A Gospel for Everyone

1. Introduction

Today is the last of five studies from the first 12 chapters of the book of Acts titled “The Gospel”. The previous four weeks have been:

‘The Gospel Begins’

‘A Gospel of Boldness’

‘A Gospel of Conflict- The Gospel Unstoppable’

‘A Gospel for the Hardest’

As we read and consider the story of Cornelius from Acts chapter 10 which happened nearly 2,000 years ago there are modern day versions happening in our world today, maybe in your life.

2. God Prepares People and Circumstances to be Receptive to the Gospel.

Read Acts 10:1-8 and answer the following:

• What does Hebrews 11:6 tell us is important for someone to find God? See also Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7-8.
• What were the signs Cornelius was doing this?
• What are the signs for people today? Do you recognize them?

3. God prepares and Speaks to His Children.

Read Acts 10:9-20 and answer the following:

• What was the issue(s) God had to deal with in Peter’s life first in order for Peter to be His mouthpiece to lead those mentioned in Acts 10 to Christ?
• Discuss in your group and name the potential barriers that can hold us back from sharing the Gospel with certain people today?
• How did Peter respond to God the three times He spoke to him? Discuss the process he had to work through before reaching his conclusion in Acts 10:28, 34-36? How valuable do you think the walk to Caesarea (approximately 6-8 hours) was for Peter to work through what God had shown him? Acts 10:10-20.
• How can God speak to His children today endeavoring to help us deal with our barriers which hinder us sharing the Gospel to anybody?

4. The Unstoppable Gospel is used by the Holy Spirit to Convert People Today.

 What happens when God is at work preparing people and God’s children are available, listening and obedient to Him? Read Acts 10:21-48.

Who does the work to convert people? Acts 10:44, John 16:8-11.

Discuss God involving His people in the process. See 1 Corinthians 3:5-7.

5. Application.

Share in your group any barriers that may be hindering you from sharing the Gospel with certain people.

6. Conclusion.

Perhaps the greatest barrier to the spread of the Good news in the first century was the Jewish/Gentile conflict. Most of the early believers were Jewish, and they thought it scandalous even to think about associating with Gentiles. But God told Peter to take the Good News to a Roman, and Peter obeyed despite his background and personal feelings. (Later Peter struggled with this again-see Galatians 2:11-14.) God was making it clear that the Good News of Christ is for everyone! We should not allow any barrier-language, culture, race, geography, economic level, or educational level-to keep us from telling others about Christ. #

# (Taken from ‘Life Application Study Bible’)

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