This week, we covered the story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts chapters 10-11.
This story is important for many reasons, but the biggest is that we finally see God fulfilling His promise from the very beginning of Acts:
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Until these chapters, we saw the Gospel and the hope of Christ reach Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria with the faithfulness of Phillip, but the question remains: what about the Gentiles?
The word "Gentile" is a term used simply to refer to anyone who is not Jewish by birth and does not participate in the traditions and rituals of the Law.
In the story, we see the Holy Spirit given to Gentiles as they put their faith in Christ, forever changing the church through the inclusion of the Gentiles!
But God's word tells us that we aren't just included, we are actually adopted into God's family!
1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
This beautiful story shows God's heart for all peoples to know Him and be saved! Because of Christ, there is nothing preventing us from placing our faith in Jesus and following Him!
Romans 10:12-13
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Questions to ask your student: