Slideshow image

Opening

What stood out to you from Sunday’s message?  

 

Summary

Read Acts 15:1-21

Since the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10, more and more gentiles have come to faith in Jesus. Through the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13-14 the trickle has become a torrent. This raises a controversial new question in the church: on what basis is a person welcomed into God’s people? Is it by grace through faith alone, or must they keep the law? While circumcision and kosher are not big controversies in the church today, the bigger question of the nature of salvation is one of crucial importance. Everyone is a legalist at heart and we really truly struggle to believe in grace.  

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What was at stake in this question of circumcision for the gentiles? Was this a hill to die on?
  2. What theological issues and debates today would be a hill to die on (the gospel is at stake)? What is your criteria for discerning that?
  3. In what specific ways are people today tempted to believe (even subconsciously) that we are saved by our moral performance? Is this an issue for Christians today?
  4. How was the Jerusalem Council a huge turning point for the church in how the gospel relates to the nations?
  5. How should the gospel of grace shape the way we view people of other ethnicities and nations?