Sent to Transform: Embracing God's Inclusive Gospel
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor introducing the series they have been working through in the book of Acts, called "Scent." The pastor explains that Acts calls believers to be a sent people, actively living out their faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. The pastor then delves into the story of Peter being challenged by God to go to the home of Cornelius, a Roman soldier, which goes against Peter's understanding of God's law. However, both Peter and Cornelius have had encounters with God, and as Peter visits Cornelius's home, an incredible moment occurs where the Holy Spirit falls upon all who are listening to the message.
The pastor then reflects on the theme of participating in God's story that the church has been focusing on throughout the year. The pastor encourages the congregation to remember the names they wrote down at the beginning of the year and to consider adding more names of people they have encountered since then. The pastor challenges the congregation to think of the hardest person in their world, the most anti-God person, and to pray for them. The pastor emphasizes the importance of softening their spirits towards this person and loving them better, so that they can be the hands and feet of Christ.
The pastor discusses the concept of radical transformation in the heart of a believer. The pastor acknowledges that many people believe the most radical transformation occurs when a sinner comes to Christ, but emphasizes that transformation continues even after accepting Christ. The pastor refers to examples from scripture, such as Peter and the believers in Jerusalem, who experienced a transformation in their hearts when they saw and understood what God was saying and doing. The pastor challenges the congregation to be receptive to the Holy Spirit and God's word, asking what areas of their lives need transformation and change.
The pastor acknowledges that it is not through their own efforts or persuasive arguments that people are brought to repentance, but rather through the power of the Holy Spirit. The pastor prays for those individuals who are considered to be in the "two hard basket," asking God to work in their lives and soften their hearts. The pastor also asks for a burden and hunger to seek God on behalf of these individuals, desiring to be a better representation of God and His calling.
The sermon concludes with the pastor reflecting on the story of Peter's visit to Cornelius's house and the revelation that the gospel of Christ is for all people. The pastor emphasizes that it is not our place to challenge or question God's decisions and actions. The pastor notes that upon hearing Peter's story and the testimony of the six believers, the crowd stopped objecting and began praising God, recognizing that the gospel is for all people.
Key Takeaways:
- The book of Acts calls believers to be a sent people, actively living out their faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is exemplified in the story of Peter visiting Cornelius's home, where the Holy Spirit falls upon all who are listening to the message. This story highlights the importance of obedience to God's call, even when it challenges our understanding of God's law. [12:45]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of participating in God's story by praying for and reaching out to specific individuals in our lives. This includes praying for the hardest person in our world, the most anti-God person, and softening our spirits towards them. This challenge encourages us to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. [24:30]
- Transformation in the heart of a believer is a continuous process that doesn't stop after accepting Christ. This is evident in the lives of Peter and the believers in Jerusalem, who experienced a transformation in their hearts when they saw and understood what God was doing. This calls us to be receptive to the Holy Spirit and God's word, and to seek transformation in our own lives. [36:15]
- The pastor reminds us that it is not through our own efforts or persuasive arguments that people are brought to repentance, but rather through the power of the Holy Spirit. This encourages us to pray for those who are considered to be in the "two hard basket," asking God to work in their lives and soften their hearts. This also calls us to seek God on behalf of these individuals, desiring to be a better representation of God and His calling. [48:00]
- The story of Peter's visit to Cornelius's house reveals that the gospel of Christ is for all people. This challenges us to accept and embrace God's inclusive plan for salvation, and to recognize that it is not our place to challenge or question God's decisions and actions. This story also encourages us to share the good news of the gospel with all people, regardless of their background. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 10:44: "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message."
2. Deuteronomy 4:5-7: "See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?"
3. Leviticus 19:33-34: "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
Observation Questions:
1. What happens while Peter is speaking in Acts 10:44? Who does the Holy Spirit come upon?
2. In Deuteronomy 4:5-7, what is the significance of the decrees and laws that the Lord commanded? How are they to be observed?
3. What instructions are given in Leviticus 19:33-34 regarding foreigners residing in the land? How are they to be treated?
Interpretation Questions:
1. In Acts 10:44, what might be the significance of the Holy Spirit coming upon all who heard the message while Peter was still speaking?
2. How might the decrees and laws mentioned in Deuteronomy 4:5-7 reflect the wisdom and understanding of the people? How does this relate to the presence of God whenever they pray?
3. How does the command in Leviticus 19:33-34 to treat foreigners as native-born and to love them as oneself reflect God's character and His expectations for His people?
Application Questions:
1. Can you think of a time when you felt the Holy Spirit move while you were sharing or hearing the message of God? How did that experience impact you?
