Ordinary to Extraordinary

Have you ever felt… ordinary? Maybe you've thought, "I don’t have the education, the platform, the resources, or the charisma to make a difference." You’ve looked at others and believed God could use them—but surely not you.

If that sounds familiar, there’s good news: God specializes in turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. This is the heartbeat of the Ripple Effect series—how one encounter with Jesus can cause waves of impact in our lives and beyond.

The Power of an Encounter

In Acts 4:13 (NIV), we read: "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus."

To understand this moment fully, let’s go back a chapter. In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a man who had been lame from birth. With no silver or gold to offer, they give him something greater: healing in the name of Jesus. The man walks, jumps, and praises God in front of a stunned crowd.

As excitement builds, Peter boldly preaches about Jesus, explaining the source of the miracle. But not everyone is thrilled. The religious leaders—those responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion—are deeply disturbed. Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council.

Now picture this: two untrained fishermen standing before the most powerful religious leaders in the land. Yet instead of shrinking back, they speak with boldness and clarity.

What shocked the council most wasn’t their message—it was their transformation. You don’t need to be extraordinary for God to use you. You just need to have been with Jesus.

God Doesn’t Require Your Resume—Only Your Surrender

Peter and John didn’t have titles, degrees, or status. They were ordinary men—fishermen by trade. But when the religious leaders looked at them, they noticed one thing: they had been with Jesus.

Think of a stone dropped in water. It's small, seemingly insignificant, yet it creates ripples that stretch far beyond the point of impact. This is what God does with your life—your faith, your obedience, your surrender. Small moments become powerful waves in His kingdom.

This truth is echoed in 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 (NIV): “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong...”

And we see it again in the story of Gideon: “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest… and I am the least in my family.” —Judges 6:15

Being With Jesus Changes Everything

The true transformation in Peter and John didn’t come from knowledge or background. It came from proximity to Jesus. “…they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” —Acts 4:13

They had walked with Jesus, listened to His parables, witnessed His miracles, and saw Him crucified and resurrected. Now filled with the Holy Spirit, they carried His presence boldly.

John 15:5 (NIV) reminds us: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.”

Time with Jesus shapes our perspective, changes our posture, and reveals our purpose. That’s what turns nobodies into Kingdom somebodies.

We see this again in Moses’ story. In Exodus 33:15–16, Moses pleads with God: “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here... What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

God’s presence makes the difference. It did for Moses. It did for Peter and John. And it can for you.

Boldness Is a Sign of Transformation

Just weeks before Peter stood before the Sanhedrin, he had denied Jesus three times—afraid even of a servant girl. But now? He’s preaching boldly to the same people who crucified Christ.

What changed? The Holy Spirit. God’s fire doesn’t just warm us—it transforms us.

Look back to Exodus 3:2–5, when Moses encounters the burning bush: "Though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up... Then God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”"

The fire didn’t consume the bush, but it did consume Moses’ old identity. He went from shepherd to deliverer. The fire ignited his calling. God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. He gives you boldness to walk in the calling He’s placed on your life—not for comfort, but for transformation and impact.

Your Life Can Create a Ripple Effect

Peter and John were just ordinary men. But from their obedience and boldness, the Gospel began to spread like wildfire:

• Thousands came to know Jesus.
• Miracles multiplied.
• Churches were planted.
• The world was changed.

Even 2,000 years later, we’re still feeling the ripples. So here’s the question: What kind of ripple could your life create?

Maybe it starts with:

• One prayer.
• One conversation.
• One act of kindness.
• One bold step of obedience.

Don’t underestimate your “yes” to God.

He’s not looking for superstars—He’s looking for surrendered hearts.

If you’ve been living under the lie that you’re not enough—too ordinary, too broken, too late—know this: your story is not insignificant. You were made to make waves. Let your life be the stone in the water. Let the presence of Jesus in you cause ripples that change your family, your community, and your world.

Final Thought

You may feel ordinary—but when you've been with Jesus, extraordinary things begin to happen.