A Spirit-Empowered Message for All

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1 SESSION 6 A Spirit-Empowered Message for All Summary and Goal The gospel resists and tears down the boundaries that often separate people in the world, and the writers of the New Testament were often at pains to confront the church when it failed to unite around the gospel and break these walls down. Peter, who struggled with such issues himself, learned the importance of calling the church to brotherly unity, but his journey toward unity took the Holy Spirit paving the way in the heart of a Gentile and then in his own heart. With God, there is no favoritism, and salvation is offered to people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Main Passages Acts 10:1-16,34-48 Session Outline 1. God cultivates a Gentile s heart to receive the gospel (Acts 10:1-8). 2. God condemns His people s sense of superiority (Acts 10:9-16). 3. God calls His people to welcome all who believe the gospel (Acts 10:34-48). Theological Theme God shows no favoritism but offers salvation to people of every ethnicity. Christ Connection God challenged Peter s tradition of clean and unclean foods in order to further challenge his perspective of clean and unclean people. Peter learned that God does not show favoritism but calls His people to proclaim the message of Jesus death and resurrection to all people, to celebrate His work in their lives, and to welcome believers into His family, regardless of their ethnicity. Missional Application God calls us not to show favoritism in sharing the gospel but to extend the call of salvation to all people. Date of My Bible Study: LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Session Plan A Spirit-Empowered Message for All For Further Discussion Why do you think a church for all people is so crucial to the message of the Bible? Point 1 Option Ask groups of 3-4 to read the Essential Christian Doctrine God s Plan and Human Action (leader p. 84; PSG p. 66) and to discuss the following questions (consider writing the questions on a board or sheet of paper for groups to have; also available on the DVD in The Gospel Project for Adults: Leader Pack): Why might we struggle to affirm the biblical truth of God s sovereign control over history alongside the biblical truth of humanity s authentic responsibility? How does knowing that God is sovereign encourage you? In what ways does it challenge you? After a couple of moments, allow groups to share some of their reflections. Pack Item 5: Early Church Expansion Map Caesarea and Joppa are highlighted on the map. Introduction Recount the writer s story about a youth ministry reaching teenagers who didn t fit the mold of his suburban church and how some in the church became uncomfortable with this development (leader p. 82; PSG p. 64). What boundaries have you seen or experienced that separated Christians from one another? That wrongly kept the unchurched from hearing the gospel? Summarize this session about the gospel that tears down the boundaries that often separate people (leader p. 83; PSG p. 65). 1. God cultivates a Gentile s heart to receive the gospel (Acts 10:1-8). Ask a volunteer to read Acts 10:1-8. Describe who Cornelius was and that God had been cultivating a spiritual hunger in him. Note how God drew him to a deeper relationship by commanding him to meet with Peter (leader pp ; PSG pp ). Why do you think God chooses to use Christians to spread the gospel? Speak to our need to pay attention to what motivates people in our own culture to various religious practices we might discover hearts that long for truth. Such people will not find what they re looking for apart from God s miraculous intervention and apart from God s church (leader pp ; PSG p. 67). What are some ways you see non-christians in the world around you seeking a spiritual encounter? How might you point them to Jesus in light of their misguided efforts to find a substitute for God? 80 Leader Guide

3 2. God condemns His people s sense of superiority (Acts 10:9-16). Read Acts 10:9-16. Explain Peter s vision of the sheet with four corners being lowered from heaven and why he refused to obey the Lord s command to kill and eat (leader pp ; PSG pp ). What are some ways God has surprised you or disrupted your expectations? State that Peter s vision marked a turning point in the life of the church Israel s time of being separate from the rest of the world on account of the Law of Moses had come to an end. What would set apart God s people now was their faith in Jesus (leader pp ; PSG p. 68). For Further Discussion Despite its dietary and ritual regulations no longer being binding because of the new covenant, how does the Law of Moses still provide wisdom for Christians? What things should we keep in mind when tempted to write off parts of the law as strange or impractical? How should we reconcile the details of this story with the truth that God never changes? What traditions might we need to reject or hold loosely so we don t call impure what God has made clean? 