(Acts 10-11, 15; Gal. 2)
A. Cornelius Experience (Acts 10:1-8) Even when we are not aware of what is going on in the spiritual world, God is working to prepare us for what is next. Be ready to receive what He has for you, just like Peter and Nehemiah. As God shows the needs, He is laying on our hearts, be ready to receive direction from God, vision for your next responsibility! We know there is a God-fearing man named Cornelius who had a vision from God telling him that he, through his men, was to make contact with Peter, a Jew. Cornelius was a Gentile, so were his soldiers and maybe the servants.
1. What was Cornelius’ background? Italian Regiment, Gentile, God-fearing, devout, went to the synagogue and either stayed outside or in the back to hear the teachings, very generous.
2. What affect do dreams and visions have in our Christianity today?
3. As you read verse 4, how active is God with non-believers?
4. How obedient was Cornelius to the angel?
B. Peter’s world is turned upside down (10:9-23)
· God was preparing Peter’s heart even before having this vision (like Nehemiah, God goes before you when He has you do something).
· While waiting for the afternoon meal to be prepared, Peter fell into a trance (like a drug-induced ecstasy, displacement of the mind).
· The dream was – he saw heaven open and a sheet came down from heaven and on it were four-footed animals, beasts, creeping things and birds – all things unclean to Jews. Peter was told to kill and eat. “No way – I’m a good, upstanding Jew!” God’s reply was, “What I call clean, don’t you retag or rename.”
· Dreams – hear of such in
· Handling/eating things “:defiled” – Prejudices, cultures, traditions can become Pharisaical. It is the way we do it, thus must be biblical. Sometimes length of time a practice has occurred gives it biblical relevancy. Who or what am I not willing to work with, who do I treat as second class? Who are considered unclean in my world? Don’t let my theology or culture get in the way of my ministry! Seriously, look at what is biblical and what is cultural? Church on Sunday, Sunday school, versions of scripture, dress, facial hair and ornaments, baptism, view of spiritual gifts, pre-trib vs. post-trib, color of skin, work ethic, instruments/music (“jungle” music”), sometimes how we do our devotions (quiet times), smokers, drinking, overeating, some sexual practices, homosexuals (John 8), people with various diseases (AIDS, leprosy, etc.), how we raise our kids (pastor’s kids vs. regular kids), denominations, socio-economic groups, traditional, emerging, what makes a good Christian.
· Peter’s thing was Jews didn’t touch or eat what was on the sheet. He objected, even when God said to do it. His cultural convictions were so deep, God had a hard time breaking through – three times it took.
· God’s response was to not call anything unclean or impure that God had made clean/pure.
· God had to really work over Peter’s heart to prepare him for what was next, as the messengers from Cornelius showed up – Gentiles. The Spirit indicated Peter was to accept these guests in to the “Jewish” house,, which was a no-no for Jews! “Don’t waste time,” was the Spirit’s imperative, “go meet them and go with them!”
· The men told Peter what God was doing on Cornelius’ end. Peter invited them into the Jewish home. Remember the three called from outside the gate to get someone’s attention to speak to Peter, because they could not enter a Jew’s home, being Gentile.
· This was radical for Peter. He was a devout Jew, and what he saw on the sheet probably turned his stomach, but out cultural, traditional things can’t become biblical!
1. How does this passage become a teaching on missions? Peter was entering a foreign world right in his own area. Don’t let my theology or culture get in the way of ministry.
· We have all kinds of excuses to not go to do God’s work, whether it is across the street, or to the other end of the world.
· We tend to view our understanding of application of scripture, or how we live out various portions of scripture as the only way – Sunday vs. Saturday services for church.
· In leadership we need “the facts” straight as we minister and work with people. It is easy to become demanding over areas that can have some latitude. Sometimes tradition or preference can be misinterpreted for Biblical truth.
· Our prejudices can affect how we treat and value people who are “unclean” in my world. As spiritual leaders, we represent Jesus and the world is watching.
· God has to break us out of our prejudices as we have built them up.
· We must take the lead and show compassion, grace, mercy to people – look at Jesus in John 8 with the adulterous woman. He didn’t let His theology get in the way of ministering to the woman. It takes a real spiritual leader to know what God requires, or waits and does it when the rest of the Christians are saying to not do it.
· To minister to someone who is not like us, walls need to be broken down, or we won’t go, or our attitude toward that person or group will be clearly seen. Spiritual leaders need to pave the way, need to be the least prejudiced group of people.
2. Why is it important to spend some time with God, basically every day?
3. What did the living creatures on the sheet represent?
4. Why was it so difficult for Peter to agree to eat what was on the sheet?
5. How can you see the attribute of God’s sovereignty in this passage?
6. What prejudices and misconceptions do you need to work on? (In other words, what is on your sheet?)
7. What needs to change in your speech about certain people (slang, stereotype remarks, bitterness)? (John 13:34-35)
8. As you live out and practice your Christian life, what activities do you personally do, or your church does that are more cultural or traditional than biblical?
9. What cultural/traditional Christian activities do you do that can keep you from a willingness to minister to other people groups? (who are “unclean” in your world)
10. What or which people group does God want you to impact for Christ?
11. Why did the three Gentile men call out to Peter from outside the house, rather than entering the house and asking for Peter?
C. Breaking down traditional barriers (
(verse 23) Peter goes with these men from
(v. 34) God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from all the nations of the world who fear Him and do what is right.
