Posted: 7/06/07
Bible Studies for Life Series for July 15
Sharing Christ with all people
• Acts 6:1-7; 9:36-43; 11:29-30
First Baptist Church, Stanton
Our lesson this week emphasizes the need we all have to share our faith with others. When you think about it, Baptists have the methods and the organizations to share our faith with the world. We also have the institutions of higher learning to help with education. If we fail, it can only be in the area of dedication and obedience.
The past several weeks, we have studied from the book of Acts. Some form of the word “witness” is used more than 30 times in this book alone. The word means “to testify” or “to give evidence.” The word “witness” comes from the word “martyr,” and it carries with it the idea of being willing to stake your life on what you are saying.
Do you have a message from God worth sharing?
Overcoming barriers (Acts 10:24-29)
God prepares the people to hear and to receive the message of the gospel. The verses preceding these in Acts 10 remind us that God is able to overcome any barrier to get through to us.
God worked to help Cornelius overcome his Gentile prejudices against the Jews. As he did, his faith grew and bore the fruit of love and care. Then God led him to send for Peter.
God had given Peter a vision that prepared him to overcome his own barriers and meet with Cornelius. Peter had a new understanding that God had made the Gentiles clean and accepted them. A Jewish preacher named Peter stands before a Gentile leader named Cornelius. A world watched and waited to see, and God overcame the barriers.
All of us are unclean before God, apart from the transforming work of Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Jesus, he is able to overcome every barrier and fear.
Speak God’s message (Acts 10:34-36, 42-43)
Has a preacher ever had a more attentive audience than Simon Peter that day at Caesarea?
Peter presented Jesus as the peace of God. If you’ve ever wondered what to say as you share your faith, Peter gives us a clue. We should focus our message on Jesus Christ. All humanity is estranged from God. Jesus is the one to bring us back to him and reconcile us to God, bringing us the peace we desperately need.
Peter told Cornelius and his household that salvation comes through faith in Jesus and his name. Salvation is forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God through what Jesus has done by his death and resurrection.
God’s good news is for us today. If you will admit you have sinned and believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for your sins, then God will forgive you of your sins. This is the good news from God for you—for everyone. Have you trusted Jesus and received God’s good news? Why not receive him today? If you have, is there someone in your circle of friends who needs to hear this message? Why not invite them to believe in Jesus?
Accept all who receive Christ (Acts 10:4-48)
When Cornelius and his household believed, God confirmed their salvation by giving them the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit the first believers received now came upon these Gentile believers. There was no difference between the Jews or Gentiles; all were saved by their faith in Jesus; all received the Holy Spirit.
Peter immediately accepted their faith and God’s work by calling for the Gentile converts to be baptized. Peter demonstrated the change God had made in him by being willing to accept all who received Jesus by faith.
Whenever people are willing to receive God’s way of salvation through faith in Jesus, we should be willing to accept them into our fellowship by baptism. Through baptism, believers are taking the first of many steps in following Jesus. Are you willing to accept those who have committed their lives by faith to Jesus Christ?
When someone comes to unite with your church by baptism, are you ready to receive them and welcome them to the family of faith?
A few years ago, I had the rare privilege of worshipping in the largest church in the world in Seoul, South Korea. We were there as a part of a missions team from our church in Stanton. Since we had friends there, they knew which service we should attend to listen with a translator. There was an orchestra. There was a choir. Yes, there also was a praise team and a band. In church that day, it was the 50th anniversary of the Korean “conflict”.
Pastor Cho asked some important questions in his message. What if Korea was reunified? Would we welcome our “neighbors” from the North? Could God overcome these barriers in our lives? Yes, God can overcome any and every barrier when we let him. Would we accept the believers from the North?
What about you? Are you willing to accept those who come into your church believing in Jesus?
Discussion questions
• What barriers need to be overcome in order for you to share your faith?
• What gives you a boldness to share your faith with others?
• How can we become more effective in welcoming new believers and members in our church?
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