Discipleship 101
Acts 15:1-21
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’- 18 things known from long ago.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
This Sunday’s service can be viewed on our Facebook page @ Sunday, January 14, 2024
Hello NewDay Friends!
I wanted to express gratitude to you all. One year ago, I had no idea that I would be involved with you, and serving God with you. I always marvel at how He brings us into each other’s lives, and gives us the blessing of one another. Being an interim pastor is always an adventure, and I feel so thankful to be with you at NewDay, at this point in your history.
I continue to pray for our leadership team, and for you all, as we experience this time of transition together, seeking God together, and following Jesus together. Please continue to pray for Cindi Halleen as she leads our church, and our leadership team (Julie Cunningham, Dale Christensen, Mickey Hofer, and Jason Rebhahn) as they seek to follow Jesus, and make decisions through the Holy Spirit’s guidance and unity. Please pray for those who will be committing their time to the Search Committee as well, and for God to lead this team.
This Sunday, we will be learning from Acts 15, and more about the theme of Discipleship- Being a Disciple, and making Disciples. When we begin to follow Jesus, so many things change! I don’t know about your experience, but I noticed a lightness, lessened weight of worry, and also a passion to read the Bible and learn more about God (I was also 8 years old). It doesn’t matter how old we are when we meet Jesus for us to notice change of mind, heart and purpose in our life.
We also have the ability to help others know Jesus and experience the awesome amazing Grace of Jesus, which He gives freely to all! My deepest hope as a pastor is that the body of Christ, the people of God, know a couple of things about discipleship:
Each person should have someone else helping them grow in their relationship with God, and learn more what it means to follow Him, and live a life that is reflecting His love and forgiveness, as well as what it means to live obediently.
Each person who knows Jesus also has the ability to help someone else know Jesus! We don’t need to be a pastor, have followed Jesus for 20 years, or are an amazing communicator to do this. I think often the people who are newest to the Christian faith have the biggest ability to share about what Jesus has done for them because it is so real, recent and revolutionary to them (a big change has happened, and Joy has freed them from sin!). We can’t stop talking about Jesus, and the freedom from sin we have experienced when we receive it.
If you want to talk more about Discipleship, following Jesus, or helping someone else follow Jesus, seek out people who are farther along in the journey, or pray about someone for God to bring into your life that you can have the privilege of encouraging and empowering in their faith journey.
I look forward to seeing you all Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Kari
PS- We'll talk about Acts 15 on Sunday, then you are invited to read Acts 16 during the week next week. Below is a link to an Acts Bible Reading Plan with a daily devotion to go along with it.