WEEK 4: TRANSFORMED BY THE MISSION
TODAY’S CHARACTER:
CORNELIUS (AND PETER)
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: ACTS 10:1-48
MAIN POINT: The gospel changes us and motivates us to take the gospel
message into cross-cultural settings, especially in our community.
INTRODUCTION
What tempts people to be
prejudiced? (e.g. race, economic status, gender, age, etc.)
How do you relate to
people from different religions and races? Is this something Christians are
known for doing well or poorly?
Have you been on the
receiving end of prejudicial judgments? How did it make you feel? Did it
motivate or demotivate you to treat people differently than you were treated?
Throughout history, God
has been building a people for Himself from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people.
The gospel is a message that crosses all of these boundaries and brings people
together under Jesus. Our love for God and for others should motivate us to
take the gospel into cross-cultural settings.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s unpack the
biblical text to discover what the Scripture says or means about this
particular topic.
READ ACTS 10:1-8
10 At Caesarea there was
a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those
in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon
he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said,
“Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a
memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named
Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is
by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two
of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told
them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Who was Cornelius? What
do we learn about him from the opening 2 verses? How is he different from
Peter? How are they alike?
Read Hebrews 11:6. How
did Cornelius model this verse? What happened as a result?
And without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He
exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
How does Cornelius
respond to the angel? How do you imagine he must have felt?
Cornelius was a devout,
respectful, giving, and praying man. Though not a Jew, he was a worshiper of
God. A centurion would have commanded around 600 soldiers, and would have been
paid very well. Cornelius was a prominent man socially and financially. The
angel appears to him at the ninth hour or about 3 p.m., which was the
traditional Jewish hour for prayer. Although Cornelius was a God-fearer and
extremely devout, he was not saved—delivered from his sins through faith in
Christ. Cornelius’s prayers and acts of charity prompted God’s further
revelation to him through Peter (5-6), which would lead to his and his family’s
salvation.
READ ACTS 10:9-16
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the
following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter
went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat,
and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven
opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four
corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles
and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely
not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has
made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken
back to heaven.
Describe Peter’s vision
in your own words. What did the vision mean? Why was Peter so concerned about
what he ate?
·
Can you think of a
modern-day parallel in our Christian faith to the Jewish food restrictions?
What would it be like if God suddenly reversed that practice?
·
What does it tell us
about God that He gave both Cornelius and Peter visions?
Peter had observed the dietary law and restrictions of Leviticus 11 for his entire life. Though Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:17-23), some habits are harder to shake than others. The vision from the Lord dramatically altered Peter’s perspective. Although Peter had walked with Christ and was instrumental in the early spread of Christianity, he was still operating under a list of rules he’d carried over from Judaism. We all have patterns and practices we have carried over from our life before Christ, Peter was no different. God used the vision to teach Peter and prepare him for the opportunity to share God’s love with Cornelius.
READ ACTS 10:17-33
17 While Peter was
wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out
where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if
Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still
thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are
looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with
them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the
one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come
from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is
respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to
his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited
the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter
started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The
following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had
called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house,
Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get
up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 While talking with him,
Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them:
“You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or
visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or
unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I
ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my
house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in
shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your
prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is
called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the
sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we
are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has
commanded you to tell us.”
How did Peter respond to
the vision that he received? How does God use the vision and Peter’s confusion
for His glory?
What motivated Peter to
cross the racial and religious divide between himself and Cornelius?
Why is it significant
that Cornelius had gathered his whole family to hear what Peter had to say?
How do these verses show
God’s divine prerogatives and Peter’s obedience working together?
A change in mind-set
leads to a change in actions. That is exactly what we see in Peter’s life. In
order to meet with Cornelius, Peter had to cross lines that were previously set
in religious stone. To first-century Jews, Gentiles were considered “unclean,”
and many Jews considered it against their religion to eat with Gentiles. When
he entered Cornelius’s house, Peter said God had sent him and stressed the
truth he had learned: He was not to consider anyone common or unclean (24-28).
READ ACTS 10:34-48
34 Then Peter began to
speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but
accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You
know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of
peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened
throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the
power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of
everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him
by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day
and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by
witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he
rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify
that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised
believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy
Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in
tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the
way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just
as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
When Peter said, “God
doesn’t show favoritism” (34), how do you think Cornelius and his household
responded? What might they have been thinking or feeling?
What do we learn about
Jesus through this passage? What do we learn about how God’s message spreads
through nations?
With the words, “God
doesn’t show favoritism,” Peter shared a radical truth: Salvation is
available to all people from all nations through Jesus Christ. This was an
uncomfortable truth in Peter’s day. We can’t even begin to fathom the worldview
shift first-century Jews faced when they realized God’s grace was available to
all. Faith in Jesus transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries and identities.
The truth of the gospel changes people.
APPLICATION
How do these truths from
the Scripture passage apply directly to our lives?
Do you identify more
with Cornelius or Peter in this story?
Are there any habits or
patterns from your life before Christ that you need to let go of for the sake
of the Kingdom?
