In A Prayer that Brought the Holy Spirit Down (Acts 4.23-31), John Piper argues that the Peter's prayer is relevant for believers today because of the answer that came (they were filled with the Holy Spirit), because of who is praying (not apostles only), because of the occasion when it is prayed (under great opposition), because of whom it was prayed to (our King), and because of what was asked.

John Piper opens his sermon, Be Like Barnabas Not Like Ananias (Acts 4.32-5:11), by affirming: Two of the effects of believing in Jesus are that the heart is loosened in relationship to things and tightened in its relationship to people. We see this in [Acts 4] verse 32: "Now the company of those who believed"—notice the word! This is the key: believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord, trusting him for all you need, being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus—that's the key, that's the root of what's happening in this story. Everything good comes from that.
Please share some your experience as the Lord has or currently is helping you growing in these areas of trusting God in specific ways.

Piper, How Signs and Wonders Helped Add Multitudes to the Lord (Acts 5:12-16): God wants us to pray for signs and wonders today.

Here is part of an argument provided by John Piper to help those who object his thesis that signs and wonders are still for today: The answer to the second question—the question why signs and wonders do not have to compromise the power of preaching the gospel—goes like this: Acts 14:3 says that Paul and Barnabas "remained a long time [in Iconium] speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands." This is utterly crucial: Signs and wonders are God's witness to his Word. They are not in competition with the Word. They are not against the Word. They are not over the Word. They are divine witnesses to the value and truth and necessity and centrality of the Word.

Here is the way I would sum up the relationship between the gospel and signs and wonders: signs and wonders are not the saving Word of grace; they are God's secondary testimony to the Word of his grace. Signs and wonders do not save. They are not the power of God unto salvation. They do not transform the heart—any more than music or art or drama or magic shows. What changes the heart and saves the soul is the self-authenticating glory of Christ seen in the message of the gospel (2 Co 3:18–4:6).

But even if signs and wonders can't save the soul, they can, if God pleases, shatter the shell of disinterest; they can shatter the shell of cynicism; they can shatter the shell of false religion. Like every other good witness to the Word of grace, they can help the fallen heart to fix its gaze on the gospel where the soul-saving, self-authenticating glory of the Lord shines (John Piper). For more input about the theme developed in this sermon:

• Martyn Lloyd Jones, The Sovereign Spirit (a book quoted in the above sermon);
• John Piper: A Passion for Christ-Exalting Power, Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Need for Revival and Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Please feel free to provide additional resources, along the same lines of thought, concerning the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Edited October 5, 2023: correction to page layout.

Would you agree with John Piper's view, in, The Price and the Preciousness of Spiritual Power (Acts 5:17-21), that the preciousness of spiritual power is that it is finally in God's control, not ours. Whether you agree or disagree, please tell us why from Scriptures.

John Piper, You Have Filled Jerusalem with Your Teaching (Acts 5:21-32). We are not big. But we are part of something big.

John Piper, If It Is of God, It Will Not Be Overthrown (Acts 5:33-42). Can you relate to this title? If so, in what ways?

Why do you think John Piper's sermon, Serving Widows, Preaching the Word, and Winning Priests (Acts 6:1-7), may be summarized in terms such as the following: "A Major threat to the Christian movement is whatever threatens the ministry of the Word"?

John Piper, Stephen's Crime: "Jesus Will Destroy the Temple" (Acts 6:8-15).
How did Jesus destroy the temple? Why did saying so cost Stephen his life?

John Piper, The Story of a Stiff-Necked People (Acts 7:1-53).
God is not eager to punish: he is eager to forgive. But there is an end to his patience.

John Piper, The Death of a Spirit-Filled Man (Acts 7:54-8:1).

This sermon highlight : Death is not just defeated and kept from destroying us: it is enslaved and made the servant of God's people.

Would you agree that Stephen's death was the most Christ-like death we find in the New Testament? On what basis would you agree?

John Piper, Spreading Power Through Persecution (Acts 8:1-8).
God makes persecution and suffering serve the unstoppable mission of the church.

I would like to highlight the following quote from John Piper's closing remarks : The very Word—the gospel [preached as good news] —that brings persecution sometimes, brings joy always and forever.
Can you relate to this theme and quote in your own life? How? What encouragement do you receive from Piper's sermon?

John Piper, Simon's Perversion of Signs and Wonders (Acts 8:9-24).
There is a "faith" or a "believing" that does not save, even though it rises in the presence of true preaching and true miracles.

John Piper, What Does It Mean to Receive the Holy Spirit? (Acts 8:14-17). Luke expects the receiving of the Holy Spirit to be a real, identifiable experience, not just a logical inference from a human act of will. Have you experienced the Holy Spirit and if so, how?

John Piper, The Leading of the Lord in Personal Evangelism (Acts 8:26-40). God has yet more wonders to show us in the work of evangelism and world missions than we can imagine. What does this story equip us to do?

John Piper, Overflowing Grace for All Who Believe (Acts 9:1-19 and 1 Timothy 1:12-16). The Conversion of the Chief of Sinners.