2-17-13 Big Church (5) – Big Drift (Acts 15:1-31)

We are in the midst of our series Big Church and we have been asking the question how did the message
of Jesus Christ survive the first century? Why is a third of the population today, 2000 years later,
believed that Jesus is connected to God and that He is indeed the son of God? It was because a group of
bold Christians took the message and proclaimed it to everyone they saw. The resurrection of Jesus was
such a life changing event for them they couldn’t keep silent for what they saw and believed. Therefore
you and I have the opportunity today to embrace the same message, and that we are grateful we could
gather as a church 2000 years later.

But have you noticed that whenever there are people gatherings there are conflicts? Church is no
exception. Controversies arise in churches for many reasons. Some are quite important while most are
seemingly trivial. One tension that arose in the early days of the Church and that continues to surface
over and over is the issue of grace and truth. Specifically, how good does a person have to be in order
to be part of the church? If we are serious about being the church, that’s a question we will have to
continue to wrestle with every day.

Moving Forward

We have to work hard not to be a church where grace and truth conflict but coexist. Jesus was full of
both grace and truth. So, in response, let’s make three commitments:
• Let’s be more concerned with who we are reaching rather than who we are keeping.
• Let’s always err on the side of grace.
• Let’s remain open-handed in attempts to advance the message of Jesus Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. From your perspective, who is the church for?

2. Have you had any bad experiences with a church that made you want to say, “I don’t want anything to
do with them anymore”?

3. In your opinion, is it too easy or too hard to become a Christian?

4. Read Acts 15:1-31. The controversy for the Church at that time was over circumcision and dietary
laws. What are some of the controversies today for “entry” in the Church?

5. How can you guard against the drift toward law and away from grace?