Have any assumptions or
misconceptions ever kept you from sharing the gospel with someone? How does
this story challenge the judgments we make about those outside the kingdom?
If we really believe
that the gospel can change anyone, what are some practical ways you can reach
out to people who are different from you? What is keeping you from taking these
steps? Why are these important in achieving our mission?
PRAYER
Thank God that He has
made the gospel available to people from every tribe, language, and people.
Pray that the gospel would continue to change us and we wouldn’t be stuck in old
beliefs that hinder us from spreading the gospel and loving others.
Hope to see you this Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Hope to see you this Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Ethnic Barriers
Click Here to Watch Opening Video
The early days of Christianity were exciting as God’s Spirit moved and people’s lives were changed. Converts were pouring in from surprising backgrounds. Even the dreaded Saul (Paul) became a Christian, and non-Jews were responding to the Good News about Jesus.
Among the first of these was the Roman centurion, named Cornelius.
READ ACTS 10:1-48
Click Here to Watch the Story
Who was Cornelius?
What did Peter’s vision
mean and why was he so confused?
Is there a modern-day
parallel to Peter’s Gentile prejudice?
What does it tell us
about God that He gave both Cornelius and Peter visions?
What changed Peter’s
prejudice toward the Gentiles?
Why is it significant
that Cornelius had gathered his whole family to hear what Peter had to say? How
do we see here God’s divine prerogatives and Peter’s obedience working
together?
With the words, “God doesn’t show favoritism,” Peter shared a radical
truth: Salvation is available to all people from all nations through Jesus
Christ. This was an uncomfortable truth in Peter’s day. We can’t even begin to
fathom the worldview shift first-century Jews faced when they realized God’s
grace was available to all. Faith in Jesus transcends ethnic and cultural
boundaries and identities. The truth of the gospel changes people.
Now, to add to this lesson I want to outline the importance of two conversions and two churches from our text today and how important this lesson is to God’s mission for all of us.
Two Conversions
1. Cornelius: Conversion to Christ. Realize how historic this is. This is the first Gentile that we know of to become a believer. The first Gentile a non-Jew to become saved.
- God moves His people. God did it ALL! God gave both men visions. God sent 3 people to get Peter and God sent Peter to Cornelius. God had Cornelius bring his oikos (household – web of influence) together to hear the gospel that He sent Peter to preach.
- God empowers His gospel. Life, death, and resurrection of Christ – BOOM they are saved!
- God sends His Spirit. God sends His Holy Spirit on them just like at Pentecost. The Gentile Pentecost. Wow, God did it all – He brought conversion to the Gentiles!
Now there was another conversion not like salvation but a conversion still the same.
2. Peter: Conversion of the Church. This is hard for us to see because we don’t really understand the deep-seated prejudice between the Jews and Gentiles of that day.
- From deep-seated prejudice to divinely-ordered openness. OT – God setup laws to separate the Jews from the pagan nations but he also said that He did this so that they would be a blessing to the nations. Over time the Jews added to these laws and ignored God’s purpose for the nations. Peter says it is unlawful for me to be here and to even associate with you. Jewish midwives were told not to help Gentile births so as not to spread the Gentile scum on the earth. This is a serious DIVISION … major DIVISION that existed. This is when everything changed for Peter. God said you need to be open to what I’m about to do. It’s interesting to note: Where was Peter when he received this vision and call to go to Cornelius? He’s in the city of Joppa – who remembers the story of Joppa? Jonah 1:3 “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.”
- From selfish pride to selfless humility. Picture this a Jewish fisherman to have a Gentile Roman officer bowing down to worship him – if there was any pride in Peter, he could have savored this moment. But he says, get up.
- From traditional favoritism to gospel fellowship. These people who use to be totally divided are now together in fellowship. Why? Peter says why, it’s all of God. This was an epic movement in the church.
- From cultural isolation to global involvement. Get the picture – one moment Peter has a deaf ear to these people, he’s not even paying any attention – and the next day he is open to how he can make the gospel open to all the nations.
Two Churches
1. Jerusalem: Mono ethnic believers. Pretty much everybody is Jewish ethnic Christians.
- Founded by noteworthy leaders of the church. Peter, James, John even Paul.
- Center for mission among the Jews. At great cost – Stephen died proclaiming the supremacy of Christ.
- Scattered as a result of persecution. Now during this time we have this whole Peter/Cornelius conversion and the church has scattered and people are going to Antioch to preach to not just Jews but Gentiles.
2. Antioch: Multi ethnic believers. First time you have Jewish and Gentile believers worshiping together.
- Founded by unnamed members of the church. Just some guys, not Peter, James, John or even Paul. No one seminary trained, no one experienced in church planting…just some guys that had heard the gospel.
- The center for mission to the Gentiles. Antioch would become the center for the gospel to be preach throughout the nations. Paul’s 3 missionary journeys would all originate from Antioch.
- Started as a result of persecution. Be thankful for the stoning of Stephen – God always knows what He is doing. People scattered, the gospel grew, people changed – Saul/Paul, Peter, the gospel grew and grew and grew.
