Connect
Did you experience or witness prejudice as a child? How has that informed your beliefs now as an adult?

View The After Party Video: https://youtu.be/W0mEdFs9Rlc
Feel free to share this link with your Life Group to watch ahead of time or watch together as a group.

Engage
Consider Acts 10:1-48. (Since it may take a long time to read it out loud, everyone can skim it as you discuss these questions.)
Ask someone to summarize what happens in this section.
How might things have been different if Peter had maintained his prejudices and refused to go to Cornelius’ home?
Who was responsible for changing Peter’s heart toward the Gentiles?

Apply
Peter could have been a barrier to the Gentiles hearing the gospel rather than a conduit. Let’s consider how we might also be a barrier to the people of our world knowing Jesus. (Remember through this discussion that your Life Group is a safe place to share. The things discussed are confidential and we are not here to judge each other but to help each other grow. Your honesty will help those in your group face their own prejudices.)

How do you find yourself as a Peter? We all have areas where we have an Us vs. Them lens we look through. What are areas of your life where you have an Us vs. Them attitude? How does that impact your behavior?

Or perhaps you find yourself as a Cornelius, checking the boxes of religion but not in a relationship with Jesus?

What kind of impact could your lens be having on the people around you for eternity? How could your thoughts and actions be a barrier to people knowing Christ?

Choose a specific area where you feel God nudging you to remove contempt, prejudice, or bias. What are actions that you can take to move you in that direction? How can you become less of a barrier and more of a messenger?

Pray
Spend time praying together about what God has revealed to you about yourself. You can begin by praying and personalizing this prayer:
God, search my heart, examine my thoughts, and test my ways. Help me have the courage to obey you, even when I don’t understand. And make me a messenger, not a barrier.

Bonus
On the day that Peter shared the good news with the people in Cornelius’ house, the Holy Spirit descended on them and Peter said, “’Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:47-48. Is God prompting you to be baptized? If so, text MYFAITH to 97000 and we’ll connect with you.