May 18, 2008 Sermon Notes - Acts and Discrimination

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
The Destruction of Discrimination in Acts 10
Guest Speaker, Jeremy Sieberhagen, Missions Consultant

May 18, 2008
Scripture Passage Acts 10 - 11

Outline
I. A pivotal moment of the Church – Act 10: 1-6
II. All men of all nations are capable of discrimination. - Acts 10: 24-29
III. It is only God who can break the stronghold of discrimination. - Acts 10: 34, 35
IV. Counteracting institutionalized discrimination demands Gods people understand and obey His truth of all man’s equality under Christ. - Acts 11: 1-3
V. God changed their minds; they saw people as God did. - Acts 11: 18

Content
1. The early Christian Church was made up exclusively of converted Jews.
2. As Christianity grew, non-Jews, “unclean” gentiles had to be personally engaged to be converted.
3. Like any group that discriminated against another, Jews would not associate with Gentiles. They saw themselves as superior in the eyes of God, perhaps similarly to the so-called Christian South African government.
4. They view themselves to be separate based on a lack of understanding of Gods new order; they were no longer under the law.
5. Peter’s disobedience, God addresses. God says no food is unclean if God says so.
6. It is nothing short of the God intervention that causes a man to break the stronghold of discrimination.
7. It is nothing short of the God intervention that causes a man to break the stronghold of discrimination and most difficult, institutionalized discrimination, where society as whole thinks wrongly.
8. Once clearly explained, large numbers of people changed their minds of Gods new law of equality under Christ.
9. It began, however, with one man, Peter, obeying God and willing to see Gods way through the trial and change.
10. Through widespread obedience Jews spread the Good News to Gentiles and Christianity flourished.
11. For those of us of a non-Jewish heritage, we are benefactors of early Messianic obedient believers.

Aim
Discrimination is a mindset that all men and nations a capable of, which only God Himself can break through with to a humble, obedient heart.

Application Questions
I. Have you either discriminated or been a recipient of discrimination?
II. How has God changed your mind in this area?
III. Following the early Church model, what people different than you is He calling you to bless?