August 10 Virtual Worship
Go directly to Worship Service Video
Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty
If you wish to see more information about giving or to checkout our new Online Giving process, visit our GIVING page.
Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Scripture Lesson
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Scripture Reading: Acts 11:1-18
Sermon: Life in the Spirit, An Expanding Mission
Acts 11:1-18
Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners, and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Key Idea of the Sermon
Luke bears witness to the saving grace of Jesus by writing the Acts of the Apostles. So far, we have watched and listened as this grace moves to accept and transform people: suffering from illness and disability (ch.3 and 5), Greek-speaking Jewish believers (ch. 6), Samaritans and an Ethiopian eunuch (ch. 8), and an enemy of the Way of Jesus (ch. 9). Today this ever-expanding grace dramatically reaches out to a Roman centurion and his household (chs. 10 and 11). A centurion is representative of the ones who executed Jesus, and of course, is a gentile. This expansion of the mission to the gentiles is debated by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Peter tells the story of this saving grace for a centurion and his gentile household, winning over the leaders to offer their blessing for this new chapter in the church’s life.
Questions for Reflection
• What role does the Divine vision play in this story? In what ways are you open to and moved by the living Spirit of Christ?
• Peter remembered a saying of Jesus that empowered him to accept and baptize the centurion and his household. When has a saying of Jesus helped you do the right thing?
• Though initially reluctant to believe that the Way of Jesus was to include gentiles, the leaders changed their mind when they heard Peter’s story. How has the Spirit of Christ softened your heart and changed your mind?
A Spiritual Practice to Try
When met with resistance to change and acceptance, don’t get angry or scared. Bear witness to the way the saving grace of Jesus has been at work in your life and circle of influence. Tell your story and trust the Spirit to do the work of changing hearts and minds.
If you need some guidance or support, you may reach me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com
