warm-up

When you invite someone into your house, how do you make them feel welcome?

Talk about a time you felt accepted by a group (your family, friends, schoolmates, workmates). What happened, and how did you feel?

Have you ever been called “different” because of an external factor? Tell us about it.

word

11. . . the heavens opened and something like a great sheet [descended], being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” Acts 10:11-15

(Read Acts 10.)

In Jewish culture, there are some “unclean” animals, which they are not allowed to eat. In this story, Peter received a vision that told him to eat both “clean” and “unclean” animals. The voice in the vision told him, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” Peter realized the Lord meant that the gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles, which the apostles did not know at the time. We, even though we are Gentiles, can also have mindsets that prevent us from preaching the gospel. However, we need to remember that apart from the gospel, we are all lost, and we might not have heard the gospel if someone had not preached it to us. From this, we see two commands from God that apply to all people, in all circumstances.

1
Go to the lost.

³⁴So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Acts 10:34,35

Right after Peter received that vision, messengers came to bring him to someone called Cornelius. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, commanding 100 soldiers. More importantly, he was a Gentile, or non-Jew. However, Cornelius was a devout man who feared God, praying and giving to the poor. Peter, because of the vision, realized that God shows no partiality. He realized that we have no reason not to go to anyone who is lost. What are some fears and prejudices that stop us from reaching out to the lost? How does Peter’s vision correct that for us?

2
Preach the gospel.

⁴²”And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:42,43

When Peter and the apostles first started preaching, they only spoke to the Men of Israel (Acts 2:22), meaning only to the Jews. However, the vision of the animals helped Peter realize that when Jesus told them to go and make disciples of all nations, He meant the gospel should be preached to everyone. Sometimes we struggle with preaching the gospel because we have our own mindsets about the people we should go to. However, Christ’s commands are clear. There is no reason not to go to the lost, and, as Christians, we have no choice but to obey Christ and preach the gospel. Who preached the gospel to you, and how did you come to know God? How have you learned to tell others about Christ?

application

Do you believe, like Cornelius, in what Jesus did for you on the cross to save you from your sins? Do you believe, like Peter, that the gospel is for everyone? How will you apply what you have learned today?

Are there any mindsets you need to break to go to the lost and preach the gospel? How can you grow in your understanding of the gospel and the love Christ has for everyone, starting today?

Who among your family and friends has not heard the gospel yet? What are you willing to do to tell him/her about Christ this week?

prayer

Thank God for the death of Christ on the cross, which saved you from your sins. Thank Him for extending the grace of the gospel to every person on earth, including you.

Ask God for the boldness to obey His commands, to go to the lost, and to preach the gospel. Ask Him for a sense of urgency to reach out to others with His heart and compassion.

Pray for courage and boldness to preach the gospel to your family and friends this week. Pray that you will lose no time in obeying the command to go and preach the gospel.

© 2017 by VICTORY®
All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Permission to photocopy this material is granted for local church use. This is not for sale.
victory.org.ph