Dean Fulks
The early church teaches us how to hear well, when God is speaking to us
We learn to follow Jesus one step at a time
Acts 15:1
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
There's a collision between tradition and truth
Acts 15:2-4
And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
Lifepoint's vision is to draw life from God and point others to Him
Acts 15:7
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe."
Acts 15:13-18
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’
Receiving guidance from God means at least three things:
1. You are engaging the scriptures/prayer
2. You are watching the circumstances
3. You are meeting with other believers
God gives us direction instead of the details
Acts 15:19
“therefore…we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (NIV)
We want to make it easy for people in Mid-Ohio, the Midwest, and the world to know Jesus.