Bible ReadingActs 11:1-18 “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.’”
[34:19]1 Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
[42:09]Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”
[46:45]Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
[39:48]Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
[47:48]James 4:11 “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”
[48:01]Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
[43:46]Observation questions- In Acts 11, what were the believers in Jerusalem upset about first, and what did Peter point to in order to explain his actions? [37:20]
- What details in Peter’s story show that this was God’s work from beginning to end, not Peter acting on his own?
- According to 1 Corinthians 13:1 and Proverbs 12:18, what pictures are used to describe speech without love and rash words? [42:25]
- In Matthew 7:1-5, what contrast does Jesus make between a speck and a log, and what is supposed to happen first before helping a brother? [47:16]
Interpretation questions- Peter asks, “Who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” What does that question reveal about the danger of criticizing something God is actually doing? [36:18]
- The circumcision party focused on difference before they focused on the gospel. How can a real concern become sinful criticism when love, humility, and unity are missing? [44:23]
- Ephesians 4:29 says words should build up and give grace. What would make correction truly different from harsh criticism in an everyday conversation? [47:48]
- “What God has made clean, do not call common” was applied to people as well as food laws. How does that shape the way believers should think about outsiders, unbelievers, or groups they are tempted to keep at a distance? [50:46]
Application questions- When criticism rises quickly in the heart, what is usually underneath it for that person: pride, frustration, fear, hurt, or something else? Where does that tend to show up most often right now? [45:51]
- Has there been a recent conversation with a spouse, child, parent, friend, or church member where the words were more like sword thrusts than healing? What would it look like to go back and bring grace there if possible? [43:46]
- Jesus says to deal with the log in one’s own eye first. What “log” might need to be named before speaking about someone else’s “speck”? [47:16]
- Some criticism hides behind the label of correction. When giving needed correction, what helps make sure the goal is really restoration and not just venting, winning, or putting someone in their place? [42:25]
- Are there certain kinds of people who are quietly treated as “common” or “unclean” in the heart? What attitudes, assumptions, or outside influences may be shaping that response? [55:24]
- “God cleans his fish after he catches them.” Is there any place where unbelievers are being expected to act like believers before they are welcomed, loved, or clearly given the gospel? How might that need to change? [51:09]
- God turned critics into supporters when their eyes were opened to what he was doing. Where might God be asking someone to stop resisting, stop nitpicking, and start encouraging what is clearly honoring to Christ? [53:29]
