Notes from May 31/June 1, 2008

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
“Learning to Draw Lines DiFfeRentLY” “The Jesus Way” series
Pastor Jim Zippay
May 31/June 1, 2008
Acts 15:1-21

Outline
1. Some lines need to be drawn straight and unchanging.
2. Some lines need to be drawn differently. Three guiding questions:
1. What is God doing?
2. What does grace look like?
3. What good will result?


Content
1. Without lines we’d be disoriented and it would be hard to distinguish one category from another, but big black right angles might not be the only way.
2. Let people into your group who are different from you, who will change you.
3. The apostles were all Jews who obeyed the laws and customs of Moses.
4. As Christianity expanded further, throughout Samaria and beyond, people had to flex and bend.
5. Gentiles came to faith but didn’t follow the Jewish customs.
6. Every group has a set of standards.
7. People think they can say what God wants, what a committed follower should do; we think other Christians should be like us.
8. The straight and unchanging lines should be few and agreed on.
9. We are saved by grace, in God’s kingdom and family, if we trusted Christ to save us.
10. Following Jesus might look different to different people and different cultures.
11. Let Jesus build the church the way He wants it to be.
12. They were wise to restrict pagan worship and contact with idols, as we should do.
13. The good that will result is that people will know the one true God, will be ready to believe and follow Him.


Aim
The one clear line we should draw is coming to faith in Jesus; beyond that, accept others and welcome all whom God draws, helping them to continue to grow in Him.


Application Questions
1. What does being a part of a group look like?
2. Has there been a time you didn’t welcome someone who was different into your group/situation?
3. Describe a time you welcomed someone who was different and the good that resulted from it.
4. What are some lines you’ve drawn that you now realize were too rigid? Or should have been more rigid?
5. What is God doing in your life to help you make your lines more flexible?