Breaking Down Barriers Series

This week I shared something positive on Facebook and got pulverized. The criticism came quickly and repeatedly. Normally I’m more careful about posting about controversial matters so I wasn’t prepared for all the venomous vitriol and overwhelming opposition. One person simply replied, “Oh nooooo!” Another told me to “hush.” One Edgewood member accused me of using a four-letter word.

I’ve decided to let you know what I posted even though I run the risk of causing more commotion and controversy, but I can’t remain quiet any longer. I simply uploaded a video which captured white ice crystals falling peacefully from the sky with this caption, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”

One of the first responses I received was, “I say no, I say no, I say NO!!!” One individual told me to go back to Wisconsin. Another said, “Cheesehead statement for sure!”

If you don’t like snow, you’ll have to take it up with God. Listen to what He says in Job 37:6: “For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth.’” Also, how can you be so against snow when this little guy obviously enjoys it?

BTW, because we know more snow is coming, we’re looking for some servants to help with snow removal. You’ll hear more about this serving opportunity at the end of the service.

As we continue in our series called, “Living on Mission” from the Book of Acts, we’ll see how Peter was pelted with comments after experiencing something really positive. In Acts 10, we celebrated how Cornelius and his household were saved after the Holy Spirit interrupted Peter’s sermon. As we walked through the passage, we discovered seven essential elements of the gospel of grace.

1. Assert that the gospel alone brings peace

2. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord of all

3. Absorb all Jesus did and said

4. Agree that Jesus died on a tree

5. Affirm that Jesus was raised from the dead

6. Admit you deserve judgment

7. Accept Christ by faith alone and receive forgiveness

Acts 10 ends with Cornelius and his household being baptized and Peter staying with them in order to help them grow as disciples. Acts 11:1 tells us this news spread quickly, even without the help of social media: “Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.”

The “apostles” were the “sent ones” and referred to the 12 men who followed Jesus. As we learned previously, “brothers” is a term of endearment used for fellow followers of Jesus and literally means, “from the same womb.” Born again believers are in the same faith family. I like what Michael Horton writes: “A church is not a group of friends you’ve picked. It is a group of brothers and sisters God has picked for you.” When I posted this on Friday, Aaron Langworthy added, “And like siblings, you better learn to get along because you are stuck with them.”

The area of “Judea” refers to the south of Israel, where Jerusalem is the capital. Since most of the Israelites who returned from the exile were from the tribe of Judah, they were called Jews and their land, Judea.

The headquarters of the Christian movement in Jerusalem had “heard” reports about what had happened in Caesarea. The problem with reports is they invariably leave out important facts and exaggerate other details.

Look at verses 2-3: “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, ‘You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.’” Because Peter wanted to report to the new Christians living in the capital, he made the 75-mile journey “up to Jerusalem.” On a map it looks like he would have gone down, but since Jerusalem is elevated, one always goes up.

When he arrived, he was quickly and rapidly confronted by the “circumcision party.” This literally refers to “those on the side of circumcision.” These Christians, with a Jewish background, still held to the Law of Moses. They were OK with Gentiles becoming Christians if they first became Jews and were circumcised, if they followed the celebration days, and if they strictly observed the dietary laws.

Their beliefs bubble over in Acts 15:5: “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.’”

These Hebrew Christians had a hard time believing the hated Gentiles, especially Roman soldiers who occupied their land, had really repented and received Christ. When Peter arrived, they pounced on him and “criticized” him, which means “to judge, to take sides against and to separate.” The tense indicates they “kept on” criticizing him. Before Peter can even catch his breath after a long journey, they jump on him like a hungry dog on a bone.