3. God calls His people to welcome all who believe the gospel (Acts 10:34-48). Tell how Peter understood the vision, which is why he went with the three men Cornelius sent. Then read Acts 10: Clarify that as Peter preached the gospel, the Holy Spirit descended upon all those who heard the gospel message and they believed in Jesus (leader pp ; PSG pp ). How have you been surprised by God s grace getting through to someone and calling them to faith in Jesus? Challenge the group to consider how this story might apply to us as it relates to cultural, political, racial, and social issues (leader p. 89; PSG pp ). What groups of people might we be prone to write off as too resistant to the gospel? What are some specific ways this story should change our perspective? Conclusion Exhort the group to examine themselves in light of Cornelius story and to root out their implicit biases toward people (leader p. 89; PSG p. 71). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 72). Pass out bookmarks from Pack Item 7: Jesus Peace to help group members remember the beauty of the gospel of Jesus as peace available for all people. Christ Connection: God challenged Peter s tradition of clean and unclean foods in order to further challenge his perspective of clean and unclean people. Peter learned that God does not show favoritism but calls His people to proclaim the message of Jesus death and resurrection to all people, to celebrate His work in their lives, and to welcome believers into His family, regardless of their ethnicity.... Missional Application: God calls us not to show favoritism in sharing the gospel but to extend the call of salvation to all people. 81

4 Expanded Session Content A Spirit-Empowered Message for All Voices from Church History Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted. 1 Charles Spurgeon ( ) Introduction Many years ago, I was a volunteer leader at a youth ministry at a quiet, suburban church. It was a pretty dignified place in its appearance and in the makeup of its people. One Wednesday night at our youth group gathering, a handful of new kids showed up. They d been invited by the youth minister, promising the typical youth group fare: pizza, games, music, and a time of talking about Jesus. These kids didn t fit the mold of most of the church s well-heeled members. They lived in a poorer neighborhood nearby. They wore grimy flannel shirts and heavy boots (it was the 90s, after all). They rode skateboards across the parking lot, jumping curbs and sliding on railings. They were edgy, nervous, and unfamiliar with the church. At first, the church welcomed them. Soon they were sitting up close at our gatherings, some of them asking earnest questions about Jesus and about what it meant to be a Christian. Eventually, many of them came to faith and got baptized. They invited more of their friends. The youth group started to look different, and the youth group kids were excited, learning what it meant to live on mission. Something was stirring in the community, and it was beautiful. But some in the church were troubled by these developments. They didn t like the unfamiliar faces in the parking lot. They worried about what kind of influence this new element might have on the lives and faith of their kids. Tension began to build and conversations took place until the day the church fired the youth minister. The Wednesday night youth group meeting was disbanded. Signs were posted that banned skateboarding from the parking lot. Kids that still showed up on Sundays were scolded if they weren t dressed appropriately, and of course, those kids left. Soon things returned to the comfortable familiarity that the church had known before. What boundaries have you seen or experienced that separated Christians from one another? That wrongly kept the unchurched from hearing the gospel? 82 Leader Guide

5 Session Summary The gospel resists and tears down the boundaries that often separate people in the world, and the writers of the New Testament were often at pains to confront the church when it failed to unite around the gospel and break these walls down. Peter, who struggled with such issues himself, learned the importance of calling the church to brotherly unity, but his journey toward unity took the Holy Spirit paving the way in the heart of a Gentile and then in his own heart. With God, there is no favoritism, and salvation is offered to people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. 1. God cultivates a Gentile s heart to receive the gospel (Acts 10:1-8). The Holy Spirit began the work of taking the gospel to the Gentiles and helping the fledgling church see this as God s plan. In Acts 10:1-8, we see that He began a new stage of this work with a man named Cornelius. 1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, Cornelius. 