“CORNELIUS SEES AN ANGEL”
YEAH! CHURCH - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Cornelius Sees An Angel”
Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKU9MyuGrj0 (The Gospel Project for Kids – Peter Visits Cornelius)
Cornelius and Peter
Acts 10 (excerpts), NLT
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”
7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
… They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends…
28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.
34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. [Then Peter began to tell them about Jesus.]
…44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Engage:
• A man who was in the Roman military worshipped God and helped the poor. What did God do to show Cornelius that he accepted him?
• Cornelius sent some men to Peter as he had been told to do. Why might Peter have refused the request?
• Peter agreed to go to Cornelius’ because God told him to. Once there, what did God do that showed he had accepted Cornelius and his family into God’s family even though they were not Jews?
• The Gentiles were given the gift of the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish believers had been. What did Peter decide God was telling him and all the Jewish believers?
Weekly verse:
Acts 10:34-35, NLT – Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. ‘
2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Prayer – Dear God, thank you that there isn’t anyone who cannot choose to be part of your family. Thank you that you used Cornelius to show Peter how much you loved everyone. Help me to remember that there are not some people you love more than others…you love us all. Period!
~ Pastor Jane