August 17 Virtual Worship
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Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty
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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Scripture Lesson
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Scripture Reading: Acts 12:5-16
Sermon: Life in the Spirit, Crazy Surprises
Acts 12:5-16
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” Meanwhile Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the gate they saw him and were amazed.
Key Idea of the Sermon
Acts chapter 12 begins with the violence of King Herod targeting the Way of Jesus. Herod had James (one of the fishing partners of Peter and Andrew) the brother of John executed, and Peter arrested. It seemed Peter would be the next martyr. But King Herod’s plans were foiled by Divine intervention. This intervention was so unexpected that Peter, during the angelic rescue, thought it was a dream, and the disciples who had been praying for this rescue refused to believe it really happened until they saw Peter with their own eyes. Luke encourages us in this story to adjust our expectations to the crazy surprises the Spirit of Christ can accomplish.
Questions for Reflection
• What difference does prayer make in your life? Has prayer become for you a recitation of words lacking trust and possibility? How has Divine intervention surprised you lately?
• What imprisons you, what holds you back from a whole and healthy life with whole and healthy relationships? How is Christ at work breaking those chains? What do you need to do to claim your freedom?
• Rhoda was so surprised to see Peter she ran to tell the others, forgetting to let Peter in. Who are you leaving standing at the door to your life?
A Spiritual Practice to Try
Make this your mantra this week: I am open to the new thing Christ is doing in my life.
If you need some guidance or support, you may reach me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com
