Youth Story

Read Acts 3:17-26  17  “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.   18  But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.   19  Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,   20  and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.   21  Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.   22  For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.   23  Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ [ a ] 24  “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spok...

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.     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.     When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.     Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”     So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.   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.”     Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.     He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.     When all the people...

Day 3 - Concord Students Journey Acts Chapter 2 As a teenager you may be familiar with the story of the Book of Acts. In Chapter Two, we see the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This momentous event marks the birth of the church and the beginning of the spread of the gospel message to all nations. As we reflect on this chapter, there are a few questions we can ask ourselves: Am I filled with the Holy Spirit? In Acts 2:4, we see that the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to speak in tongues and boldly proclaim the gospel message. As a believer, we too have the Holy Spirit living inside us. Are we allowing Him to work in and through us to share the good news of Jesus with others? Do I have a desire to learn more about God's Word? In Acts 2:42, we see that the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. They recognized the importance of learning and understanding God's Word. Do we have that same desire to learn and ...

40 Day Journey Through Acts Day 2 - Acts 1:12-26 As a teenager living in Tennessee, you may sometimes feel like you're living in a world that doesn't notice or want to hear from you. But, as we dive into Acts 1:12-26, we will learn that even in the most unlikely and seemingly insignificant places, God has a plan for each one of us. After Jesus' ascension into heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and went to the upper room. They gathered together, along with Mary the mother of Jesus and some other women, and prayed. During this time, Peter stood up and addressed the group about the need to choose a new disciple to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus. Peter reminded the group that Judas' fate had been prophesied in the Scriptures, and that it was necessary to fill the void he left in the disciples' community. They prayed and selected two men who met the criteria: they were faithful followers of Jesus, had witnessed His ministry, and had been baptized in the H...

Concord Students 40 Day Journey Together! Day 1 Note to students: Take time to read Acts 1:1-11 before starting this devotion. Let me know you completed the devotion if you can! Remember to pray today and to fast something during that time (it does not have to be food that you give up). You are not alone! I love you and there is nothing you can do about it. Empowered to Witness Introduction: The Book of Acts is the story of the early church and how it grew and spread throughout the world. In chapter one, we see Jesus' final instructions to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. These instructions are not just for the disciples at that time, but for all of us who follow Jesus today. As we explore Acts 1:1-11, let's consider how we can be empowered to witness and share the good news of Jesus with those around us. Verse 1-3: The Promise of the Holy Spirit In these verses, we see that Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples after his resurrection, teaching them about the king...