Jesus made it clear throughout His ministry that He came to rescue everyone, Jews and Gentiles. The Jewish believers, however, had to unlearn a lot of bias and untrue opinions of Gentiles. Many believed that Gentiles were unclean and that the Holy Spirit did not indwell the lives of Gentiles. One person who was instrumental in correcting this mindset was Peter. Today we are going to read about how God showed Peter that He came for Gentiles, too, and how Peter, in turn, told other Jewish believers that Gentiles, too, had the Holy Spirit.
BREAK THE ICE
What is one event you don't have any trouble inviting friends to?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. Why do you think we assume that some people are "too far gone" to come to faith in Christ?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Acts 10:1-8. What stands out to you about Cornelius, and what is unique about God's interaction with him
Acts 10:1-8
"In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. 4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” 7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa."
"In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”
7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa."
3. Read Acts 10:9-20. How was God challenging Peter's perception of what was "clean" and what was "unclean?"
Acts 10:9-20
"The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” 14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. 17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. 19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
"The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”
15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
4. Read Acts 10:21-34. What was the purpose behind Peter's vision? What happened as a result of Peter's change of mindset?
Acts 10:21-34
"So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa. 24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. 28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.” 30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” 34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism."
"So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism."
Application
1. What unnecessary prejudice and bias hold some Christians back from sharing their faith?
2. What person or group of people do you find yourself struggling to care for in our world? How can you take steps to show God's love for them this week?
3. Who are you inviting to our Christmas Eve service?
MOVING FORWARD
Jesus came to bring you peace. This peace is only possible as we drop all levels of prejudice, bias and favoritism. Take some time with your group to break off individually and spend 5-10 minutes alone. Think about what is holding you back from reaching out to others. Ask God to give you fresh vision and passion for reaching the lost, especially those you struggle to care for.
GOING DEEPER
Jesus set the prime example when it came to loving every single person around us. His love crossed racial and political lines. He loved those who were sinners and societal outcasts. As His time on earth came to an end after spending His ministry loving all people, Jesus passed this instruction on to His disciples: “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34). Over the next few minutes, let’s look at some of the different people Jesus loved and challenge each other to follow His example.
Jesus’ Love Crossed Racial Lines:
In Jesus’ day, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. They considered Samaritans to be less than and literally went out of their way to avoid having to talk or do business with Samaritans. Imagine how people reacted when they saw Jesus choosing to associate and show love and kindness to these very Samaritan people who they hated with prejudice.
1. Individually read through John 4:1-14. Then come back together to discuss.
2. What stands out to you about Jesus’ interaction with this woman?
3. How would most people have treated this woman? How did Jesus treat her differently?
4. What does this interaction communicate about Jesus’ love?
Jesus’ Love Crossed Political Lines:
Tax collectors were hated by Jewish people in Jesus’ day. The took taxes from the Jewish people on behalf of Rome, which most Jews would have despised paying. On top of this alliance with Rome, tax collectors were also known for charging even more for taxes than were actually due and then pocketing the money for themselves. It was during this time that Jesus stepped in and modeled something different. Instead of hatred, He lovingly invited even tax collectors to be a part of his mission.
1. Read Luke 19:1-10.
2. What stands out to you about Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus?
3. How did most people view Zacchaeus? What was different about how Jesus interacted with him?
Jesus Loved Sinners:
While many religious leaders in Jesus’ day judged those struggling with sin and paraded their own moral goodness, Jesus had a different perspective. Instead of judgment and isolating from people struggling with sin issues, Jesus loved them, never shying away from truth that their sin was wrong, but always showing grace.
1. Read John 8:1-11.
2. What stands out to you about Jesus’ response to this unnamed woman in the caught of adultery?
3. Compare Jesus’ response to the response of the religious leaders.
Jesus Loved Societal Outcasts:
Throughout His 3-year ministry, Jesus loved those considered outcast and even untouchable because of sickness and disease. He was not scared to stoop down and love those others were scared or unwilling to love. He moved towards those whom everyone else moved away from.
1. Read Luke 5:12-15.
2. What stands out to you about Jesus’ response to the leper in this passage of Scripture?
3. How did Jesus’ interaction with this man challenge the way Jewish people treated the sick and societal outcasts?
Discuss:
These are just a few examples of Jesus’ loving people who were different, marginalized, judged, and outcasts of society. Take the next few moments to discuss these passages:
1. After reading, how does Jesus’ love challenge your current understanding of what it looks like to show love?
2. Which of these groups d you have the hardest time welcoming into the kingdom of God? Why is that?
3. How can you step out to someone in one of those categories in the name of Jesus and extend His love to them today?
End your time together praying for Jesus to move in each of your hearts and give you compassion and courage to love everyone, even those who are difficult to love.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14
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