Cornelius - Faithful Warrior
As believers and followers of Christ we know how we ought to live. We know that we should love one another, give to the poor, and etc. However, sometimes that is as far as we go.
As believers and followers of Christ we know how we ought to live. We know that we should love one another, give to the poor, and etc. However, sometimes that is as far as we go. It is easy to get into a routine of doing good, and forget that we are to pursue God with all of our Heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength. We need to live in community and seek to learn and grow closer to God in our walk. As we read about Conelius, what lessons can we learn?
Cornelius
- Acts 10: 1
- What do we know?
- He lived in Caesarea
- He was a Roman Centurion
- Rome stationed troops throughout the nation to keep the peace
- What do we know?
- Acts 10: 2
- Who was Cornelius?
- Family man
- Devout to God (sought)
- Feared God (reverence)
- Gave to those in need
- Prayed to God regularly
- Who he was did not make being who he was easy.
- Who was Cornelius?
- Acts 10: 3 - 8
- What stands out to you here?
- He had a vision!
- He instantly obeyed God
- What stands out to you here?
Peter's Vision
- Acts 10: 9 - 22
- What is interesting about this?
- Gentiles are seen as "unclean" by the Jewish people
- Roman soldiers showed up at Peters door
- Do you think this struck Peter as a little odd?
- What is interesting about this?
- Acts 10: 23 - 33
- The pieces are all falling into place at this point.
- Peter understands why he had the vision.
- Does he know what he is to teach?
- The pieces are all falling into place at this point.
Learning
- Acts 10: 34 - 43
- What do you think was going through Cornelius's mind?
- Amazement that one of the witnesses (apostles) was there teaching him about Christ.
- Grateful that he came into his home (a Gentiles home).
- What do you think was going through Cornelius's mind?
- Acts 10: 44 - 48
- Why was Peter caught off guard?
- Who was impacted more?
- Both
God will often place people in our lives to teach us. For Cornelius, God called him to reach out to Peter to help him grow deeper. However, at the same time, God placed Cornelius in Peter's life to also grow him deeper. It is amazing how God always places the right people in a person's life at the right moments. However, if we are too caught up in the world, we can miss those moments of meeting people, and lose out on the blessing that God wanted for us. So the next time someone says or does something that catches your attention. Something that triggers that gut feeling or your inner voice saying something like, "wait, did they just say that…" or "wait, did they just do that…". Seek God out, because God doesn't do things on accident. He does things for a purpose.