4 Staring at him in awe, he said, What is it, Lord? The angel told him, Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Cornelius seems to be someone who had revered God for a long time. He was a Roman living in Judea and overseeing several hundred Roman soldiers stationed at Caesarea. He was not a foot soldier but more like a battalion commander, a person with political and military power at his disposal. It s likely that Cornelius had been strongly influenced by the Jewish culture surrounding him. When Luke tells us he was devout and feared God, most commentators agree that this means he was in some way worshiping the one true God as revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures. Perhaps this meant he was attending the synagogue and participating in Jewish religious and cultural practices. He was certainly moved enough by his religious efforts to do many charitable deeds for the Jewish people. Further Commentary To date the gospel had been well established in Jerusalem and was extending throughout the Jewish territory (9:31). It was only a matter of time, therefore, before the limits of that territory would be reached (both geographically and demographically), and the problem of Gentile eligibility would have to be faced. What was needed was a test case something to show clearly what God s will was in the matter and the case of Cornelius met that need. Of course, Luke had the advantage of hindsight. He saw a far greater significance in the admission of Cornelius and his friends into the church than anyone could have at the time. At first, it was probably seen as something exceptional, certainly not a precedent by which to establish a rule, much less an incentive to actively seek other Gentiles to bring into the church. And Luke himself understood this. 2 David John Williams 83

6 Voices from the Church My identity and my security are not in my spiritual progress. My identity and my security are in God s acceptance of me given as a gift in Christ. 3 J. D. Greear 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 25. God s Plan and Human Action God s sovereignty over all of life encompasses the free actions of human beings. Proverbs 19:21 says, Many plans are in a person s heart, but the Lord s decree will prevail. In ways we are unable to comprehend fully, the Lord s plan goes forward through the choices of human beings as moral agents. Even freely chosen sinful actions are factored into God s overarching plan, as is the case with the crucifixion of Jesus an event both purposed by God through foreknowledge and yet also carried out by the wicked decisions of human beings (Acts 2:23). Knowing that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28), we trust in His promise to fulfill His plan, even when we do not understand our present circumstances. He was also someone of great influence. Luke says his whole household feared God. His own religious piety and practice had rubbed off on those around him, and this household included his family and the families of a number of servants. So in Caesarea, we have a little enclave of God-seeking Gentiles, led by Cornelius. God had been cultivating this hunger in Cornelius, and when He sent an angel to speak with him, He commended Cornelius good heart and good work describing his efforts as a memorial offering, a worthy sacrifice before the Lord. In the Roman Empire, where religions abounded, religious performance abounded too. It was a pluralistic and inclusive culture around religion, which invited Romans to participate in the worship of whatever gods happened to be important to them or nearby. For Cornelius, though, something more was at work. He wasn t simply doing his religious duty and going through the motions while stationed in Judea. Instead, his heart was moved to worship God. As the psalmist pointed out, mere material sacrifice doesn t impress God, but a broken and contrite heart does (Ps. 51:17). God commended Cornelius for this greater sacrifice of the heart and invited him to know Him further. Notice how God drew Cornelius to a deeper relationship with Himself. He didn t simply reveal Jesus to him in his vision. Instead, He commanded him to meet with Peter, one of Jesus disciples. God-fearing Cornelius obeyed, gathering some servants and sending them off to find Peter in Joppa, where the angel said he would be. Why do you think God chooses to use Christians to spread the gospel? In our day, we could find many people who are seeking after God but don t know Jesus. We live in an age where, alongside rigid secularism, religion abounds. There s a kind of feel-good God is love religion whose concepts of God are vague and simplistic. There s new age spirituality that takes its form in yoga and meditation. And there s a kind of power-of-positive-thinking religion that shows up in many different forms. As Christians, we can certainly find elements of these religions that are objectionable, but we should be careful not to dismiss the people who practice them too quickly and not to be too simplistic in our thoughts about them. If we pay attention to what motivates and attracts people to their various religious practices, we might discover hearts that long for truth. We might even discover people with an awareness of their spiritual poverty, people who are looking under every leaf for the possibility of a meaning spiritual encounter. We know those folks won t find what they re ultimately looking for apart from God s own miraculous intervention to draw them to Himself. Moreover, we shouldn t expect them to find God apart from the evangelistic ministry of His church. 84 Leader Guide

