Sermon Notes:

· How many hoops do I have to jump through?

· What’s the hoop?

· Jesus did not give us a hoop to jump through, but an invitation to follow him.

· Clean up first, then be forgiven.

· Acts 13:44-45 - 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

· 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

· They did not think Jesus was worth their time.

· Jesus never invited people to go to heaven.

· Church becomes a place of grace.

· You are the light of the world.

· 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.

· The more Jesus followers act like Jesus and spread good news, the greater the opposition.

· 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

· What they had was greater than what they faced.

· Churches – our church – must be a place a grace.

· We must help messy people take their next step.

· Being a place of grace means we let the Holy Spirit do the talking.

· Being a place of grace means we expect criticism and opposition.

· “God if I am off track, please get me on track.”

· Being a place of grace means no one is beyond Jesus.

· Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: Have you experienced church as a place of grace? When? Have you experience church as place of ungrace? When?

Go Deeper

1. Read Acts 13:38-39

a. Paul eliminates all the hoops of the law of Moses. What hoops do you see religious people setting up today? What would Jesus say about these hoops?

2. Read Acts 13:42-44.

a. In your opinion, why were so many people hungry to hear about the grace of God?

3. Read Acts 13:45-48

a. In your opinion, why were the Jews of Paul and Barnabas? What was the threat?

b. The Jews failed in their mission to be light to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the world. How is our church doing in our mission to be light and bring salvation? What about churches across the world.

c. The Gentiles were glad to be included. The word “glad” has the same root as the word “joy.” In your opinion, why were they joyful.

4. Read Acts 13:49-52

a. What opposition should our church expect to face in the days ahead? How do we prepare?

b. What would you need to do to be joyful in face of opposition and persecution?