In today's sermon, "I Shall Not Call Anyone Impure And Unholy", according to the section "Summary From Last Week(38)": What is in the center of our inner being? What seed did God plant in the heart of His chosen people, and what does Ezekiel 11:19-20 say about it? What is the church of God, and what should we be doing?
In the section "Anything impure and unclean"(v.14): How, and why, did God try to wake up the mind of Peter? According to Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, what animals were categorized by the Law as being "unclean"? What was Peter's response?
What is the real purpose of separation through the Law, and why does God now say "kill and eat" that which He once prohibited? Compare the "Garden of Eden" episode with the experience of Peter. What is possible here only through the truth of Christ and blood of Christ? What does the power of the Gospel make us realize? Why must we be careful with our freedom?
What is the bondage of Peter that makes him suffer? Why was the vision presented to Peter three times? How do Psalms 42 and 63 show the condition needed to know God? Where must we go to hear the voice of God, and why do we need to go there?
What is the dirtiest and ugliest thing in the world, and what is connected to it? How do Jeremiah 17:9, James 3:8, Matthew 12:34, and Luke 6:45 attest to this? Why is this so, and what is the ultimate result, found in Psalm 51:5 and Revelation 21:27?
In the section "God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean"(v.28): Who was Cornelius and where did he live? Where was Peter staying during this account and how long of a trip was it? How does (v.28) show how deeply rooted legalism was then and even now. How did God have to deal on both sides with such legalism? Who has sown these wicked things? How does 1 Peter 5:8-9 advise us to handle it, and how are we convinced to trust Law more than Grace?
How is God able to reconcile Psalm 49:20 in the words of Peter in (vv.34-35)? If God doesn't show favoritism, why does He "elect" certain groups throughout history? How do Romans 9:15 and 1 Peter 2:10 confirm this? How can we see this in Cornelius?
In the section "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? ... Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days"(vv.47-48): What do (vv.47-48) tell you about baptism? What does (v.45) tell you about the understanding of God's will by the circumcised believers?
In the "Conclusion": Why shouldn't we trust our judgement too confidently? What is the only thing we can trust? What should we do when we find ourselves judging others as impure and unclean? Who is the only One Who can correctly judge us and guide us in Truth?
In "The Cure For Death", by Ray Stedman: According to this account and 2 Timothy 1:10, what is the great and central fact in the good news about Jesus Christ? What are some of the many forms of death mentioned here? Can you think of others? What are three powers of death dealt with by Peter as seen in this portion of scripture?
Where was Lydda located, and why was Peter there? Who was Aeneas, and what form of death did he have? What did Peter say to him, and what were the results? Why is healing selective and only "temporary", and what is it's intended purpose? How then should we view healing, and what should be our focus if physical healing does not take place? What types of paralysis do we deal with today? What do we need to realize in order to respond to Christ's appeal to "Rise, and begin to live"?
Where was Joppa located, and why did Peter go there? What form of death awaited him there, and what type of message did he receive from the disciples? Who was Tabitha, what did her name mean, and what had happened to her? How did Peter heal her, and what did he say? What were the results of this healing, and where did Peter stay while in Joppa? How is this a picture of spiritual death, and how are many people like this?
Who was Cornelius, and where did he live? Who came to visit Cornelius, at what time of day did he come, what did he say, and what did Cornelius do after he departed? What type of man was Cornelius, and why do you think God chose him to help minister to Peter? According to Hebrews 11:6, what two qualities of faith must a person have in order to please God? Why didn't the angel preach the Gospel to Cornelius? How were Cornelius, Peter, and others being prepared to hear and preach the Gospel?
Why was Peter on the rooftop, what time of day was it, and what was he waiting for? What did he see while in a trance, and what was said to him? Who's voice do you think it was, and what was Peter's response? Why does Stedman say this strange experience happened to Peter? Why does he say the Jews were called God's "chosen people"? What is the Gentile reaction to the bigotry of the Jews? How is Peter's disagreement with God similar to that of Paul's in Acts 22:17-21? How do Peter's remarks contain the marks of legalism?
What are non-Christians really looking for in Christians? How can Peter's encounter help us in judging other Christians and also ourselves? What do you think this "three-fold" occurrence says about Peter and about God? Can you think of other occurrences in Peter's life where God had to deal with him three times? How does the Spirit help Peter begin to understand this vision while he is still pondering about it? What do the languages of "legalism" and "liberty in Christ" say here?
In "Life For All", by Ray Stedman: What is another often suggested name for the book of Acts? How long did it take Peter to get to Caesarea? What is remarkable about Cornelias' reaction when Peter enters his house, and Peter's reply? What does Peter say that shows how deeply rooted the Jew/Gentile situation was at that time? What time of day was it again?
How does Stedman liken this meeting to a home Bible study? Notice the seven distinct points in the preaching of the Gospel mentioned here: (1) God shows no partiality (2) The Lordship of Christ (3) Jesus Christ sets people free (4) He was put to death on a cross (5) God raised Him from the dead (6) We are to preach the Gospel to everyone (7) Everyone who believes has forgiveness of sins in His name.
How did the Holy spirit interrupt Peter's message? What does this tell you of baptism of the Spirit and believing in Christ? Comparing this event to that of Pentecost, what did this tell Peter? Also notice the four Biblical marks of the true gift of tongues: (1) They are languages spoken somewhere on earth (2) They are not addressed to men, they are praise to God (3) They are a public demonstration (4) They are a sign to unbelievers.
What is the correlation between baptism of the Spirit and baptism with water? How did Peter silence the criticism of the circumcision party? Where is the place that faith always rests, and how does the Table of the Lord remind us of that?
In today's daily devotion, entitled "The Wonder Of Sight": How does the phrase "eyes to see and ears to hear" reflect both our physical and spiritual makeup, and attest to our being created in the "image" of God? Read Psalm 139 and affirm David's declaration of praise to God.