Acts 10-15 - Come Follow Me with sam

 Welcome!

Peter's pork moment

there are a few moments where we think one thing is absolute and God changes that in relatively short order. Usually we resist because we think it is a matter of dogma. Most of the time when we are faced with these choices, it is. Some few times when God want to make a big change, He'll teach us something for which we had no prior conception. That is why it is so important to have the spirit with you so that when these moments come, you are neither hardened, nor deceived, but ready to receive.

The Jews' gentile moment

As above, the traditional Jewish people had a moment where they said 'why them?' Peter's argument was ' the fruits of god are clearly apparent in them; if God has approved them, do you really want to be the ones to raise your hand to protest?'

The Apostles Peter moment

We can see a pattern for verifying that this comes from God through the way the church leadership looks at the issue. First they think Peter is off his rocker. Then Peter tells them the story, similar to the Jews' gentile moment. Then after they had heard the matter out, and, I imagine, counseled in the spirit, they realized that this was the right thing to do.

More signs of a true church

1. someone with foresight sees problems - > church leadership organizes relief->sent to people in need

2. you have Martyrs. You don't need to be having them all the time, but if everyone says your message is just fine, its probably not a message that can change their lives.

3. the church prays together (and alone)

4. this is nuanced because I just said you also need martrys and persecution, but you also need to see enabling miracles.

5. laying on of hands