"Devoted" - Preaching at Harderwyk - Acts 10 - June 6, 2021

Resources For "Devoted" Series From Each Harderwyk Preacher

I. New For This Week

Good News!  The Vikings Became Lutherans - CLICK HERE for the story of how these fearsome maurauders became believers.

Your Bible Is Not An Encyclopedia by Paul David Tripp - CLICK HERE for a helpful post on how to read the Bible as it was intended so you can receive the Good News that God means to communicate.

II. From The Commentaries On This Passage

From F.F. Bruce in Acts: Bible Study Commentary 

“If it was necessary for Cornelius to be instructed by a heavenly messenger to invite Peter to visit him, it was even more necessary for Peter to be prepared for Cornelius’ invitation. Cornelius had no religious scruples to overcome before inviting a Jew into his house, but Peter had strong scruples which would have prevented him from accepting such an invitation. These had to be removed, and their removal could be effected only by divine authority, for they were part and parcel of Peter’s ancestral religion. Gentiles were idolaters. Cornelius might be a worshipper of the God of Israel, but he was still a Gentile and a Gentile house was likely to be tainted by idolatry. Jews believed that the Gentile idols were malignant demons who might well haunt Gentile houses. A Jew who entered such a place would therefore expose himself to their evil influence. Moreover, any one who paid a social visit to a Gentile would be invited to accept food, and the eating of such food could involve the breaking of several Jewish dietary laws. ...

But the vision contained a more important lesson for Peter. As he reflected on it, he came to realise that the repeated words, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common” (10:15), applied to people as well as to food. “God has shown me”, he said to Cornelius, “that I should not call any man common or unclean” (10:28). It was a momentous lesson for the spread of Christianity.”

III. Ongoing Resources

1) Spiritual Formation Resources Page - CLICK HERE - This is still a work in progress, but be a part as we look to build

2) Scotty Smith’s Heavenward Daily Prayers - CLICK HERE to see the daily prayer blog of Scotty Smith.  You will see an option to have them delivered to your email inbox each day as well.  

3) Simple Lectio Divina Overview - CLICK HERE for a simple introduction of the spiritual practice of a more personal way of experience the Word through contemplation and reflection.