Weekday Boost May 29

Weekday Boost

New Testament: Acts 8:1-20

8Saul approved of his being put to death.

1On that very day a great persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria. 2Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him. 3But Saul began to devastate the church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.

4Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the good news. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ. 6The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working. 7For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; 8and many who were paralyzed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city. 9There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great being. 10Everyone, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that power of God which people call “The Great Power.”’ 11And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts. 12However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.

14When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them; 15and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. 16(As yet the Spirit had not descended on any of them; they had only been baptized into the faith of the Lord Jesus). 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the apostles’ hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said, 19“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands on anyone, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20“A curse on you and on your money,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with gold!

Ministry Monday: http://www.soaringspirits.org/our-mission

Hymn for the Day: On our way rejoicing

Author: John S. B. Monsell (1863)

1 On our way rejoicing,
As we homeward move,
Hearken to our praises,
O Thou God of love!
Is there grief or sadness?
Thine it cannot be!
Is our sky beclouded?
Clouds are not from Thee!
On our way rejoicing,
As we homeward move,
Hearken to our praises,
O Thou God of love!

2 If with honest-hearted
Love for God and man,
Day by day Thou find us
Doing what we can,
Thou Who giv'st the seed-time
Wilt give large increase,
Crown the head with blessings,
Fill the heart with peace.
On our way rejoicing,
As we homeward move,
Hearken to our praises,
O Thou God of love!

3 On our way rejoicing
Gladly let us go;
Conquered hath our Leader!
Vanquished is our foe!
Christ without, our safety;
Christ within, our joy;
Who, if we be faithful,
Can our hope destroy?
On our way rejoicing,
As we homeward move,
Hearken to our praises,
O Thou God of love!

4 Unto God the Father
Joyful songs we sing;
Unto God the Saviour
Thankful hearts we bring;
Unto God the Spirit
Bow we and adore,
On our way rejoicing
Now and evermore.
On our way rejoicing,
As we homeward move,
Hearken to our praises,
O Thou God of love!