The Gospel Project: Convicted by the Gospel

Intro Option 1: Directions

Ask students to stand

Show symbols on screen

Move in direction that symbol designates

Q. Is following God’s directions this easy?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no

Seeking wisdom

Today = Peter interprets a vision

Main Point: God revealed the gospel is for all people.

The Lord prepares people for the Gospel

Acts 10:1–6 (ESV)

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 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. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

Cornelius = Gentile = Not Jewish

Caesarea = mostly Gentiles

Believed to best of knowledge

Jewish tradition

But didn’t know Christ

Being prepared by the Lord

God reveals Himself

Lots of visions in Acts

“… which illustrates that the major advances in the Christian witness are all under divine direction.”

Q. Looking back, how can you see the Lord preparing you to accept the Gospel?

Don’t know what led Cornelius to believe

Attempting to follow, but hadn’t heard message

Some of us: difficult circumstances > Gospel

Some of us: blessing > Gospel

Part of testimony

God drawing us near to Him

Q. How does knowing God is preparing people around you to hear the Gospel encourage you to share it?

People around you need hope

No way of knowing what they are going through

But God wants to save them

He is revealing and preparing

Should motivate us to share

Transition Statement: The Lord doesn’t just prepare to hear the Gospel; He calls us to share it!

Main Point: God revealed the gospel is for all people.

The Lord prepares people for the Gospel

The Lord calls people to act in faith and share the Gospel.

Acts 10:9–16 ESV

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Acts 10:19–23 ESV

19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Not someone Peter would normally associate with

Jews and Romans = enemies

Romans = not chosen

Jews: Romans are oppressors

Share with Gentile for first time

Four corners: Whole earth

Gospel extended to everybody

Aligned the circumstances for opportunity

Act of obedience still impacts us today

Q. When have you felt God urging you to share Christ with someone?

Usually nerves

We complicate it

Share Gospel, speak truth in love, answer questions

God may put people who are ready

So we should be ready, too

Q. Why is it tempting to ignore God’s voice when He leads you to share Christ with someone?

Business

Afraid

Concerned about how viewed

Follow God’s leading > guiding us

Transition Statement: When people hear and accept the Gospel, they are transformed by it.

Main Point: God revealed the gospel is for all people.

The Lord prepares people for the Gospel.

The Lord calls people to act in faith and share the Gospel.

The Lord transforms people by the power of the Gospel.

Acts 10:25–28 (ESV)

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 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.

Peter had strong opinions

Stretched

Understood symbolism

Cornelius changed, Peter changed

Q . Why do we form ideas about people we’ve never met?

Families, backgrounds, cultural norms

Usually stereotypical

Be careful

Matters to God = matters to us

Q. What needs to change in your heart about how you view certain people?

People you naturally resist

But Gospel is for everyone

Heart for people

All outsiders > brought into family

Christ Connection:

Through a vision given by God, Peter came to understand that Jesus was the Savior of all people-Jews and Gentiles alike. Anyone who trusts in Jesus is no longer unclean because of sin but rather has been cleansed from all unrighteousness and is now a part of the family of God.

Head: How could believing all people matter to God influence your actions?

Affects treatment

Seek them

Love them

People matter > see need > willing to show

Heart: What fears do you have about sharing the Gospel?

Saying the wrong thing

Rejected

Make fun of

Won’t be popular

Eternal perspective

Helping build God’s kingdom

Hands: What steps can you take to get rid of labels and preconceived ideas you have of other people?

Spend time with them

Products of culture

Often ont true

Hang out > more alike than not

Difficult circumstances

Need Jesus just like everybody

Common ground

The Bottom Line: