How can we celebrate God's work among diverse communities, as seen in Acts 11:18? Setting the Scene Acts 10 tells how God brought Cornelius and his household—Gentiles—into the family of faith. Peter reports the whole story to skeptical believers in Jerusalem. Their hearts change when they realize God Himself initiated this work. Key Verse “ When they heard this, they fell silent, and they glorified God, saying, ‘So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.’ ” (Acts 11:18) What God Did • Broke ethnic and cultural barriers by the Spirit’s direct leading • Granted “repentance unto life” equally to Jews and Gentiles • Prompted immediate worship: “they glorified God” Principles for Celebrating God’s Work Among Diverse Communities • Recognize that repentance and new life come from God, not human effort (Ephesians 2:8–9) • Celebrate unity in Christ that overrides previous distinctions (Galatians 3:28) • Glorify God publicly when He brings people together (Psalm 86:9) • Remain silent before Him long enough to hear and submit, just as those first believers did (Habakkuk 2:20) Practical Steps for Today’s Church • Testimony Time – Intentionally share stories of salvation from different cultures or backgrounds, ending with collective praise • Shared Meals – Follow the Acts 10 model: sit at one another’s tables, breaking symbolic walls of separation • Joint Ministry Teams – Pair believers from varied backgrounds to serve together, showing the gospel’s unifying power (Ephesians 2:14–16) • Diverse Worship Expression – Include languages, instruments, and musical styles that represent the body God has formed • Scripture Reading – Read passages aloud that highlight God’s heart for the nations, such as Revelation 7:9 and Isaiah 56:7 Guardrails to Maintain Gospel Clarity • Keep the message of repentance central; cultural celebration never replaces the call to turn to Christ (Luke 24:47) • Affirm biblical truth as the ultimate authority, preventing unity from drifting into mere human consensus (2 Timothy 3:16) • Uphold holiness, remembering that inclusion in Christ always produces transformed lives (1 Peter 1:15–16) Promises to Hold Onto • “The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:2) • “Many will come from east and west and share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11) • “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” (Philippians 1:6) Celebration grows vibrant when believers trace every victory back to the Lord, echoing the first Jerusalem church: God Himself “has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” |
    |