Baptism and Community Service: Embracing God’s Mercy and Mission

Oct 26, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Grace Welcomes All People

God’s love and grace are not limited by human boundaries or distinctions. In the story of Peter and Cornelius, God makes it clear that the message of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are for everyone, not just for a select group. Peter is challenged to see beyond the old divisions of clean and unclean, Jew and Gentile, and to recognize that God’s embrace is wide enough to include all people. This radical welcome is at the heart of the gospel, inviting us to see others as God sees them—beloved and worthy of grace. [23:13]

Acts 11:15-18 (ESV)
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Reflection: Who in your life have you unconsciously kept at a distance? How might you take a step today to extend God’s welcome and grace to them?

Day 2: The Spirit Calls Us to New Relationships

The Holy Spirit often leads us into unexpected encounters and relationships, challenging our comfort zones and expanding our vision of community. Peter’s willingness to follow the Spirit’s prompting, even when it meant breaking with tradition and facing criticism, opened the door for the gospel to reach new people. God’s Spirit continues to stir in us, inviting us to cross boundaries, welcome the stranger, and form new connections that reflect the inclusive love of Christ. [30:46]

Acts 11:12 (ESV)
“And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.”

Reflection: Is there someone outside your usual circle whom God might be prompting you to reach out to this week? What would it look like to respond to the Spirit’s leading?

Day 3: God’s Creation Is Good and to Be Enjoyed

God’s declaration to Peter that “what God has made clean, you must not call profane” is a reminder that all of creation is a gift to be received with gratitude. The variety of foods, experiences, and people in our lives are signs of God’s abundant provision and creativity. We are invited to enjoy these gifts, recognizing that God’s grace sets us free from unnecessary restrictions and calls us to celebrate the goodness of what God has made. [20:07]

Acts 11:5-9 (ESV)
“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’”

Reflection: What is one good thing in your life that you have hesitated to enjoy or receive as a gift from God? How can you give thanks and embrace it today?

Day 4: Faithfulness Means Being Open to God’s New Word

True faithfulness to God is not about rigidly clinging to old ways, but about being open to the new things God is doing. Peter’s vision and the events with Cornelius show that God’s word is living and active, sometimes calling us to expand our understanding and to welcome those we never expected. This openness requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own preferences in order to follow where God leads. [32:01]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Reflection: Where might God be inviting you to let go of an old habit, tradition, or assumption in order to embrace something new? What step can you take to be more open to God’s ongoing work?

Day 5: Sharing Grace Through Acts of Hospitality

God’s grace is made visible when we welcome others, especially those who are different from us or in need. Simple acts of hospitality—sharing food, offering clothing, or extending a warm welcome—are ways we embody Christ’s love in the world. When we serve others, we serve Christ himself, and we become part of God’s ongoing story of grace and inclusion. [34:36]

Matthew 25:35-36 (ESV)
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can show hospitality or generosity to someone in need this week? How might this act help you see Christ in others?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the radical, boundary-breaking grace of God as revealed in Peter’s vision and encounter with Cornelius in Acts 11. The story unfolds in a time when the early church was wrestling with questions of inclusion and identity—who belongs, and on what terms? Peter, a devout Jew, is confronted by a vision that challenges his deeply held beliefs about what is clean and unclean, both in terms of food and, more importantly, people. The vision of the sheet filled with animals, and the divine command not to call profane what God has made clean, becomes a turning point not just for Peter, but for the entire church.

This moment is not simply about dietary laws; it is about the expansion of God’s grace beyond the boundaries of tradition and comfort. Peter’s willingness to follow the Spirit’s leading, even when it meant breaking with custom and risking criticism, opened the door for Gentiles—outsiders—to be welcomed into the family of faith. The Holy Spirit’s work in Cornelius and his household is a powerful sign that God’s love and salvation are not limited by human distinctions.

The story invites us to examine our own boundaries and the ways we might hinder God’s work by clinging to old categories of “us” and “them.” Just as Peter’s vision reformed his understanding of faithfulness, we are called to allow the Spirit to expand our vision, to see others as God sees them, and to welcome those whom God welcomes. The grace that has embraced us is meant to flow outward, breaking down walls and building new relationships.

