Changing the World one person at a time. Studies in Acts How to Change the world without being relig

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Changing the World- one person at a time.
Studies in ActsHow to Change the world
without being religious(Acts 10)
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Why study Acts?

• Not just a story but a template for how church
  should be
• Acts is the key to understanding the rest of the
  NT
• Acts shows why Jesus died- to start the church
• Acts provides the background to the letters and
  says something about who they were written to
• Acts shows Gods strategy- start where you

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Acts- Key verses

• These men who have turned the world upside down
  have come here also (Acts 176)
• . you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
  all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
  earth. (Acts 18)

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From Jerusalem to the ends of the earth
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2000 miles away, 2000 years ago
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Making Progress.....

• In Acts 10 the church makes it out of Samaria
  (just!)
• After 10 years Jubilee Church makes it to the UGC
  cinema
• God tends to start things small to grow them big

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How to change the world without being religious

• Religions give us identity markers
• What are the Christian's identity markers?
• Do you have a religion or a relationship?

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What is happening in Acts 10

• A key moment- the first group of gentile converts
• Peter plays his part in a transition that will
  see him become smaller and Paul greater
• The big movements of later in the book are
  introduced by this the last of a group of
  individual stories
• A key aspect of the law is placed to one side for
  believers

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The Jewish Law

• Moral
• Ceremonial
• Tribal Identity markers
• What eat, drink wear.
• What is the Christian's tribal identity? Is he to
  become a Jew?
• For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating
  and drinking but of righteousness and peace and
  joy in the Holy Spirit.
• (Ro 1417, ESV)

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How to recognise a Christian?

• A keeper of certain religious rules?
• A certain sort of person?
• A good person?
• Prayers and alms?
• God does not show partiality

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How to recognise a Christian

• Those that know their need of God pray, really
  pray
• Those who realise all they have is from God give
• But Cornelius wasn't there yet....
• Early signs of God possibly being at work should
  encourage us

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What is the gospel?

• We are all in the same boat before God
• God does not like favouritism nor the divisions
  that religion brings
• No-one without Christ fears God and works
  righteousness- Jesus did it for us!
• There is no one not suitable for the gospel
• Jesus is the Lord of all God
• The question is not Am I good enough? but Do I
  realise how forgiven I am?

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How did Peter recognise a Christian?

• The Holy Spirit falling on people confirms their
  salvation which came by faith
• This gave the representative of the church
  courage to baptise them and
• Join them to the Jewish church
• The NORMAL Christian Birth (if the order is a
  bit mixed up!)

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The identity markers of the Christian Do you
have them?

• Prayer - Calling to God (cf Romans 10)
• Acts of kindness to others
• Faith and repentance
• Baptism in water
• Receiving the Spirit
• Joining the church