Building the Church (11)
Building the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
Good morning everyone. I hope we all had a good week.
How did you see God move this past week?
Ever been at a cross road?
You have to make a decision which way to go.
I looked it up - the biggest and busiest intersection in the world
The busiest and arguably the largest pedestrian intersection in the world is Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan. It's known for its "scramble" style, where all traffic lights turn red simultaneously to allow pedestrians to cross in any direction. During peak hours, it can see up to 3,000 people crossing at once.
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
We are at an intersection in Acts, maybe not this big, but a huge one
For the first 7 chapters is all about the conversion of the Jews in Jerusalem and then the stoning of Stephen
Then we see the church spread out to Judea and Samaria. Still mainly Jewish focused
Ever heard God doe s not call the equipped but equips the called? Well, God chose the most unlikely person to be the one to spread the church to the Gentiles and uttermost parts.
Paul - the accuser, persecutor. The one who ravaged the church was ravaged by Christ and changed everything.
The people were in place , the door just needed to be opened.
We left Phillip spreading the Gospel:
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
Meanwhile Peter is still going around preaching and healing:
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
He heals Aeneas - a paralytic in Lydda vs 33-35
Then he gets called to Joppa and raised Dorcas (Tabitha) - vs 36-41
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
The stage is set, the pieces are in place, the question is are the hearts ready?
Let’s find out, but first let’s pray.
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
God cares more about our character than our comfort.
We get comfortable with our lives, our churches, our people and habits
The Jews were, they had their history, the promises, the law. They were, and still are the Chosen people.
It is easy to look inward, but that is not the plan.
Abraham
18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Jesus
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
“It is the whole business of the whole church to preach the whole gospel to the whole world.” — Charles H. Spurgeon
The call is the same today.
How do we get there:
Preparation
We will reach no one without the people and our hearts being prepared
People -
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.
Preparation
Remember where Phillip ended up -
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
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.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,
Preparation
Our Hearts -
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.
Preparation
Peter had no idea
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate
2. Obedience
God opens the door, we must walk though it.
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.”
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.
2. Obedience
24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 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.”
Peter is still unsure - Jews did not associate with Gentiles but God showed him a different view
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.
2. Obedience
Cornelius shared his vison , invited everyone
3. Proclamation
Never waste an opportunity God gives you
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
3. Proclamation
We al have the same need, we all need a savior
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
It is never about us.
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
The Gospel has reached the Gentiles.
The church that becomes focused upon maintaining itself instead of the gospel becomes a dead branch of the living vine… Thomas C. Oden
No Favoritism Allowed
No Favoritism Allowed
We are still called to go.
We don’t pick and choose.
We go where God opens the door.
Will we walk through
Let’s pray
