Jerusalem: Grace Rules

I never knew why the food drawers at the bottom of our refrigerator had different names (“Fresh” and “Crisper”) until Amy and I started a healthy, diabolical eating plan this January that left me nibbling raw kale at a Thursday staff meeting. The great assortment of fruits and vegetables that now stocks our fridge, however, has caused us to learn a bit more about our coolest appliance. Apparently, the “Fresh” bin is high-humidity for produce that won’t dry out and doesn’t emit ethylene (the natural way many fruits ripen). So that’s spinach, cucumbers, and (ugh) kale. The “Crisper” bin is low humidity and mainly for keeping ethylene-emitting fruits like pears and avocados from rotting quickly. But watch out for bananas—their drawer depends on their ripeness.

What do these veggie musings have to do with the Book of Acts?

Quite a bit, actually. We humans love having drawers and bins and categories not only for our produce but also for one another. And in Acts 15, the fast-flowing movement of God’s grace is nearly derailed when a group of religious leaders starts to insist that everyone must come into their “drawer” of Old Testament law-keeping in order to be saved from eternal “decay.” To what extent must we follow these rules today? And how does the decision of that Jerusalem Council guide us into a fresh witness of Jesus’ grace among peoples from every “bin” and background?

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

DATE: January 29, 2017 // Jerusalem: Grace Rules
Scripture: Acts 15

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
We humans love having drawers and bins and categories not only for our produce but also for one another. And in Acts 15, the fast-flowing movement of God’s grace is nearly derailed when a group of religious leaders starts to insist that everyone must come into their “drawer” of Old Testament law-keeping in order to be saved from eternal “decay.” To what extent must we follow these rules today? And how does the decision of that Jerusalem Council guide us into a fresh witness of Jesus’ grace among peoples from every “bin” and background?

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Grace fuels us; legalism burns us out.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What was the issue that provoked the disagreement in Acts 15? What were the men who were requiring circumcision turning God’s grace into?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): What is the grid I use for processing the sharp debates around me (both in and out of the church)? (Acts 15:15) When have I felt the temptation to distort religion into a self-serving practice?
Window  (How does the story change how I see those around me?):  In the midst of sharp debates, how do I choose to press forward, seeing myself and others in the light of grace? What do I want to keep at the core of my viewpoint?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 10 minutes
Our desire is to reflect the heart of God as we interact with those around us. Put two minutes on a timer, and in the practice of silence, ask God how He wants you to show His grace to someone around you this week. At the end of the time, share those words, pictures or thoughts with each other. Then intercede for each other to do what God has said.
Change IN // Group Activity 10 minutes
At the close of his message, Jon challenged us to let grace rule in how we treat foreigners.  What does this mean for you? Discuss scripture’s examples and your intentions to be active in this
Change OUT //Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
Make a plan to move forward to interact with the foreigners around you—in your neighborhood or in Clarkston— bringing the grace of God into each interaction. Jesus is the one who empowers you to do this! There are many simple ways for you to engage. Email if you want some ideas.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.