Some Things Money Can't Buy

Some things are priceless,

for everything else

there is Master Card . . .

As we take a few moments to reflect on the major characters in this story, what surfaces?

The lame man at the temple . . .

• How might his life have been shaped by his situation and expectations?

• How might his situation have limited his vision and expectations?

• Was he more focused on what Master Card could do, or what was priceless (whether that included physical healing or not)

Peter/John

• How was Peter's vision (what he saw when he approached the temple) different from the many others who walked by this man?

• When you think about Peter making "eye contact" in the story, what does this say to you?

• What is it that Peter has to offer beyond what Master Card could have given?

• While we rejoice in the physical restoration and what it symbolizes in this story, how necessary was the physical healing to what Peter had to share?

The Other Worshipers

• •  What might have been on your heart if you had been there that day and witnessed what took place?

• What might have changed for you as you think about your Master Card and what Jesus offers?

You have to kind of wonder.  A lot of years had passed.  He'd worked it out.  Plans were in place.  He was dealing with the situation.  Apparently having connections with the right people helped.  And so that's how he worked it.  Day in and day out.  In one form or another, this is the way it had been since he was born.

The setting wasn't so bad.  It was a beautiful place.  There were lots of people there who came by.  Day in and day out.  He relied upon them.  They were central to his continuing existence.  And exist is what he had learned how to do.

And then one day everything changed.  Someone looked at him.  Not just looked, but fixed their gaze upon him.  They insisted upon eye contact.  This was no longer an impersonal transaction.  Something relational was happening here.  Something more. 

He listened.  His expectations rose, then fell.  They did not have what he asked for.  But that was not the end of it.  They had something else, not what he expected, but something he wanted . . . or had wanted once, and perhaps had given up on.  He had learned to accommodate to his situation.  But this was not that.  This was something else.  This involved something money could not buy.

This is the amazing story that Pastor Saul explores with us in this week's sermon.  If you would like to listen to it again, or perhaps for the first time, you can find it in our sermon library by clicking here.

Acts 3:1-10 (TNIV)

     1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.     6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.