This week the Acts of Leadership series takes us to Acts 15. Rick and Svea look at circumcision and the old covenant, the new covenant, and James' declaration in Acts 15:19, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God."

Topics discussed in this episode:

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:41 We will always have to wrestle with issues that would seek to divide us.
• 05:00 Circumcision: the sign of the old covenant.
• 11:41 Baptism: the sign of the new covenant. Comparing circumcision with baptism.
• 13:52 The new covenant is superior to the old covenant. The old covenant started outwardly and hoped it would become inward. The new covenant starts inwardly and expresses itself outwardly.
• 20:25 If salvation is by faith alone, why did James add four "conditions" on the church in Acts 15?
• 24:07 James isn't adding conditions to faith in Jesus, he's showing other practices that, if practiced, will pull their hearts away from Jesus and toward other gods.
• 36:51 The thinking process of looking at Scripture in regard to temporary, cultural application vs permanent.
• 39:21 If Paul, Peter, and James were addressing the American Church what practices might they suggest that would be helpful in following Jesus?