This is not always comfortable. It often comes through interruptions, unexpected encounters, and the Spirit’s gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudges. Yet, in these moments, we are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work of reformation—of ourselves, our communities, and our world. The story of Peter and Cornelius is a reminder that the heart of the gospel is a welcome that knows no bounds, a table where all are invited, and a love that continually surprises us with its breadth and depth.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s grace disrupts our boundaries. The vision given to Peter was not just about food, but about people. God’s declaration that what He has made clean must not be called profane challenges us to reconsider who we exclude or judge as “other.” The Spirit calls us to a wider embrace, breaking down the walls we build between ourselves and those who are different. [27:03]
2. Faithfulness sometimes means letting go of old certainties. Peter’s obedience required him to move beyond the traditions and rules that had defined his faith. True faithfulness is not static; it is responsive to the living voice of God, even when it leads us into unfamiliar or uncomfortable territory. The Spirit’s leading may call us to reform our assumptions and practices for the sake of God’s greater purpose. [32:01]
3. The Holy Spirit is always ahead of us, preparing hearts and relationships. Before Peter arrived, Cornelius had already been visited by an angel and was seeking God. This reminds us that God is at work in the lives of others long before we show up, and our role is to join in what the Spirit is already doing, rather than trying to control or limit God’s grace. [29:29]
4. Welcoming others is a tangible expression of the gospel. The story of Peter and Cornelius, and the modern example of helping a neighbor in need, both illustrate that hospitality and generosity are at the heart of following Jesus. When we welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked, we are participating in the very work of Christ, embodying the grace we have received. [34:36]
5. Interruptions can be invitations from God. Peter’s vision and the phone call about a neighbor in need both came as interruptions. Yet, these moments became opportunities for God’s grace to be revealed and shared. Rather than resisting interruptions, we are invited to see them as possible openings for the Spirit to lead us into new relationships and acts of love. [35:49]
** [35:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:10] - Hymn: Mighty God and Shield Victorious
[14:23] - Prayers for Peace and Unity
[15:04] - Gloria and Praise
[16:25] - Reformation Sunday Prayer
[17:27] - Children’s Good News: Peter’s Dream
[18:43] - God’s Gifts and Freedom
[20:47] - Scripture Introduction: Acts 11
[21:22] - Peter’s Vision and Conflict
[22:36] - The Spirit’s Command: No Distinction
[23:13] - The Holy Spirit Falls on Gentiles
[24:31] - The Challenge of Inclusion
[27:03] - What God Has Made Clean
[28:21] - Cornelius’ Story
[30:06] - Who Am I to Hinder God?
[31:22] - Reformation of Vision
[32:42] - Modern Example: Welcoming the Stranger
[34:36] - The Heart of the Gospel: Hospitality
[35:49] - Prayer for the Spirit’s Leading

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Acts 11 and the Radical Grace of God

Bible Reading

Acts 11:1-18 (ESV)
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Observation Questions

What was the main criticism that Peter faced from the other believers when he returned to Jerusalem? (Acts 11:2-3)
In Peter’s vision, what kinds of animals did he see, and what was the command he received? (Acts 11:5-7)
How did Peter respond to the command in his vision, and what was God’s reply? (Acts 11:8-9)
According to the sermon, what was the deeper meaning behind the vision of the sheet and the animals? [27:03]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Peter’s vision was repeated three times, and what does this repetition suggest about how hard it can be to change our thinking? (Acts 11:10)
The sermon says, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” How does this statement challenge the way we see other people, not just food? [27:03]
Peter says, “Who was I that I could hinder God?” What does this reveal about his understanding of God’s work and his own role? [30:06]
The Holy Spirit was already at work in Cornelius before Peter arrived. What does this teach us about God’s activity in the lives of people outside our usual circles? [29:29]

Application Questions

The sermon talks about boundaries we create between “us” and “them.” Who are the people or groups you might see as “outsiders” in your life or community? What would it look like to welcome them as God welcomes? [27:03]
Peter had to let go of some old certainties and traditions to follow the Spirit’s leading. Is there a belief, habit, or tradition in your life that God might be asking you to reconsider for the sake of loving others? [32:01]
The story of Cornelius shows that God is already working in people’s lives before we show up. Can you think of someone in your life who might be seeking God, even if they don’t fit your expectations? How could you join in what God is already doing? [29:29]
The sermon gave a modern example of helping a neighbor in need, even when it was an interruption. When was the last time you were interrupted by someone’s need? How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [33:16]
Hospitality and generosity are described as being at the heart of the gospel. What is one practical way you could show hospitality or generosity to someone outside your usual circle this week? [34:36]
The Spirit sometimes nudges us through interruptions or unexpected encounters. How can you become more open to seeing interruptions as possible invitations from God? [35:49]
The sermon says, “The grace that has embraced us is meant to flow outward.” What is one step you can take this week to let God’s grace flow through you to someone who might feel excluded or overlooked? [27:03]

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for open hearts, courage to cross boundaries, and eyes to see where the Spirit is leading—even in the interruptions.

