March 8, 2026

Acts 3

More Than He Asked For: The Miracle and Message of Acts 3

Sunday Sermons

What might change in our lives if we truly believed that Jesus is able to do far more than we ever ask or imagine? I’m not just talking about God as a Divine Sugar Daddy but what if God is actually so gracious and so generous that even the struggles and limitations in our lives have the potential to become the very places where the glory of Christ can be most luminously revealed?

For over 40 years a paralyzed man sat daily at one of the Jewish Temple gates begging for whatever small coins he could get from the passersby. He didn’t know it but all that time God had something great in mind for him. In Acts chapter 3 we read of the stunning miracle that opens the door to a powerful display of who Jesus truly is: the Deliverer and Servant King, the Holy and Righteous One, the Author of Life, and the Savior God has sent for us.

Join Pastor Jim as he walks us through this passage and reminds us that while we often come to God only asking for vague generalities and less important gifts, He is often eager to give us something far greater—new life, living hope, and often, a grand display of His glory and generosity. Come and see how this miracle points beyond itself to the grace, mercy, compassion, generosity, and saving power of Jesus—and why the Lord continues to give more than we even ask for.

Speaker

Jim Thomas

Series

Acts of the Apostles

Go to Series

Scripture

Acts 3

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Worldview & Culture

Sermon Notes

Acts 3

More Than He Asked For: The Miracle and Message of Acts 3

Pastor Jim Thomas
The Miracle: Acts 3:1-10
The Message: Acts 3:11-26
Signs and wonder miracles are more than mere sensationalism.
  1. Arouse curiosity about Jesus
  2. Display the power of Jesus
  3. Reveal the compassion of Jesus
  4. Affirm the identity of Jesus
  5. Inspire faith in Jesus

The Miracle; vv. 1-10

  1.  God does the unimaginable and the “impossible” to display the glory of Christ.
  2.  God knows more than we do about what we really need.
  3.  Because He is both good and all powerful we can trust Christ with every aspect of life, all our hopes and dreams, our suffering, all outcomes, all our time, talent and treasure.

The Message; vv. 11-26

Peter preached a message that exalted Jesus

  1. Has been glorified by God v. 13
  2. Is the long-awaited servant of the Lord v. 13 (Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 52, 53, etc)
  3. Is the Holy and Righteous One v. 14 (Isaiah 53; worthy of our worship, obedience, & imitation)
  4. Is the Prince/Author/Captain of Life v. 15
  5. The one whom God raised from the dead v. 15
  6. The Name by which the man was healed v. 16
  7. The source and the object of our faith v. 16
  8. His suffering was the fulfillment of OT prophecy v. 17
  9. God’s Christ/Messiah appointed for us v. 20
  10. Seated in heaven right now v. 21
  11. Eager for the restoration of all things v. 21
  12. The Agent of salvation vv. 22-26

“What deal can we strike with God when He gives us everything we have? The Bible’s picture of human beings is not as wheelers and dealers in the corporate boardroom, signing contracts with the gods of ultimate reality in order to get ahead; instead, we are joyful children on Christmas morning, receiving unexpectedly lavish gifts from loving parents.”
Christopher Watkin, Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible‘s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21

  1.  How could Acts 3 change my understanding of Jesus and my view of this world full of suffering?
  2.  Am I ready to see my need as God does and for my life to reflect the undeniable glory of Christ?
  3.  What might be keeping me from praying humbly, asking boldly, trusting confidently, leaping joyfully, and praising exuberantly?

“If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mudpies in a slum because He cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

“Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things,  ‘above all that we ask or think’. Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!”
Andrew Murray

“The first thing I plan to do on resurrected legs is to drop on grateful, glorified knees. I will quietly kneel at the feet of Jesus.”
Joni Eareckson Tada

“You simply must not underestimate sin and you simply cannot overestimate grace.”
Paul Tripp

Discussion Questions

  • Do you feel there is a difference in praying specifically in the Name of Jesus versus, perhaps, your standard way of prayer to God to let Him know your desires? Do you have concerns about praying this way?
  • Do we sell Jesus short in what we are willing to pray for, or turn over to Him to address? What limits us from asking bold prayers to God?

  • Where have you seen that God, in His sovereignty, knew more about what you needed than you did? How did He orchestrate or come through for you? How does this affect our trust in Him to help us in the future? Does He have a track record with you?

  • Where have you seen a bad circumstance or situation turned around so that there actually was good as a result? Should this positive result be attributed to you or God?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs:

“There Is A Fountain“ by William Cowper and Lowell Mason
“What Wondrous Love Is This“ by Douglas Smith and William W. Walker
“Come Thou Fount“ by Robert Robinson
“I’ll Fly Away“ by Alfred E. Brumley; Alt. v3, Tommy Bailey
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used with permission. CCLI License no. 2003690

Looking for our Hymns of the Week or resources to worship anytime? We’ve curated a playlist of hymns TVC Worship has led over the years on our YouTube Channel!

Call To Worship: Faithfulness of God

LEADER: For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.
MEN: Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.
WOMEN: You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

MEN: For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
WOMEN: O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
MEN: The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.

ALL: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!

Classic Prayer: Ulrich Zwingli 1484-1531

Almighty, eternal and merciful God, whose Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, open and illuminate our minds, that we may purely and perfectly understand Your Word and that our lives may be conformed to what we have rightly understood, and in nothing may we be displeasing to Your majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession of Faith: New City Catechism

Part 1, God, Creation & Fall, Law; Q. 1-2

LEADER: What Is Our Only Hope in Life and Death?
PEOPLE: That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

LEADER: What is God?
PEOPLE: God is the Creator and Sustainer of everyone and everything. He is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable in His power and perfection, goodness and glory, wisdom, justice, and truth. Nothing happens except through Him and by His will.

TVC Prayer Ministry

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