How To Break The Power Of Prejudice
We’re all prone toward prejudice in some form or another. We are all born into cultural insulation. Apart from interaction outside “our group,” we grow up assuming our view accurately defines reality. That creates barriers and even hatred with those who are different from ourselves, preventing us from carrying out the call of God on our lives to go and make disciples of all people.
KEY VERSES
ACTS 10 (NASB)
Cornelius’s Vision
10 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;11 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds offour-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice cameto him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
Peter at Caesarea
And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Gentiles Hear Good News
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
ACTS 11:17-18 (NASB)
17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
GALATIANS 4:4 (NASB)
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
PHILIPPIANS 2:6-7 (NASB)
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
I TIMOTHY 3:16 (NASB)
16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
JOHN 1:14 (NASB)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
ROMANS 10:9-10 (NASB)
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
UNDERSTANDING
Growing up, were you ever excluded from an event or activity? If so, what was it and why were you excluded? How did you respond to being excluded?
What are some common prejudices that might cause exclusion, or at the very least, discomfort and distance in relationships (e.g. race, economic status, gender, age, etc.)?
Is relating to people from different religions and races something Christians are known for doing well or poorly? Explain.
Why do you think God gave this vision to Peter instead of another believer like Philip, who had already engaged in gospel conversations with Gentiles (Acts 8)?
What barriers might some believers be hesitant to cross in order to initiate a gospel conversation? Why do you think those barriers are in place? In light of Peter’s vision, how should you view those barriers?
How did the gospel alter Peter’s view of his own deeply held religious traditions? What do you think the significance of the vision occurring three times was?
Why did Peter go to Cornelius’ house despite his misgivings?
Have you shown yourself willing to invite God to break down your prejudices for the sake of the gospel? What are some ways you can do that?
Why do you think it was important for Peter and Cornelius to both share their testimonies of what God had shown them regarding one another? What does that indicate about the power of your own story in breaking prejudice?
As Peter opened his sermon to the Gentiles, what was his message in regard to favoritism?
Do you think it was hard for Peter to admit that he’d been wrong, especially in this context? Why do you think it’s so difficult to admit you have prejudice in your heart?
Based on verses 44-45, what might God do in our community if you asked God to show you your prejudices, help you acknowledge them, and lead you to repent?
APPLICATION
How can you tell your preferences from gospel truth? Why do you tend to elevate your preferences to the level of truth?
What barriers exist that need to be broken down to help you be a better witness?
In this week’s sermon, you learned the following ways to put this into practice:
1. Assume God is speaking to everyone, everywhere, and wants to use you.
2. Take small steps to connect with someone much different than yourself.
3. Share the difference Jesus has made in your life with someone this week.
Which of these three steps of application stands out to you the most personally? Explain. How can this group help you in taking that step?
WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?
Joining a group is a great way to know people and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. Take a look at available groups to get plugged in to and find the group that is right for you.
GIVING
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