Sermon Clips

“This story is about reformation among the early followers of Jesus. It's a story that's so important. It gets told three times in the book of Acts. So why is it so important? What are the implications for you and me? If not for this story, you and I Gentiles would not be welcome in the church.”

“Peter is a Jewish fisherman from north of Jerusalem up in Galilee by the Sea of Galilee. And Peter broke one of the fundamental Jewish rules as it says in verse two. So Peter went up to Jerusalem. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"”

“Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them? Peter responds not with reasons for doing what he did. Peter responds by sharing the story of what happened, what he had seen. He says, 'I was in the city of Japa and I was praying and I saw this vision and there was something like a large sheath that came down from heaven and I looked closely.”

“There were all kinds of animals on it and I heard a voice saying to me, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." Well, as a fisherman, Peter would have been used to killing and eating. at least killing and eating certain animals. Those animals that were considered clean, but the variety of animals on that sheet, they were not kosher.”

“But a second time the voice answered from heaven. What God has made clean, you must not call profane. This happened three times and everything was pulled up again to heaven. What God has made clean, you must not call profane. This declaration that was repeated three times has been echoing in my mind.”

“I think the spirit is propelling Peter to see things differently than he had learned as a faithful Jew. What God has made clean, you must not call profane. But this conversation and conversion about the animals still doesn't answer the question, why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”

“And so Peter continues retelling the story of what happened. At that very moment, three men arrived at the house where we were. And the spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These three men are sent by Cornelius. And Cornelius is a Roman officer introduced at the beginning of chapter 10.”

“He was a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave alms generously. Giving to the poor was one of the things, one of the practices of Jewish folks. And although he wasn't Jewish, he was drawn to the Jewish faith. And he practiced giving to the poor. And he prayed constantly to God.”

“Cornelius, he had his own vision happening at the same time Peter was having his vision. Cornelius told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house saying, "Send to Japa and bring Simon who's called Peter. He will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved."”

“And then Peter shares how while he was talking with Cornelius, the Holy Spirit came upon this gentile Cornelius and his household. And Peter shares how he remembered Jesus saying, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." And then Peter says, 'If God gave them the same gift as God gave us when we believed, then who am I to hinder God?”

“So finally after retelling this whole story of what happened to Cornelius, Peter finally answers the question, why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them? He answers with another question. Who am I to hinder God? Well, today's reading has very important implications for you and me.”

“In this story, the Holy Spirit propels Peter to see differently. And based on seeing differently, Peter's behavior and his relationships, the way he treats other people are all transformed. They're all reformed. You see, this vision of the sheet with all the animals isn't merely about seeing all of God's creation as good.”

“This divine declaration reforms Peter's vision not merely of pork, but of people. Willie James Jennings, uh, a biblical scholar and theologian, writes this. He says, "Peter obeys, but now that obedience must take flight with the Holy Spirit into an uncharted world where the distinctions between holy and unholy, clean and unclean have been fundamentally upended."”

“This is a moment of struggle for Peter to allow his vision of faithfulness to God and the covenant with Israel to expand. Peter's vision of faithfulness to God expands. This new word that God continues to speak to us is to accept new people, different people that we had not imagined that God would send across our paths into our lives.”

“Whenever I'm preparing uh to preach, I always try to be open to to see connections between the scriptures and our present situations. And sometimes when I'm studying, I get interrupted and I I get frankly kind of irritated by the interruption because I'm trying to focus and I'm kind of like my brain can be like a pinball machine bouncing all over.”

“And so, I went out and I met this member of the congregation and and he started to explain to me that he had brought his neighbor to come so that she could pick out coats for her kids. and his neighbor was learning English and and her native language was Spanish. And this member knew that I had lived in Mexico and South America and that I spoke Spanish.”

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