of their blood because he had preached the whole counsel of God (vv. 26–27), charged them to shepherd the church God bought with His own blood (v. 28), and warned of fierce wolves—even from among themselves (vv. 29–30). He commended them to God and the word of His grace (v. 32), modeled hard work and generosity, and recalled Jesus’s words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v. 35). They wept, prayed, and saw him to the ship, sorrowing that they would not see his face again (vv. 36–38).

🌀 Reflection:
Where is God calling you to steady, tearful faithfulness—teaching, serving, or guarding your heart—so that you can “finish your course” with joy (vv. 18–21, 24, 28, 31)?

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage a shepherd: send a brief note (or text) today to your pastor/elder quoting Acts 20:32 and one way their ministry has strengthened you this month.

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 19 on 10/28 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 19 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul reached Ephesus and met disciples who had only known John’s baptism. He pointed them to Jesus; they were baptized in His name, and the Holy Spirit came upon them (vv. 1–7). For three months Paul preached in the synagogue, and when some resisted, he taught daily in the hall of Tyrannus for two years so that “all Asia” heard the word (vv. 8–10). God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, exposing false power when the sons of Sceva were shamed; many new believers confessed their sins and burned their magic books—worth a fortune—as the word of the Lord “continued to increase and prevail mightily” (vv. 11–20).

After Paul purposed to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, then on to Jerusalem and Rome (v. 21), a riot erupted. Demetrius the silversmith stirred the city, angry that the gospel was ruining idol sales and threatening Artemis worship (vv. 23–29). The mob filled the theater shouting, but the town clerk calmed them, noting Paul and his friends were not lawbreakers and directing any charges to the courts (vv. 30–41). The gospel changes lives, confronts idols, and still stands under scrutiny.

🌀 Reflection:
Where might “hidden” practices be dulling your love for Jesus? Bring them into the light today—confess, turn, and let the Spirit’s power make room for the word to prevail in you (vv. 18–20).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Identify one “idol” spot in your week (a habit, feed, or purchase) and replace it once with intentional Scripture and prayer—then share a brief testimony with a friend about what changed (vv. 26–27)..

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 18 on 10/27 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 18 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul left Athens for Corinth and teamed up with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers who had been forced out of Rome (vv. 1–3). He reasoned in the synagogue each Sabbath, and when Silas and Timothy arrived, he devoted himself to preaching that “the Christ was Jesus” (vv. 4–5). After opposition, he moved next door to Titius Justus’s house; even Crispus, the synagogue ruler, believed, and many Corinthians were baptized (vv. 6–8). The Lord strengthened Paul in a night vision: “Do not be afraid … for I am with you,” so he stayed eighteen months teaching God’s word (vv. 9–11). When the Jews hauled Paul before Gallio, the proconsul threw out the case—another reminder that the gospel was no crime under Roman law (vv. 12–17).

Paul then sailed with Priscilla and Aquila, briefly reasoned in Ephesus (promising to return if God willed), greeted the church in Judea, and came back to Antioch before setting out again to strengthen the disciples in Galatia and Phrygia (vv. 18–23). Meanwhile, Apollos arrived in Ephesus—eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, though he knew only John’s baptism—so Priscilla and Aquila privately explained “the way of God more accurately.” He went on to Achaia and powerfully showed from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus (vv. 24–28).

🌀 Reflection:
Where do you need the Lord’s “Do not be afraid” today? Ask Him for courage to keep speaking, trusting that He has people He intends to save through the word (vv. 9–11).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage a fellow servant: write a short note (or text) to someone in ministry this week, reminding them “The Lord is with you—keep going” (vv. 9–11).

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 17 on 10/26 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 17 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul preached in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths, showing from the Scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer and rise, and declaring, “This Jesus … is the Christ” (vv. 2–3). Some Jews, many devout Greeks, and leading women believed, but jealous opponents stirred a mob and accused the believers of treason for proclaiming Jesus as King (vv. 4–9). Sent away to Berea, Paul found hearers who received the word eagerly and examined the Scriptures daily; many believed—women and men of high standing—until agitators from Thessalonica arrived and stirred trouble again (vv. 10–14).

Escorted to Athens, Paul’s spirit was provoked by the city’s idols, so he reasoned in the synagogue and the marketplace (vv. 16–17). Taken to the Areopagus, he proclaimed the Creator who needs nothing, who made all nations and calls all people to repent because He has fixed a day to judge the world through the risen Jesus (vv. 24–31). Some mocked the resurrection, some wanted to hear more, and some believed—among them Dionysius and Damaris (vv. 32–34).

🌀 Reflection:
Where is your heart “provoked” by the idols of our age, and how will you respond—with patient reasoning from Scripture and a clear call to repent and trust the risen Christ (vv. 16–17, 30–31)?

💬 Mission Challenge:
Practice the Berean pattern this week: pick one conversation about Jesus, open a Bible together, and “examine the Scriptures” with that person (v. 11).

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 16 on 10/25 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 16 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul added Timothy to the team and circumcised him—not for salvation, but to remove a barrier to sharing Jesus with Jews. As they traveled, they delivered the Jerusalem Council’s decision, and the churches grew stronger and larger (vv. 1–5). The Spirit redirected their route until a vision called them to Macedonia, and Luke joined the mission (“we”), showing God’s clear guidance (vv. 6–10). In Philippi, Lydia—the Lord opened her heart—believed and was baptized with her household, and her home became a base for ministry (vv. 11–15).