2. What is one decree or law from the Bible that you can commit to observing more carefully in your daily life? How might this demonstrate your wisdom and understanding to others?
3. Is there a "foreigner" in your life, someone who is different from you in some way, whom you can treat with more love and kindness? What is one specific action you can take this week to show them love?
4. Who is the most anti-God person in your world? What is a specific prayer you can pray for them this week?
5. Can you identify an area of your life that needs transformation? What is one step you can take this week to be more receptive to the Holy Spirit and God's word in that area?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Call to Active Faith
As believers, we are called to be a sent people, actively living out our faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is exemplified in the story of Peter visiting Cornelius's home, where the Holy Spirit falls upon all who are listening to the message. This story highlights the importance of obedience to God's call, even when it challenges our understanding of God's law. [12:45]
Acts 10:44-45 - "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that God might be calling you to reach out to, even if it feels uncomfortable or challenging?
Day 2: Participating in God's Story Through Prayer
We are encouraged to participate in God's story by praying for and reaching out to specific individuals in our lives. This includes praying for the hardest person in our world, the most anti-God person, and softening our spirits towards them. This challenge encourages us to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. [24:30]
1 Timothy 2:1 - "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people."
Reflection: Who is the most difficult person in your life right now? How can you begin to pray for them and soften your heart towards them?
Day 3: The Continuous Transformation of a Believer
Transformation in the heart of a believer is a continuous process that doesn't stop after accepting Christ. This is evident in the lives of Peter and the believers in Jerusalem, who experienced a transformation in their hearts when they saw and understood what God was doing. This calls us to be receptive to the Holy Spirit and God's word, and to seek transformation in our own lives. [36:15]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to transformation? How can you be more receptive to the Holy Spirit's work in this area?
Day 4: The Power of the Holy Spirit in Repentance
It is not through our own efforts or persuasive arguments that people are brought to repentance, but rather through the power of the Holy Spirit. This encourages us to pray for those who are considered to be in the "two hard basket," asking God to work in their lives and soften their hearts. This also calls us to seek God on behalf of these individuals, desiring to be a better representation of God and His calling. [48:00]
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life who seems resistant to the gospel? How can you commit to praying for the Holy Spirit's work in their life?
Day 5: Embracing God's Inclusive Plan for Salvation
The story of Peter's visit to Cornelius's house reveals that the gospel of Christ is for all people. This challenges us to accept and embrace God's inclusive plan for salvation, and to recognize that it is not our place to challenge or question God's decisions and actions. This story also encourages us to share the good news of the gospel with all people, regardless of their background. [59:30]
Acts 10:34-35 - "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'"
Reflection: How can you better embrace and share the truth that the gospel of Christ is for all people, regardless of their background?
Quotes
1. "I want to challenge you think of the hardest person in your world, the most anti-God person in your world, and we're going to pray for them this morning and we're going to ask that God would give us a burden to continue praying for them." [26:43]
2. "We know that it's not our own scheming or good arguments that bring people to repentance but rather is the power of your Holy Spirit who softens and draws people to you." [29:05]
3. "I wonder if Peter was hanging out to get back to Jerusalem and to say to the Believers look what God has done look what God has done a Roman Centurion invited me into his home and I was able to share God's word and I was able to preach and the Holy Spirit came in power and filled them and they've been baptized there is Revival amongst the Gentiles." #!!03:46!!#
4. "Sometimes the most radical transformation is in the heart of the believer... we kind of think that once we come to Christ, my heart's fine now... but the scriptures show us time and time again... God transformed their hearts when they saw what God was saying and they saw what God was doing." #!!20:15!!#
5. "I wonder whether we are just as receptive to the Holy Spirit... I wonder if as individuals and as a church community we're really ready to pursue God's word and His Holy Spirit by asking what is it in my life that you need to transform... what is it that you want to challenge Within Me." #!!22:04!!#
6. "We know God's word, we know that we are called to go and to All Nations to all people to declare what Jesus has done to speak of his death and his resurrection and the promise that could be found in him." #!!23:16!!#
7. "Acts calls us to be a sent people...to be people who are not just observers of Faith but are actually active in living out our faith." #!!00:41!!#
8. "Peter goes to Cornelius's home which is a place that no self-respecting Jew would go...according to Peter's understanding of God's law he thinks this is not where I'm supposed to be." #!!02:01!!#
9. "Since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?" (source: #!!17:48!!#) This quote highlights Peter's realization that God's gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to a specific group of people, but is available to all who believe in Jesus. It emphasizes the importance of not standing in the way of God's work and embracing the inclusivity of the gospel.
10. "His heart is to point them to what God is doing rather than to defending himself... it's not about Peter at this point." #!!16:35!!#
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