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Have you ever felt left out of a group? Maybe your family moved to a new town and you didn't know anybody. You felt like an outsider in your classroom. Or have you watched certain people get "special treatment" because they have money or a lot of influence?
We learn from today's episode, that Jesus treats everybody the same way. He loves and accepts all people, regardless of where they come from.
Now, use your imagination, as we journey back through time to look at the Life Connection Story "Peter Part 2."
(Story adapted from the New Testament books written by Peter, the Gospels, and specifically Acts 2:1-42, 3:1-22, 10:1-48)
My name is Peter. I am excited to share with you how God worked in my life.
Jesus promised us that after His departure He would send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper. We didn't know exactly what that meant, but here's how it happened. One day when I was preaching, a most unusual thing happened. While I was telling everyone about the great things God had done, Jesus poured out His Spirit on us. People started speaking in their own native tongue, but everybody understood everybody else! I said if they believed in Jesus, they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and have a heart change. That day about 3000 people were added to the number of believers. That event was called the Day of Pentecost, the "birth day" of God's Church. The word "pentecost" means "fiftieth day." Some churches still celebrate Pentecost Sunday-50 days following Easter.
On our way to the Temple one day, John and I walked by a man who had been crippled all his life. Every day he begged for money outside the Temple. When he asked us for money, we told him that we didn't have any silver or gold, but we could give him something better. I lifted the man up by his right-hand and by the power of Jesus Christ, he immediately began walking, jumping, and praising God. All of the people recognized him as the crippled beggar. They were amazed and couldn't understand how this happened. They looked at us like it was our own power that made the man walk, but we told them it was by the power of Jesus that he was completely well. We were warned not to talk to people anymore about Jesus, but we said that we could not be quiet. We would obey God rather than men.
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, an officer in the Roman Army. He and his family were Gentiles, but they worshipped the true God. One afternoon, Cornelius saw a vision of an angel who told him to send some men to Joppa and bring me back to him. Cornelius obeyed the angel.
I was going up on the roof to pray (that was my custom), and I had a vision. I saw heaven open and something that looked like a big sheet was lowered to the earth by its four corners. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said for me to get up, kill and eat. I was hungry and wanted to eat, but I said, "no," because I had never eaten food that was unholy and unclean. Jewish people were only supposed to eat certain things according to the Jewish Law. But the voice told to me that God had made these things clean. This happened three times and then the sheet with all of the animals disappeared.
While I was wondering what the vision meant, Cornelius' men found my house. The Spirit told me to go with them. When we arrived in Caesarea, Cornelius was waiting for us. It was against our Jewish law for me (a Jew) to associate with anyone who was not a Jew. But God showed me that I shouldn't call Gentiles unholy or unclean. Every person is the same to God, regardless of his nationality. I told the group that everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. While I was still speaking the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening. It was the first time that the Jewish believers realized that the gift of the Holy Spirit was also given to non-Jewish people. It was an amazing day.
Let's thank God that He doesn't show any partiality. Everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved regardless of what country he's from.
God, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to be our Helper. And thank You that He comes to all who believe-to Jewish people and Gentiles. It is through His power that our hearts can change. Work through us so that we can accept all people. Thank You Jesus that You died for everyone.
Use Acts 2:1-42, 3:1-22, 10:1-48 and the Life Connection Story. They will help you complete your Life Connection Response.
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