After Paul cast a spirit out of a slave girl, a mob formed, and Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed (vv. 16–24). Near midnight they prayed and sang; God shook the prison, opened doors, and loosed chains (vv. 25–26). Rather than escape, they stayed and pointed the terrified jailer to Christ: “Believe in the Lord Jesus” (v. 31). He and his household heard the word, believed, and were baptized; joy filled their home (vv. 31–34). The next day, Paul insisted on public acknowledgment of their rights as Roman citizens to protect the young church’s witness (vv. 35–40).

🌀 Reflection:
Where do you need to trust God’s redirection? Ask Him to turn closed doors into clear steps of obedience, and to give you a Lydia-like openness and a jailer-like urgency to believe and rejoice (vv. 14, 31–34).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Sing the gospel in your suffering this week—choose one hard moment to respond with prayer and praise, and look for a person nearby (like the jailer) to serve and share Christ with (vv. 25–32).

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 15 on 10/24 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 15 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas boldly preached the gospel, and many Jews and Gentiles believed (v. 1). Yet opposition rose, and their enemies stirred up trouble against them. Even so, they stayed “for a long time,” speaking boldly for the Lord as He confirmed their message with signs and wonders (v. 3). When a violent plot formed, they fled to Lystra and Derbe, where they continued to preach (vv. 6–7).

In Lystra, God healed a man who had been crippled since birth (v. 8), and the people mistook Paul and Barnabas for gods, calling them Hermes and Zeus (vv. 11–12). The apostles tore their clothes and urged the crowd to turn from worthless idols to the living Creator (v. 15). But soon, Jews from other cities arrived, turned the crowd against them, and stoned Paul, leaving him for dead (v. 19). Miraculously, he got up and went back into the city before continuing to Derbe, where many more believed (v. 21). On their return journey, they strengthened the disciples, reminded them that following Jesus brings many trials (v. 22), and appointed elders in every church before returning to Antioch, giving God all the glory (vv. 23–27).

🌀 Reflection:
Faithfulness to Jesus often brings hardship, but God’s grace gives courage to keep going. Paul and Barnabas show us that ministry isn’t about comfort—it’s about obedience and perseverance for Christ’s sake.

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage someone who’s struggling in their faith this week. Send a message, make a call, or pray with them—remind them that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 14 on 10/23 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 14 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 13 on 10/22 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 13 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

The church at Antioch was worshiping and fasting when the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (v. 2). After prayer and laying on of hands, the church sent them out, marking the start of Paul’s first missionary journey (v. 3). On the island of Cyprus, they preached in Jewish synagogues and encountered a magician named Elymas, who opposed them. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Elymas, and the proconsul Sergius Paulus believed in the Lord (vv. 4–12).

From there, they traveled to Pisidian Antioch, where Paul preached a powerful message showing that God’s promises to Israel were fulfilled in Jesus. He proclaimed that forgiveness and freedom from sin come not through the law but through faith in Christ (vv. 38–39). When many Gentiles believed, some Jews grew jealous and opposed them, but Paul and Barnabas declared that God’s salvation was for all nations (vv. 46–47). They left with joy, and the gospel continued to spread (vv. 48–52).

🌀 Reflection:
God often gives direction to those already serving faithfully. Like Paul and Barnabas, we’re called to share Christ boldly, even when facing resistance. The gospel frees us from sin and empowers us to live for God’s glory.

💬 Mission Challenge:
Pray this week for courage to speak about Jesus in everyday conversations. Look for one opportunity to tell someone how Christ has changed your life.

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.

Acts 12 on 10/21 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Acts 12 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

King Herod Agrippa I began persecuting the church, killing James, the brother of John, and imprisoning Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (vv. 1–5). While Peter was kept under heavy guard, the church prayed earnestly for him. The night before his trial, an angel of the Lord woke Peter, released his chains, and led him past guards and through the iron gate to freedom (vv. 6–11). He went to Mary’s house, where believers were praying. At first, they didn’t believe the servant girl Rhoda who announced Peter’s arrival, but when they saw him, they rejoiced (vv. 12–17). Peter told them how the Lord had rescued him and went to another place.

Herod later faced judgment. After accepting worship as a god from the people of Tyre and Sidon, an angel struck him down because he did not give glory to God, and he died (vv. 20–23). Yet the word of God continued to spread and multiply (v. 24). When Barnabas and Saul finished delivering famine relief to Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch with John Mark (v. 25).

🌀 Reflection:
God’s ways are higher than ours. James was executed, but Peter was delivered; both were within God’s sovereign plan. Sometimes He rescues, sometimes He refines—but always for His glory and our good (Isa. 55:8–9; Rom. 8:28). Prayer remains powerful even when our faith feels small. God answers in His timing and His way.

💬 Mission Challenge:
Pray for someone facing hardship this week. Then reach out—call, visit, or write—to remind them that God sees, cares, and can deliver. Let your prayer become action, as faith works through love (Gal. 5:6).

Click here to return to the contents page for NT260 | Phase 2.1.