5 Day Devotional
Below is a 5 Day Devotional based off our current series and sermon, this updated weekly on Monday.
ACTS: THE CHURCH UNLEASHED
Week 2: You Will Be My Witnesses
Acts 1:6–11
Day 1: Trust What God Hasn’t Told You
Scripture
Acts 1:7–8
“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power…”
Devotional
We like answers. We want to know what is going to happen, when it will happen, and how everything will work out. The disciples weren’t much different. They wanted Jesus to give them a timeline, but instead He gave them a mission. There are things God hasn’t chosen to tell us, and following Jesus means trusting Him with what we don’t know while being faithful with what He has made clear. We don’t know when Jesus will return, but we absolutely know what we’re supposed to do until He does. Instead of spending our lives trying to figure out tomorrow, Jesus calls us to faithfully follow Him today.
Reflect
* What uncertainty are you struggling to trust God with right now?
* Are you spending more energy worrying about what you don’t know or obeying what God has already made clear?
Prayer
Father, help me trust You with the things I don’t know. Keep me from becoming distracted by questions You haven’t answered, and give me the faith to obey what You have clearly asked me to do. Help me live faithfully today and trust You with tomorrow. Amen.
⸻
Day 2: Power With a Purpose
Scripture
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
Devotional
Jesus never intended for His followers to accomplish His mission in their own strength. He promised them the power of the Holy Spirit, but that power came with a purpose: “You will be my witnesses.” The Spirit isn’t given so we can become impressed with ourselves. He empowers us to point people toward Jesus. Our talents, personalities, experience, and knowledge will never be enough to accomplish something only God can do. We need the Spirit of God working in and through us. God’s mission has always required God’s power, and when we depend on Him, ordinary people can be used in extraordinary ways.
Reflect
* Where are you trying to rely on your own strength instead of the Holy Spirit?
* How could God use you this week if you were completely available to Him?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, I need Your power and Your guidance. Keep me from depending on myself to accomplish what only You can do. Fill me, lead me, and use my life to point people toward Jesus. Amen.
⸻
Day 3: Just Be a Witness
Scripture
Acts 1:8
“You will be my witnesses…”
Devotional
Sometimes sharing our faith feels intimidating because we think we need to know every answer. But Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to become experts before they could tell others about Him. He called them to be witnesses. A witness simply tells what they know and what they have experienced. You don’t need a seminary degree, you don’t have to win every theological argument, and you don’t need the answer to every objection. You can simply say, “Here’s who Jesus is. Here’s what Jesus has done. And here’s what Jesus has done in me.” Your story may be one of the ways God opens someone else’s heart to the Gospel.
Reflect
* If someone asked what Jesus has done in your life, what would you tell them?
* What keeps you from talking about Jesus with others?
* Who might need to hear your story?
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for what You have done in my life. Give me courage to speak about You naturally and honestly. Help me remember that I don’t need every answer. I simply need to faithfully point people toward You. Amen.
⸻
Day 4: Who Is Your Jerusalem?
Scripture
Acts 1:8
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Devotional
Jesus gave His disciples a mission that would eventually reach the ends of the earth, but He told them to begin in Jerusalem… right where they already were. The same is true for us. The mission field isn’t only somewhere across an ocean. It’s around our dinner tables, across our streets, inside our workplaces, and in our schools. God has already placed people around us who need to experience the love of Christ and hear the hope of the Gospel. We should care about taking Jesus to the ends of the earth, but we can’t overlook the people He’s already placed right in front of us. Start where you are, but don’t be content to stay there.
Reflect
* Who is your “Jerusalem”… the people God has already placed around you?
* Is there one person you can intentionally pray for this week?
* What practical step could you take to show them the love of Jesus?
Prayer
Father, open my eyes to the people You’ve already placed around me. Give me compassion for those who don’t know Jesus and courage to step into opportunities You provide. Use me in my home, neighborhood, workplace, school, and wherever You send me. Amen.
⸻
Day 5: The King Is Coming Back
Scripture
Acts 1:10–11
“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Devotional
The disciples stood staring into heaven after Jesus ascended, but the angels reminded them that this wasn’t the end of the story. This Jesus is coming back. That’s our hope, but it’s also a reminder that we have work to do. We’re waiting for Jesus, but we’re not supposed to spend our lives staring at the sky. Jesus gave us a mission before He left. The Gospel traveled from Jerusalem across cultures, borders, languages, and continents until eventually somebody told us about Jesus. Acts 1:8 reached us, but it cannot stop with us. We don’t know when the King will return, but we know exactly what He’s asked us to do until He does: be His witnesses.
Reflect
* Does the return of Jesus create urgency in the way you live?
* Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus?
* What is one step you can take this week to intentionally be His witness?
Prayer
King Jesus, thank You for the promise that You are coming again. Until that day, help me live with purpose and urgency. Give me eyes to see the people around me, courage to share the Gospel, and a life that faithfully points others toward You. Help me live With Jesus, become Like Jesus, and serve For Jesus. Amen.
