The Why: Part Three

Intro intro- Acts 15

Intro- Series recap...

Called

People need the gospel

Question: “Why do we do church the way that we do?”

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Story- “Night club”

First great controversy of the church

Background of passage…

Acts 15:5 NIV

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

Explain…

600+ commands

Acts 15:6–19 (NIV)

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

THIS IS HUGE

WHY IS SOMEONE SAVED?

EXPLAIN THIS!!!!

So Peter takes his seat…

12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

[Quoting Amos 9…explain as you go]

16 “ ‘After this I will return

and rebuild David’s fallen tent.

Its ruins I will rebuild,

and I will restore it,

17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,

even all the Gentiles who bear my name,

says the Lord, who does these things’ —

18things known from long ago. 

19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

Explain…

Explain…

Ex- Altar call…

Let’s make sure it’s the Gospel that’s offending.

They vote and say, “Yes. This is right.”

Acts 15:22–29 NIV

22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Explain why these

Ex- are they saying that murder isn’t a sin? NO

Reread…

Acts 15:29 NIV

You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Let me explain to you what you just read-

Story- Only ever read this story from the perspective of a Gentile.

THEY JUST GAVE UP EVERYTHING….

Why?

Acts 15:19b (NIV)

we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

Ex- We have traditions….

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Slide: Customs & Convictions

Insiders & outsiders

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Story- Burt @ Victoria’s Secret

The Why.

We do church the way that we do because…

Slide: Customs are up for grabs. Convictions are not.

Story- Drew @ Elders meeting

Guiding principle- What will connect people to Jesus Christ? And what do we have to move to make that happen?

Ex- feel of place

Ex- religious language

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Line- If my church preference gets in the way of someone coming to know Jesus, then my church preference is in the wrong.

We want to be a church of people who are committed to doing moving whatever we’ve got to move for the sake of the lost.

Ending- Will you…