These questions and comments relate to the sermon on 22 January 2023, Breaking Barriers.  The primary text is Acts 10:1-11:18.

1.  What is preventing you and LBC from helping people globally and locally become life-long disciples of Jesus Christ?  What barriers are in the way?

2.  Read the story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10 & 11.  What were the cultural, religious, prejudicial, and traditional barriers between Cornelius and Peter?

3.  How did God bring those barriers to Peter's attention?  What was he doing when he received instruction? (see Acts 10:9 and 11:5)

4.  What was God's instruction to Peter?

5.  How did these men demonstrate their obedience?

6.  What were the results?

Bonus:  What had already removed a language barrier and distance barrier between Peter and Cornelius?  The Roman Empire had provided a common language, great roads, and general peace for international commerce.  God used those developments to carry out his mission of redeeming the nations.

7. Go back to question 1.  What kind of barriers hinder us?

8.  Eight steps to finding God's vision for your life and your church were listed in the sermon and bulletin notes.  Those steps are listed here again.  They come from Bill Tinsley, written in Missions from the Inside Out, Bible Study Lesson (Baptistway Press, 2007), p. 34.

 1.     Want God’s vision more than you want your own.

2.     Commit yourself to prayer.

3.     Study the Scriptures.

4.     Discover how God made you and your church unique.

5.     Listen to what God is doing in the world.

6.     Listen to fellow believers. (those who are getting it right)

7.     Be obedient in the things you know to do.

8.     Listen to your heart.  (after your heart has been shaped by God)