October 15, 2023
Good News | Acts 10:19-48
The One You Least Expect
God was blowing Peter’s mind! Not only was lobster, shrimp, and bacon now ‘on the table’ for Jewish Christians, but Gentiles (non-Jewish persons) were also welcome to become Christians. Until this point, there had only been Jewish believers. The Holy Spirit made Peter re-process the message of Jesus and how He is for all people, every tribe, and every tongue – anyone who will trust Him. It turns out that this has been God’s plan all along.
Songs for this week: Spotify
- Have you ever had the experience of worshiping with Christians from (or in) another country? Describe what that was like.
- Peter (along with the other Christians) was stuck in his ways, and God had to blast him out of them. Is there a chance you could be stuck in your ways? Is it possible that God is working at blasting you out of your old ways?
- Explain Peter’s words: “God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
- Cornelius was a Roman Centurion, part of Team Evil, yet God chose to include him. Who represents ‘Team Evil’ in your life? Are you able to pray for God’s work in their life?
- What do you make of the Spirit’s work in this story (visions, power, tongues)? Do you find yourself longing for more of His involvement in our life together?
Share with a friend
Recent Sermons
James 5:13-20 - A life of faith is a life of prayer. It’s also a life lived with others. When we follow Jesus, we belong to Him and to one another as brothers and sisters. As a family, we care for one another in weakness, confess our sins to each other, and gently confront one another.
James 4:6-10 -James knows that the heart of the Christian message is grace. God gives us good that we couldn’t ever deserve. The truth is that we earn and deserve justice and punishment. Thankfully, Jesus took both of those for us and gave us the good he deserved. As powerful as grace is, there is one thing that can re
James 3:1-18 -James is at it again! He has a real concern for the words that Christians use on themselves, with each other and with the world. Our tongues (James' favourite image for our words) can cause such destruction, and they are nearly impossible to control.
James 2:14-26 -James continues to press deep into the muscles and tissues of our faith. Is your faith doing what it was designed to do? Just like you might go to the doctor for a physical check-up, James offers a self-administered faith check-up in this passage. Where do you see signs of life in your faith?
James 1:19-27 - James is direct: angry words, thoughtless words, and religious words don’t have a place in a life of faith. Our words don’t work … but God’s word does! Our job is simply to cooperate with his word.
James 1:1-8 - James gets right down to business! For everyone not currently soaking in a hot tub, suffering is a first order of business. In just a few verses, James explains how trials can grow maturity, how wisdom helps the journey, and how to avoid wasting a suffering experience.