Week 2: You Will Be My Witnesses
Acts 1:6–11
Day 1: Trust What God Hasn’t Told You
Scripture
Acts 1:7–8
“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power…”
Devotional
We like answers. We want to know what is going to happen, when it will happen, and how everything will work out. The disciples weren’t much different. They wanted Jesus to give them a timeline, but instead He gave them a mission. There are things God hasn’t chosen to tell us, and following Jesus means trusting Him with what we don’t know while being faithful with what He has made clear. We don’t know when Jesus will return, but we absolutely know what we’re supposed to do until He does. Instead of spending our lives trying to figure out tomorrow, Jesus calls us to faithfully follow Him today.
Reflect
* What uncertainty are you struggling to trust God with right now?
* Are you spending more energy worrying about what you don’t know or obeying what God has already made clear?
Prayer
Father, help me trust You with the things I don’t know. Keep me from becoming distracted by questions You haven’t answered, and give me the faith to obey what You have clearly asked me to do. Help me live faithfully today and trust You with tomorrow. Amen.
⸻
Day 2: Power With a Purpose
Scripture
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
Devotional
Jesus never intended for His followers to accomplish His mission in their own strength. He promised them the power of the Holy Spirit, but that power came with a purpose: “You will be my witnesses.” The Spirit isn’t given so we can become impressed with ourselves. He empowers us to point people toward Jesus. Our talents, personalities, experience, and knowledge will never be enough to accomplish something only God can do. We need the Spirit of God working in and through us. God’s mission has always required God’s power, and when we depend on Him, ordinary people can be used in extraordinary ways.
Reflect
* Where are you trying to rely on your own strength instead of the Holy Spirit?
* How could God use you this week if you were completely available to Him?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, I need Your power and Your guidance. Keep me from depending on myself to accomplish what only You can do. Fill me, lead me, and use my life to point people toward Jesus. Amen.
⸻
Day 3: Just Be a Witness
Scripture
Acts 1:8
“You will be my witnesses…”
Devotional
Sometimes sharing our faith feels intimidating because we think we need to know every answer. But Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to become experts before they could tell others about Him. He called them to be witnesses. A witness simply tells what they know and what they have experienced. You don’t need a seminary degree, you don’t have to win every theological argument, and you don’t need the answer to every objection. You can simply say, “Here’s who Jesus is. Here’s what Jesus has done. And here’s what Jesus has done in me.” Your story may be one of the ways God opens someone else’s heart to the Gospel.
Reflect
* If someone asked what Jesus has done in your life, what would you tell them?
* What keeps you from talking about Jesus with others?
* Who might need to hear your story?
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for what You have done in my life. Give me courage to speak about You naturally and honestly. Help me remember that I don’t need every answer. I simply need to faithfully point people toward You. Amen.
⸻
Day 4: Who Is Your Jerusalem?
Scripture
Acts 1:8
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Devotional
Jesus gave His disciples a mission that would eventually reach the ends of the earth, but He told them to begin in Jerusalem… right where they already were. The same is true for us. The mission field isn’t only somewhere across an ocean. It’s around our dinner tables, across our streets, inside our workplaces, and in our schools. God has already placed people around us who need to experience the love of Christ and hear the hope of the Gospel. We should care about taking Jesus to the ends of the earth, but we can’t overlook the people He’s already placed right in front of us. Start where you are, but don’t be content to stay there.
Reflect
* Who is your “Jerusalem”… the people God has already placed around you?
* Is there one person you can intentionally pray for this week?
* What practical step could you take to show them the love of Jesus?
Prayer
Father, open my eyes to the people You’ve already placed around me. Give me compassion for those who don’t know Jesus and courage to step into opportunities You provide. Use me in my home, neighborhood, workplace, school, and wherever You send me. Amen.
⸻
Day 5: The King Is Coming Back
Scripture
Acts 1:10–11
“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Devotional
The disciples stood staring into heaven after Jesus ascended, but the angels reminded them that this wasn’t the end of the story. This Jesus is coming back. That’s our hope, but it’s also a reminder that we have work to do. We’re waiting for Jesus, but we’re not supposed to spend our lives staring at the sky. Jesus gave us a mission before He left. The Gospel traveled from Jerusalem across cultures, borders, languages, and continents until eventually somebody told us about Jesus. Acts 1:8 reached us, but it cannot stop with us. We don’t know when the King will return, but we know exactly what He’s asked us to do until He does: be His witnesses.
Reflect
* Does the return of Jesus create urgency in the way you live?
* Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus?
* What is one step you can take this week to intentionally be His witness?
Prayer
King Jesus, thank You for the promise that You are coming again. Until that day, help me live with purpose and urgency. Give me eyes to see the people around me, courage to share the Gospel, and a life that faithfully points others toward You. Help me live With Jesus, become Like Jesus, and serve For Jesus. Amen.