Have You Checked Your Porch Lately?

Sometimes we can be real, real busy doing church work and miss an opportunity on our own front porch.

Read this story (Acts 3:1-10) of what happened to Peter and John as they were on their way to the temple one afternoon for prayer.

Did you notice that the account is careful to mention that Peter and John "looked intently" at the man who was begging for money?

Then Peter told the man to look up at them.

How often is it that "hurting people" hanging out on the porch of the temple are invisible to our eyes?

Notice what Peter had to offer the man. Surely he thought he was in for a nice, generous donation! But God had something else in store for him, as Peter told the man, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”


Peter "took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." (Acts 3:7-10, nrsv)

How many times is there a need "right in our own backyard" that we easily overlook?

Are there times that we tend to respond with a little bit of silver or gold (a financial donation) when God may have something so much greater to offer through us?

The Bible tells us that "ministry on the porch" became a regular part of the life of these early followers of Christ:

ACTS 5:12 (cev). All of the Lord's followers often met in the part of the temple known as Solomon's Porch.

How might our church family be faithful in mission both globally as well as "right in our own backyard?"

Open your eyes as you go around your community. What opportunities for ministry do you see?


PROVERBS 17:19 (tniv). Whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

Are there ways that God's people sometimes build a gate too high and leave people out?

Archeologists have found a sign in the ruins of the temple that said: “No foreigner is to go beyond this point. Whoever is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his death which will follow.”

Surely no church would ever put up a sign these days. But are there more "subtle signs" that we give to the world around us that say "past this point you dare not go."


Read this message - "Power to Heal" - by Ray Stedman, for another perspective on the story in Acts 3:1-10.


A Methodist church in Georgia has begun a special focus ministry called "Solomon's Porch." Check out their website here. Why might they have picked the name "Solomon's Porch?"