1. What Jewish laws were being broken by Peter?
2. What barriers might God be encouraging you to break down?
3. How much do you agree with Peter’s statement in verses 34-35 and live it? How is your commitment shown in your life?
4. What impact (do you feel) did Jesus’ ministering to other people groups (like Samaritans, Roman centurion [Luke 7]) have on Peter? Is it a form of discipling?
5. Why did God use Peter, one of the most influential and visible spiritual leaders of his day, to reach out to the Gentiles?
6. In what ways do we put God in a “box” (He can n only work in a certain way or with a certain people)?
7. In what ways has God worked, whether in your life or in others, that has surprised you that God would work that certain way?
D. Criticism – the natural response (11:1-18) Word got back to the church leaders (apostles and brothers) what Peter had done with the Gentile Cornelius and his family/friends. The first thing these leaders did was to criticize Peter for what he had done (hardly anything has changed in 2,000 years). They were putting their theology ahead of ministry and the leading of the Holy Spirit. So Peter confidently shared his experiences. He told the truth – didn’t embellish the story to make himself look better, and let the truth be known. When we see evidence of God working, even though we may not agree with the total theology of the people, we need to let God do His thing. Why oppose God? Look at the fruit that results. Evaluate the fruit through the filter of scripture. The sad thing is the leaders right away criticized, instead of knowing Peter’s heart. They could have waited to hear Peter’s explanation of why he did what he did, and then make a decision based on the facts. Why do we do this – jump to conclusions about how we view an activity of fellow believers whom we know – we have seen the fruit of their labor. Theology clouds our perspective often. My theology may not always be correct, or at least the whole picture.
1. What was the first response of the leaders back in
2. Why is criticism usually the first response of Christians, even though we know the person’s heart?
3. Have you ever been criticized? How did you feel?
4. How should we handle situations when we hear of something out of the ordinary, especially if we know the person and his/her heart who is in question? Give them first an opportunity to explain before we make conclusions.
5. Why do we oppose God at times? Because it is not the way we have done ministry, or are used to. Also, it was not our idea, for if it were, we would be in total agreement with God.
6. What theology clouds your thinking? Don’t let your theology get in the way of your ministry.
7. What ways did Jesus teach Peter about not letting your theology get in the way of your ministry? Woman at the well, the adulterous woman in John 8, healing lepers, feeding the disciples on the Sabbath.
8. Why did Peter go through the whole story of his experience?
9. Peter didn’t justify himself as he shared the story. How difficult is it to not make yourself look better when you have to explain yourself?
E. Confrontation over cultures (Galatians 2)
(1-10) Paul meets up with the apostles, including Peter. As they discussed the ministry among Gentiles and Jews, it was agreed upon that Paul focus his ministry on the Gentiles and the apostles on the Jews. The key leaders, Peter, James and John, gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Paul, indicating their complete blessing on this ministry. Again, key leadership needs to be in step with what God is doing. This chapter of ministry began when Peter had the vision in Acts 10, and carried out, in obedience, the direction God was leading him, even though it was a gorge-like paradigm shift in ministry thinking. When God is working mightily in a situation, whether direction for ministry or even a tragedy, He raises up leadership to take responsibility and lead the way. (11-16) Paul did oppose Peter in
1. From verses 1-10, what was the direction of the church leadership to reaching the Gentiles?
2. How important is it for leadership to be in agreement when new ministry opportunities arise? What role does the Holy Spirit play? As spiritual leaders, we need to be listening to the Holy Spirit’s leading. If the Spirit is leading, there should be agreement. This does not mean that concerns may not be raised that are legitimate. Often concerns arise due to a person’s spiritual gifts, procedures and plans on how to implement a vision. Remember, vision is from God, plans are man-made. Nehemiah had to change his plans part way through in order to finish the wall.
3. When conflicts arise, how should leaders handle them (v. 11)?
4. What was the problem between Paul and Peter (v. 11-16)?
5. Paul confronted Peter. Why confront Peter when all the other Jewish Christians were doing it also? Peter was clearly the leader and, as the leader goes, so goes the crowd.
6. What customs that you follow are easy to pass on to new Christians (when those customs have nothing to do with true Christianity)?
7. How hard was it for Peter to break out of his old thinking pattern, or to change how he viewed tradition?
8. As Peter was able to observe, how did Jesus beak away from tradition when He ministered to people?
9. Explain in non-church or non-religious terms, how someone becomes a Christian.
F. Resolution of tradition and Christianity (Showdown at O.K. Jerusalem Corral) (Acts 15:1-29) The circumcised question kept coming up, “got to follow the traditions and the way we have done it” argument. Question essentially was, “What is biblical salvation versus cultural Christianity/religion that has nothing to do with salvation?” The blow-up occurred in
1. Why was it necessary for the church leaders to meet and discuss this issue?
2. How important was it for Peter to be the one to address the assembly?
3. Where does courageous spiritual boldness fit in the life of a spiritual leader? Somewhere and sometimes as a spiritual leader we will most likely be put in a situation where we will have to boldly stand before a group of people and either obey God or man, by the way we respond.
4. How do you develop spiritual boldness? Like Peter, spend time with Jesus, seek the Holy Spirit’s leading (being obedient to the Holy Spirit and the Word), pray, have others praying for you.
5. How important was the Cornelius experience for Peter? How did it prepare him for this meeting?
6. How did the rest of the assembly react (v. 12-29)?
7. What yokes do we place on people?
8. How do we make sure we do not place yokes on others?
9. In what ways are you acting and living like a Pharisee? (Putting rules, standards on others that are not biblical.)
