The Sheet READING: 1-
SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 10: 1- 16
GO“
“WHY WE GO“series
Tom Katsma – August 23, 2009
1
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in
LEVITICUS 11 and 20 ----- ACTS 10 what was known as the Italian Regiment.
- Clean or UNCLEAN 2
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave
- Good or BAD
generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
- Jew or GENTILE 3
One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He
- Accepted or REJECTED
distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said,
THIS EPISODE DEMONSTRATES:
“Cornelius!”
4
1. The “people of God” religious pedigree no longer HELD.
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The
The sheet was really about PEOPLE (v. 27ff) angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come
up as a memorial offering before God.
2. God does NOT show FAVORITISM 5
Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who
The Gospel is for everyone. (v. 34ff)
is called Peter.
6
3. Whose conversion was the bigger deal here? He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7
Cornelius? Peter? When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two
What was Cornelius saved for? What was Peter saved from? of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his
The Kingdom God’s Work attendants.
To go back to CHURCH PREJUDICE 8
& testify I’VE SEEN IT! BIAS He told them everything that had happened and sent them to
Joppa.
9
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and
WHY DO WE GO? approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10
• We have the GOODS. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the
meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11
• We need SAVING from our comfort-zone. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being
Where does the momentum of your life take you?
let down to earth by its four corners.
12
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of
LOOKING AT YOUR SHEET:
the earth and birds of the air.
13
• What would be on the sheet for YOU? Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything
• Would you bring that to God DIRECTLY? impure or unclean.”
15
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything
• Pray for the grace to reshape your HEART. impure that God has made clean.”
16
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was
taken back to heaven.