July 22, 2018
Flannelgraph Faith: The Importance of Action
July 22, 2018
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Open:
How many times have you bought some healthy food products, or maybe a bottle of vitamins, intending to change to better eating habits—only to throw them out later? Perhaps you had an impulse to do a good deed for someone but didn’t follow through. Can you share an example?
In our current series of New Testament characters who had lives we can learn from, (by way of modern flannelgraph), we are going to focus today on Peter, the apostle many of us can relate to as he often spoke before thinking. Peter’s example of action and obedience will teach us that God will call and equip anyone who is willing to be the His servant, despite one’s faults.
Discuss:
Action is actually obedience
- Read Acts 10:1-8 for a background of Cornelius, an unsaved Roman soldier who hungered after God, although he had never heard of Jesus Christ. What is significant in verse 7?
- Read Acts 8:26-39. How does this passage of the unsaved eunuch parallel the story of Cornelius? Because of Philip’s obedience, what happened?
- Will someone tell the story of Peter’s vision on the rooftop of the house of Simon the tanner?
- Read Acts 10:13-14. What did Peter reply to God, after He had told Peter to “kill and eat”? How many times did God show him the vision? Why could three be significant in this passage?
Action is obedience that fits God’s plan
- Read verses 19-20. What did God tell Peter outright?
- Peter did not fully understand that God was going to include the Gentile world in His plan of salvation. Yet how did he respond in verse 23b?
- Cornelius invited his household and friends to hear Peter. What did he tell Peter in verse 33?
- What are some repercussions that might have occurred if Peter had continued to say “No!” when told to eat all food in the prior vision?
Action is what results in impact
- Read verses 44-46. What happened while Peter was still speaking? What reaction did the Jews who had come with Peter have? Why were they so surprised?
- Read Matthew 21:28-32. How is this passage different, yet could have been similar?
- All of us have had a call from God to do something, although we may have thought it to be merely an impulse. How is it possible you may have missed a blessing by not obeying? What might the impact have been?
- Because Peter acted with obedience immediately, what was the impact that resulted?
Is there something that God is calling you to do? James 4:17 tells us that “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Close:
Many years ago, a homeowner showed a pastor on visitation his Bible, which he kept laying on the coffee table. “I like having it in my home. Every now and then I rub the cover of it, and it brings me peace.” The peace he received was not likely from a relationship of salvation, or he would have been hungry for the message inside. It is not unlike having a bottle of vitamins in the cupboard, feeling as though you are growing healthier since they are in your kitchen! The same analogy is true with the word of God. In order to draw near to God (James 4:8), we need to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Righteousness comes from knowing God more each day and knowing Him more comes from prayer and Bible reading. Recognizing His desires for us, and the plans and purposes He has for us, keeps us on our toes when it comes to our actions. If we see someone in the grocery store, digging for change to pay for a few basic groceries, and could easily give them the $10, do we? It probably goes through your mind to do it—so do it. It’s a seed planted, and someone else may well come along and give it water. Action is obedience, and obedience has an impact.
What will you do this week to make an impact on someone’s life? Can you pray as you get out of bed, “Lord, give me just one soul this week to help, to encourage, or to plant a seed in their life?” If you mean it, He’ll do it. When it happens, be ready!
Key Verse: Acts 10:42-43: And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He Who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (NKJV)
Focal Passage: Acts 10:1-43.
To think on (from sermon): “If one hears the call of God and rejects it, he incurs the wrath of God.”