Cornelius' Conversion

Introduction:

Where are we in this series?

Final Week

Recap Flip through Book of Acts

Today: Cornelius Conversion

We have seen God do some radical things… I think this allow us to forget that God works in common people as well.

are you familiar with the phrase “the Common Man”? (Andrew Jackson)

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States from 1829 to 1837, seeking to act as the direct representative of the common man. More nearly than any of his predecessors, Andrew Jackson was elected by popular vote; as President he sought to act as the direct representative of the common man.

What is the common man like today? (AI generated image) Transition: Heres the reality.. We get caught up in Jesus working in the radicals that sometimes we miss he can work in the people we might describe as common.

B.I. God is working in hearts, don’t allow yourself to miss it!

Pray

God is working in the heart of the Roman Centurion : 10:1-4

Acts 10:1–4 ESV

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

Where Does our story take place? Caesarea: a ‘new town’ built by Herod the Great which had become the centre of government for the Roman administration of Judea.

Roman Centurion: 1) Roman 2) He is a part of the Roman military stationed or either retired in Caesarea. 3) the most likely employment in the ancient world.

Roman Centurions in Bible: 1) Jesus Heals a Roman Centurions servant in Mathew 8. 2) A Roman Centurion was in charge of the details of Christ death. 3) Paul is often being hunted by the Roman Centurion's…

But God has been working in this mans heart: 1) A Devout man vs nominal. 2)Giving of Alms: He Gave to the poor 3) He Prayed to God. 4) With all his household. Gentile: A Pagan. He didn’t practice the law.

Transition: God is working… we may not see it, but he is drawing people to himself. skip down to verse 25.

God is working in the heart of the Jewish apostle. 10:25-28

Acts 10:25–28 ESV

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

- Someone he shouldn’t be talking too.

- Unclean Outside of Gods people. At best he is common. - Someone he shouldn’t associate with? - Pause for a second and Recognize where we are at in the narrative of the book of Acts: Shouldn’t the church be better than this by now… - We will never full grasp Gods heart, we must be reminded of our constant drifting to apathy and the things of this world.

But God changes Peters Perspective…… Second half of V28

Acts 10:28 ESV

And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

transition: there are two miricles in this story… not just cornelius but how God works in peters heart.

God is changing how Peter sees him : 10:10-15

Acts 10:10–15 ESV

And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Recognize the humor: Peter is hungry And God provides him a vision of everything that he cant eat to prove his point.

But in all seriousness this is an incredible visual.

See Peter is viewing people at the level of which he views dietary restrictions. How often do we do this?

God says he has made nothing common…..

He is scared what everyone else thinks to the point that he literally tells the audible voice of God no…

transition: in witnessing you cannot let your view of some one prevent you from sharing the gospel… the same way someone didn’t let their view of you prevent them from sharing the gospel with you. because here is the truth… how does God see both of them?

How Does God see each of them? Vs 34-36

Acts 10:34–36 ESV

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

- God shows no partiality Jesus Died for Peter and Jesus died for Cornelius and Jesus died for you and me.

Closing: What do we learn from this story: Vs. 37-43

Acts 10:37–43 ESV

you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

What do we learn:

How God sees us?

Who is God calling us to share the gospel with.

he kingdom of God is bigger than any earthly kingdom.

Close with story Conversation with Dalton

Prayer Prompt: 1) Who is the common man in your life? (Write their name down bring forward)

Small Group Discussion: Witness discussion: Where do you live? Where do you work? Where do you play?

What are you passionate about? how can that lead to ministry? Where can you serve? Who are you wanting to see reach with the gospel?