7 That s one of the most surprising things about Cornelius story. As pious as he was and as much as his heart seemed to be in the right place, he needed more than good motives to find God. He needed the church, the community of faithful saints who are filled with the Spirit and telling the world about Jesus. When we encounter people like Cornelius, we have a similar opportunity. We should pay attention to the ways their hearts are seeking God, and when we see good things at work in their hearts, such as humility, brokenness, love, and charity, we can applaud them. But we can t stop there; we must also invite them to think about Jesus, and we can invite them to come to know him in the community of His church. What are some ways you see non-christians in the world around you seeking a spiritual encounter? How might you point them to Jesus in light of their misguided efforts to find a substitute for God? 2. God condemns His people s sense of superiority (Acts 10:9-16). Meanwhile, the apostle Peter had a vision of his own that would challenge his understanding of God and His image-bearers. 9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the fourfooted animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, Get up, Peter; kill and eat. 14 No, Lord! Peter said. For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean. 15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, What God has made clean, do not call impure. 16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven. This was not your average hungry guy dreams of food dream, and many aspects of this event mark it as significant. For starters, it was not a dream at all; it was a vision, something the Lord gave him as he was up on the roof praying. He didn t fall asleep, and he didn t stumble upon God s revelation. He heard from God because he was seeking God, having already been drawn to Him through Christ. In and of itself, this is an important point. For both believer and unbeliever alike Seek the face of God as He draws you to Himself, and He will be found! Further Commentary The four corners of the sheet in the vision correspond to the four points of the compass north, south, east, and west. The sheet s contents indicate the swarming millions that populate the earth. Cornelius, all his soldiers, all his servants, all the Roman people, all other nations on the face of the earth all mankind were bound up together in one loathsome bundle. And Peter was standing above them, surveying them all and spitting out revulsion and rejection. Peter was about to see in living color his cold attitude toward the world or at least toward non-jews. Teeming millions were stone-blind spiritually, and yet Peter s callous reply was, Surely not, Lord! But once he really understood what it all meant, Peter would never forget this strange vision! In fact, he spoke of it over and over again. 4 R. Kent Hughes 85

8 Voices from Church History This assurance and certainty [that a movement is of the Holy Spirit] consists principally in four things or reasons. First is love for God and granting my neighbor what God has granted and given to me, for his praise and the salvation of my soul. Second is to count it as loss and to give up life to the point of death, to suffer for the sake of Christ and the gospel in all patience. Third, to realize when God unlocks or opens a door, that one enters the same with the teaching of the gospel Fourth, that one be free and sound in teaching and judgments and in truth, in order that none speak unless Christ works through his Holy Spirit. 5 Pilgram Marpeck ( ) Voices from Church History So the voice of the Lord came down, not only because God was rebuking him but also he was saying clearly, What God has cleansed, you must not call common. Then [Peter] immediately understood that the time had come when the shadows had to be transformed into truth As I have said, the law was figures and shadows that remained until the time of correction. 6 Cyril of Alexandria (circa ) In the vision God gave him, he saw something coming down from the heavens, lowered by four corners. More than describing the geometrical shape of this sheet, this phrase indicates that something with big implications was happening. The sheet with four corners recalls the four corners of the earth (see Isa. 11:12; Rev. 7:1); whatever God was revealing to Peter had world-spanning consequences. In the sheet, Peter saw all the animals and birds of the earth represented. Peter, who lived according to the rules and traditions of Jewish culture, would have been scandalized by this sight and even more scandalized by the command to kill and eat. Dietary laws were integral to Jewish national and cultural identity. God gave the law to Israel as a way of distinguishing them from the pagan culture of their neighbors, and breaking with this pattern was seen as dishonoring to God, family, and nation. So Peter s response to the voice of the Lord was a firm no. Perhaps Peter thought he was being tested was his hunger so strong that it could overcome his convictions about the dietary laws he had kept from birth? The voice responded by telling him that God had made these animals