The story of Peter healing a lame man in Acts 3 shows that Peter's actions are not just a reflection of God's goodness, but also an identification with Christ, as if Christ is acting through Peter. The apostles' actions and preaching in Acts demonstrate that they are witnessing to Christ and telling his story, and that their actions are a form of preaching that shows Christ's presence and power. The idea that the church is the body of Christ means that Christians are not just metaphorically, but really, the body of Christ, and that Christ lives in them and moves them to act. When Christians act motivated by pure love of God, they are being moved by the spirit of Christ, and it is Christ who is acting through them, like a pen in the hand of an author. The example of St. Maria Goretti, who maintained her purity and forgave her attacker even as she was dying, is a powerful form of preaching that can change people's lives. For actions to be a form of preaching, one must know Christ well, and he must live in them, be their top priority, and guide their actions through prayer, study, and self-surrender. Preaching with words is also important, but the practice of virtues moved by the spirit of Christ is another essential element of preaching. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society