You are listening to David Platt Messages, a weekly podcast with sermons and messages from

pastor, author, and teacher David Platt.

What I want us to do is next week, we're going to look at Acts 2, 42 through 47, as well as

Acts chapter 4, verse 32 to 37, and see the picture of community.

But I want us to see what's sandwiched in the middle.

It's a story of Peter and John and a guy who's crippled from birth in Acts chapter 3, verse 1. We'll start reading

there, and I want us to see the significance of this story played out even in our community of faith

here at the Church of Brook Hills. Verse 1 says, one day Peter and John were going up to the temple

at the time of prayer at

three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled 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 don't have, but what I have I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.

So 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 him into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 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. This picture is an illustration

...