clean and Peter must not call them impure anymore. Luke tells us that this whole scene happens three times. In ancient Hebrew literature, repetition was never accidental. Rather, repetition was meant to connote emphasis. In the Psalms and the Prophets, certain phrases and ideas received poetic repetition as way of calling attention to their centrality in the message. In this passage, the repetition works to communicate the importance of what Peter was hearing and to set the stage for what would happen next. What are some ways God has surprised you or disrupted your expectations? Peter s vision marked a turning point in the life of the church. Luke tells the story in a way that shows us God s providence at work. Cornelius heart was being drawn to God just as Peter s heart was being opened to new possibilities. Something was about to change; some expectation, some sense of Jewish identity, was about to shift. In some ways, this was nothing new for Peter. Like most of the Jews of his day, he was eagerly anticipating the coming of the Messiah, and when he started following Jesus, he thought he was about to witness a social and political revolution. This was why he and so many of the other disciples would bicker about who would sit next to Jesus on His throne, and this was why Peter was eager to draw his sword the night Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane. Jesus disrupted all of these expectations, walking a path of suffering and hardship rather than war and glory, defeating the spiritual enemies of Israel Satan, sin, and death rather than their political enemies, such as Rome. In Acts, Jesus disrupted Peter s expectations again. 86 Leader Guide

9 The command to ignore Israel s dietary laws and kill and eat indicated that the time of Israel s being separate from the rest of the world on account of the Law of Moses had come to an end. What would set them apart from the world now was their faith in Jesus, not their cultural and religious traditions. Peter would soon discover that in this new reality, he had more in common with a Gentile centurion who trusted in Jesus than with a Jewish brother or sister who didn t believe. Christians today have more in common with believers from the Middle East or Russia than they do with their unbelieving neighbor next door. See how unity in Christ is more important than cultural experiences? How should we reconcile the details of this story with the truth that God never changes? What traditions might we need to reject or hold loosely so we don t call impure what God has made clean? 3. God calls His people to welcome all who believe the gospel (Acts 10:34-48). As Peter was contemplating his vision and its meaning, the three men Cornelius sent arrived at Simon the tanner s house. They invited Peter to come to Caesarea to meet Cornelius, recounting his visit from an angel, and the next day they set out. It s telling that Peter went along with them. As he later explained to Cornelius, You know it s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner (10:28). He only went because he understood his vision God was telling him that Gentiles are no longer unclean and should not be excluded from the good news of the gospel. When they arrived, Cornelius fell down to worship Peter, believing this was the proper response to meeting the one God had spoken about. But Peter picked him up and explained that he was a mere human and unworthy of worship. Cornelius then told him about his own dream, and Peter replied in Acts 10:34-48: Voices from Church History The Gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst. 7 Martyn Lloyd-Jones ( ) Further Commentary Peter announced his newly acquired understanding that, in matters of race or ethnicity, God shows no favoritism He accepts, or rather welcomes from every nation, including the Jews, those who reverence him (Deut. 10:12) and do what is right (lit. produce righteousness ). Nation points to any racial, ethnic, or cultural grouping by which humans distinguish themselves. Peter and Luke are seeking to avoid two extremes here: the Jews ethnic pride and prejudice, which saw no Gentile as a fit object of God s saving call, and the view that the religions of all cultures are equally valid bases for being acceptable to God. 8 William J. Larkin 34 Peter began to speak: Now I truly understand that God doesn t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ he is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree. 87

