if this life is all there is

then do what makes you happiest

eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die

live life to the fullest

get the newest and best

be with who makes you happy and change as much as necessary

live for YOU!!!

BUT if this is life is not all there is and eternity awaits

the words of Jesus cannot be overlooked

Matthew 16:24-27

does this describe your life? my life?

sold out to Jesus means we live different kinds of lives

are you living for your glory

OR are you living for God’s glory in Christ?

as a disciple of Jesus, are you ready for...

Radical Disciple-Making (Acts 10)

pew Bible page 1091

Peter’s obedience in Acts 10 will stir up a controversy that has been brewing for centuries

Acts 10:1-11:18 is longest single narrative in Acts

Luke (more like HS) places great importance on this incident

many repetitions

underlines the importance of the event

10:1-8 Cornelius’s vision

map

10:9-16 Peter’s peculiar vision

Leviticus 20:25-26

black screen

10:17-23 Peter’s journey to Cornelius’s home

10:24-33 Peter’s encounter with Cornelius

10:34-43 Peter’s gospel-centered sermon

While Peter was still saying these things…

10:44-48 Holy Spirit descends on Gentiles

Peter announced that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (2:21)

now he understands the implications of his own preaching

at Pentecost

HS poured out on Jewish believers (Acts 2)

Samaritans received HS when apostles laid hands (Acts 8)

now Gentiles received HS same as Acts 2 (Acts 10)

Gentile Pentecost

clearly God wanted the apostles to be eyewitness to what He was doing

for us

receiving HS is unique

but not necessary for salvation

look at other salvations in Acts

lame beggar (Acts 3)

Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8)

Saul (Acts 9)

baptism

they believed and were baptized

Peter—God clearly baptized them w/HS, is there any reason we should not baptize them with water? (10:47)

trouble brews…

11:1-18 Peter’s defense back in Jerusalem

strict Jewish Christians had issues

Peter recounts account

Luke makes sure this account takes up a lot of real estate

conclusion

11:17-18

spark a chain of events that will need to be settled at Jerusalem Council in Acts 15

will Gentiles need to trust Jesus AND become Jews?

NO, but takes early church some time to come to that conclusion

this account is a great reason why

what does Acts 10 have to do with disciples of Jesus on Oct 29, 2023?

1. Thriving in evangelism [define] comes from abiding in Jesus

John 15:5

back to point

Peter

prayer (10:9)

closely tied to Bible

remember they did not have luxury we do with BIBLE

much like Jesus (Mark 1:35)

Peter retreated to the roof to be free from distractions

noon

not a prescribed time of prayer for Jews

HS leads through prayer

prayer is time for opening up to God and enabling His leading

prayer requires commitment in this busy world

set alarm earlier (go to bed earlier)

set alarm clock on other end of house near coffee pot

“Unless you spend significant time in regular prayer, God’s voice will be difficult to discern. Without much time in regular prayer, you will be spiritually 'hard of hearing' and God will often seem distant.” Gregory Frizzell

Christian, what does your prayer life look like?

do you spend enough time with the Lord through His Word and prayer?

are you hard of hearing?

meditation (10:19)

inwardly perplexed (10:17) led to pondering (10:19)

meditation is where God has a chance to speak based on His Word

fill your mind with God’s Word

ever feel like your prayers are all the same???

Don Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines

during Peter’s meditation is when HS speaks (10:19)

radical is not Peter

radical is HS

2. Jesus is adding people unlike you to His Church

are you okay with that???

people that are different

prejudices were ripe in Israel (10:28)

Jew/Gentile

centuries of conflict

Jew never enter home of Gentile

even God-fearer

Jew never invite Gentile in home

Israel’s doctrine of election was twisted

falsely embraced as favoritism

Gentiles = dogs

in Acts 10

how would God break down Peter’s prejudices and racial discrimination?

this account is as much about Peter’s conversion as it is of Cornelius

what did it take for God to break through?

divine vision

divine command

divine preparation (Cornelius)

divine action (HS came)

Peter even relapsed (Galatians 2:11 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”)

when (not if) we start following the HS and reaching people who may not be just like us,

Satan will love to use conflict just like Jew/Gentile in early church

truth

the ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross

inclusive: the invitation is to all (All means All)

exclusive: only through Jesus

clear that Jesus was behind this encounter

apostles had no Gentile mission plan

Peter planned NONE of this encounter with Cornelius

apostle Peter

trained by Jesus

filled with HS

leader of the 12

BUT this movement began with Jesus, not Peter

Peter responded to Jesus, but Jesus was in charge of the mission

precise timing is not coincidental, rather providential

Peter is praying and seeing vision while men from Cornelius are approaching

Peter nor Cornelius took initiative in this encounter

all totally under Jesus’ direction

if you are comfortable with a church full of people like you,

then you are not open to the church Jesus is building right here at FCC

our church should not be filled with people that are the same

if it is, then we are not sharing the gospel with the people God wants us to

the radical in this story IS NOT Peter

the radical in this account IS GOD

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit

the HOLY SPIRIT will lead us to evangelize people that are not in our social circle

will you be sensitive enough to hear Him and bold enough to follow?

will you embrace the people God saves and sends our way?

3. Jesus is building His Church through disciple-makers like you

clear command (Matt 28 and Acts 1:8) for all followers of Jesus

what holds you back from obeying the Lord like Peter?

fear

what will I say?

So Peter opened his mouth (10:34a)

about Jesus (10:36-43)

the angel did not preach the gospel to Cornelius

that privilege was entrusted to Peter

what will people think?

fear came true for Peter (11:1-18)

who do you fear more? people or God

how is it evidenced in your life?

if same HS that empowered fisherman to speak Jesus to the HOSTILE religious leaders,

then surely you can share Jesus with your neighbor

who is God preparing you to share Jesus with???

Love INC laundry facility

4. Good isn’t good enough…only Christ is perfect enough (salvation invitation)

Cornelius

“being good enough” is going to send lots of people to hell