Sermon Notes
1. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 gathered to discuss “what is the message of Jesus?”
2. The message of Jesus is that we are saved by grace through faith, not religious works!
3. All religion is salvation through moral effort.
4. The message of the Gospel is “Jesus plus nothing”!
5. If you add something to what Jesus did on the cross, then you are subtracting from what He accomplished on the cross.
6. All means all and that’s all that all means!
7. The Law of Moses shows us our need for a Savior, but it doesn’t save us.
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. When you read Acts 15:1-5, what did the people from Jerusalem say that got Paul so upset? What was at the core of the issue in this discussion?
2. When you read Acts 15:6-11, what was Peter saying about how a person is saved? What are the key thoughts and words of his argument?
3. Peter and Paul argue that a person is saved and receives the Holy Spirit by faith through an act of grace and not by works of the Law. As you read Acts 15:12-19, does James (the half-brother of Jesus) agree or disagree with them?
4. We read in Scripture (Romans 11) that our faith is rooted in the O.T. and from the Jewish people. With this in mind, what is the point of James’ teachings in verses 20-21. Is this added for a person to be saved or more a concern for spiritual growth and table fellowship between Jews and Gentiles?
5. Since we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and not by works, what is the purpose of the Law of Moses according to Romans 3:19- 20; Galatians 3:23-25.
6. If someone came up to you and asked you, how do they go about becoming a Christian, what would you say? How does Acts 15 help you in this question?
Prayer:
Pray that you would personally understand the message of Jesus and that you would be given opportunities to share Jesus with others.
Extra credit:
When you read Acts 15, what does it teach us about how a church should go about discovering the will of God?