10 Voices from Church History These words of Peter have one sense or meaning namely, that whether they are Jews or Gentiles, circumcised or uncircumcised, the important thing is that they fear God, believe in Christ Jesus and do right. Thus they are God s children, well pleasing to him and heirs of his kingdom, according to the promise which he gave to Abraham saying, In your seed (which is Christ) shall all the heathen be blessed. 9 Dirk Philips ( ) 40 God raised up this man on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us whom God appointed as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, 47 Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days. Peter s message to Cornelius and all the people he had gathered reflected God s vision for the inclusion of Gentiles into the church. God s desire has always been a restored humanity, and in Jesus that s now possible. Yes, Jesus comes through Israel but through Israel to the world. What matters is not your religious or ethnic pedigree but your faith in the One God sent. Peter preached the gospel, covering the entire story of Jesus life and ministry, His death, and His resurrection, and while he was still speaking about these things, the Holy Spirit descended upon all those who heard the gospel message. Cornelius whole household no longer just feared God but believed in Jesus, and as the Spirit was poured out on them, they erupted in ecstatic expressions of His presence and gifts. As with Philip and the Ethiopian in the previous session, Peter couldn t think of any reason to withhold baptism from this Spirit-filled community comprised of Gentiles. Cornelius was a man of wealth, power, and influence. He was a Roman in Judea and had every cultural reason to look down his nose at the Jews around him and their religious beliefs. Likewise, Peter had every reason to refuse the journey, to assume that this powerful Roman would take no interest in the story of Jesus. What was most likely to happen, culturally, was that the Roman would take a fleeting interest in Christianity as one religion amongst the many he observed. But none of that happened. Instead, Cornelius sought the face of God and demonstrated a willingness to listen to the folks God sent his way. Likewise, Peter, also seeking God, was given a message that implied the inclusion of Gentiles in the body of Christ. Both were surprised by God. How have you been surprised by God s grace getting through to someone and calling them to faith in Jesus? 88 Leader Guide

11 We should consider how this story might be reframed in our own contexts. For any number of cultural, political, racial, and social reasons, Christians throughout the history of the church have had to wrestle with the temptation to write off certain people as improbable Christians, if not impossible. We assume that person would never get saved or that group is too hostile to the gospel. We assume those who are different from us would be unwilling to hear us. We assume that those who differ from us on politics are too ideologically different to hear us. And sometimes we just assume that certain people are too evil, too stupid, or too prideful to hear us. It is always a mistake to think this way. God has long been in the business of surprising His people. Seeing that pattern so clearly in Scripture from David becoming king, to Jesus being the Messiah, to a gruff fisherman being the catalyst for the conversion of a Roman centurion and his entire household we ought to be eager to see that pattern in our ordinary lives. The gospel once surprised us with grace. Through us, we might just get to see it surprise us (and the world around us) again and again. What groups of people might we be prone to write off as too resistant to the gospel? What are some specific ways this story should change our perspective? Conclusion While the story of Peter and Cornelius might be familiar, we may still be unaware of the way implicit biases have taken up residence in our own hearts. So like the early church, we re wise to pause, examine our consciences, and ask whether our attitude toward people especially those who are not like us for racial, social, economic, or political reasons might be hindering the unity of the body of Christ. It s a tough question but one worth pressing into for the sake of a church that knows no favoritism or distinctions for those in Jesus. CHRIST CONNECTION: God challenged Peter s tradition of clean and unclean foods in order to further challenge his perspective of clean and unclean people. Peter learned that God does not show favoritism but calls His people to proclaim the message of Jesus death and resurrection to all people, to celebrate His work in their lives, and to welcome believers into His family, regardless of their ethnicity. Voices from the Church You don t need to have perfect obedience to be accepted into His family Yep the gospel doesn t require our good works. To be a child of God requires one thing Christ and when we place our faith in Him, we are all counted as equal children. He s got a colorful family, and therefore so do we. 10 Trillia J. Newbell Voices from Church History The preacher should not preach [the Messiah] as silver and gold, but as peace. This is the beautiful, magnificent sermon: that no one else but he himself has established peace between God and us as well as all creatures! What is all the wisdom, knowledge and power on earth if we are not one with God? If this peace stands, I will not be pestered much by the devil, death, sin and hell. They can be as evil as they want; I have grasped hold of the Word and am at peace with God. But if the devil does not want to leave me in peace, what do I care? For my heart stands in the true assurance of God s peace. The man named Jesus of Nazareth Lord over everything is my Lord, so you cannot devour me! 11 Martin Luther ( ) 89

