Sermons

    The Book of Acts: Week 25 – Acts 10:7-23 – 8/2/26

      This week’s bulletin                                        YouVersion Bible App                           

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      Sermon Series: We’re currently in a sermon series through the book of Acts. Today we’ll look at Peter’s vision of a sheet with various types of animals on it.

      7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

      Peter Visits Cornelius

      9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

      14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.[a]”

      15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

      17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate,18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

      19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

      21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

      22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

      In this part of God’s Word, we’ll take a closer look at God’s sovereignty even in the details.

      3 Observations :

      1. God sovereignly orchestrates His plan.
        2 Tim. 1:9, Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, John 6:44, Rom. 5:8
      2. God makes the unclean, clean.
        Eph. 3:4-6, 1 John 1:7, Titus 3:5, John 15:3, Is. 1:18
      3. God gives all Christians a message people need to hear.
        Rom. 10:13-14, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, John 17:18, 2 Cor. 5:20

      Small Group Guide:

      Open with prayer.

      Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?

      If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.

      Prayer Time:

      Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.

      Staying Missional:

      Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:

      Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
      What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
      How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
      How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
      Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?

      What’s next?

      Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?