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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?
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Recent Sermons
Beginnings: How God Got Things Started, A Chosen People. The Israelites were afraid of the Philistine champion, Goliath. They needed a champion to rescue them, and at just the right time, God sent them a shepherd king who risked his life to defeat the enemy. The God who sent David to rescue the Israelites is the same God who came to us as the humble shepherd-king Jesus and gave his life to save us all.
The first human king of Israel was a flop. Saul had loads of promise, but he never learned to keep his eyes on God. God was a duty to Saul, not a friend, which meant Saul was always thinking of himself, what people thought of him, and what he needed to look good.
Expert fire inspectors can tell what started a fire even after it has been put out. They do the forensic work to prevent future fires. As we sort through the ashes of Saul’s life, stay alert to God’s cautions about your life and leadership.
The tiny book of Ruth in your Bible is all about friendship. The name Ruth actually means friendship. Two women lash themselves to each other, wondering what God might do for them during a bleak time in their lives. It’s the story of hard work, courage, and God coordinating the needed pieces behind the scenes.
It doesn’t take too long in the Promised Land for the people of God to begin to behave very badly. All the dreams of being a model nation with God as their king went out the window in a hurry. There’s no greater evidence for this than the last story in the book of Judges. Sometimes the Bible has PG-13 content. Judges 19-21 is rated R.
A Canaanite sex worker, Rahab seemed as far from God as a person could be. But Rahab trusted that God would save her, and he did. God rescued Rahab from shame and into a whole new life with a whole new family. That’s what he does for us, too.
This was Israel’s big day! Everything had been pointing towards this. Everyone was excited and when the moment came, they blew it! Totally dropped the ball. Trusted leaders turtled and turned the people of God against God’s good (and challenging) plan. God still got done what needed to be done—it just took 40 extra years and made for one long camping trip for an entire generation.