12 Additional Resources A Spirit-Empowered Message for All References 1. C. H. Spurgeon, The Cripple at Lystra, in Spurgeon s Sermons, 8 th series (New York: Sheldon and Company, 1865), David John Williams, Acts, in Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2016) [WORDsearch]. 3. J. D. Greear, Gospel: Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary (Nashville: B&H, 2011), R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, in Preaching the Word (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008) [WORDsearch]. 5. Pilgram Marpeck, Kunstbuch: Concerning the Humanity of Christ, quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2016) [WORDsearch]. 6. Cyril of Alexandria, Against Julian, , quoted in Acts, ed. Francis Martin, with Evan Smith, vol. V in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) [WORDsearch]. 7. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, quoted in The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations, comp. and ed. Martin H. Manser (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2001), William J. Larkin, Acts, in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2008) [WORDsearch]. 9. Dirk Philips The Enchiridion: The New Birth and the New Creature, quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation Commentary on Scripture: New Testament [WORDsearch]. 10. Trillia J. Newbell, United: Captured by God s Vision for Diversity (Chicago: Moody, 2014), Martin Luther, Sermon on Easter Monday Afternoon (1544), quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation Commentary on Scripture: New Testament [WORDsearch]. 12. Lawrence O. Richards and Gary J. Bredfeldt, Creative Bible Teaching (Chicago: Moody, 1998), 246. Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- The Promise of Blessing to the Nations Chapter 5 in From Creation to New Creation by Tim Chester -- Christian Responsibility and the Mosaic Law Article by Geoff Ashley; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including Keeping Things Kosher, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon Podcast Daniel Akin: The Gospel for All the Nations Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week Insightful Contributions Those who teach adults should recognize the fact that their students might have better and more valuable contributions to make to group learning than they, the teacher, might bring. That can be threatening to some adult teachers. Instead of being threatened, the adult teacher should see [group] insights and feedback as one of the greatest assets of adult education. Adults can take an average [group] and make it outstanding, if only adult teachers would tap into this quality of the adult learner. 12 To facilitate such contributions from your group members, utilize the small group and discussion activities in the session plans. Also, consider pairing or grouping members to discuss specific, important questions related to our mission as Christians. These will help people open up in less intimidating scenarios and provide opportunities for group members to share their God-given experiences and learning with others. 90 Leader Guide

13 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide CSB Volume 6, Number 2 Winter Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax General Editors Brian Dembowczyk Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by to daniel.davis@lifeway.com or mail to Content Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide CSB (ISSN pending; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Unit: 1 Mike Cosper is the founder and director of Harbor Media, where he develops podcasts that help Christians navigate a post- Christian world. Previously he served for 16 years as one of the founding pastors of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he oversaw Sojourn Music a collective of musicians writing songs for the local church. He is the author of four books, including (most recently) Recapturing the Wonder. Katie Orr (special session), creator of the FOCUSed15 Bible study method, is passionate about equipping busy women to experience God daily. She is a teacher, speaker, podcaster, and prolific writer for blogs, magazines, and Sunday School curriculum. A former Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) staff member and mother to three young children, she and pastorhusband, Chris, are part of the church revitalization movement. Unit: 2 Jason C Dukes (sessions 7-9) has been a church starter, a church renewer, and tries to be a disciple-maker. He s currently the Multiplication Minister with Brentwood Baptist Church near Nashville, Tennessee. He has authored books and periodically blogs, which you can learn more about at LiveSent.com. He and his wife, Jen, are thankful for their seven children. Daniel Im (sessions 10-12) serves as the Director of Church Multiplication for NewChurches.com at LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also a teaching pastor at The Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry and Planting Missional Churches. He is married to Christina, and they have three children, Victoria, Adelyn, and Makarios. WRITERS