I Can Hope
SUMMARY
In this sermon, Pastor Haven reflects on the story of Peter and John healing a man at the temple gate, drawing a powerful connection between physical healing and the deeper healing of belonging and inclusion. The man, who had been unable to walk since birth, was carried daily to the temple gates by his community but never brought inside. He was helped within the limits of social and religious norms, yet he remained an outsider. Peter and John responded not just by restoring his ability to walk, but by welcoming him fully into the community of faith.
INTRO PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we come before You today grateful for the gift of community and the reminder that Your love knows no boundaries. As we open Your Word together, we ask that You soften our hearts and open our minds to what You want each of us to receive from this time together. Help us to see one another the way You see us, and may Your Spirit guide our conversation so
that it draws us closer to You and to each other. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ICE BREAKER
What is one thing that always makes you feel seen or valued, even if it seems small or simple?
KEY VERSES
QUESTIONS
The man at the temple gate was carried to the gate each day but never brought inside. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a situation where someone was made to feel welcomed but not truly included? What did that look like?
Peter and John stopped, looked at the man, and truly heard him before responding. How often do we slow down enough to genuinely see and hear the people around us who may be in need?
Pastor Haven described the man as being 'adopted by the community but never belonging.' What is the difference between being adopted by a community and truly belonging to one? How does your faith community reflect that difference?
The sermon references several biblical stories, including Jesus meeting the woman at the well and Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch, as examples of God extending inclusion to those pushed to the margins. Which of these stories resonates most with you, and why?
Pastor Haven says, 'If there is something standing in the way of experiencing God's mercy, God will find a way.' Where have you seen God break through barriers or limitations in your own life or in the lives of others?
The sermon challenges us to respond to injustice and exclusion with 'healing, compassion, advocacy, and justice.' What does that kind of response look like in your everyday life?
Pastor Haven reframes this miracle not as simply a story of physical healing, but as a story about hope and radical inclusion. How does that reframing change the way you read or understand this passage?
The sermon closes with the reminder that we are 'the helpers' and that the Spirit of Christ lives within each of us. What is one specific way you feel called to extend welcome and inclusion to someone in your life or community?
LIFE APPLICATIONS
This week, look for one person in your life, your neighborhood, your workplace, or your church who may feel like they are standing at the gate but not truly welcomed inside. Take a deliberate step to make them feel seen, heard, and included. It does not have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes all it takes is stopping, looking someone in the eye, and truly listening to them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
True inclusion goes beyond charity or surface-level welcome. It means inviting people fully into community, not just to the gate but through the door.
Throughout Scripture, God consistently moves toward those who are marginalized or excluded, and calls His people to do the same.
The miracle in Acts 3 is not only about physical healing. It is a picture of what it looks like when someone is fully restored to community and belonging.
When the world places limits on people based on who they are, God's mercy finds a way through. No earthly power can ultimately block God's love.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be vessels of healing and inclusion, carrying the Spirit of Jesus into the world through our actions and advocacy.
ENDING PRAYER
Lord, thank You for this time together and for the reminder that Your love is wide enough to include every single one of us. As we leave this conversation, help us to carry that truth with us into our daily lives. Give us eyes to see those who feel left at the gate, and give us the courage
and compassion to bring them in. May we be a community that reflects Your radical welcome, and may everything we do bring glory to Your name. In the name of Jesus Christ, who makes all things possible, Amen.
