• Download a powerpoint resource for this lesson here.
Barriers are everywhere. They keep you from rolling off a high cliff. Barriers keep you from eating rotten sour cream (by the way, why is there an expiration date on sour cream—isn’t it already sour?). Barriers tell you to drive 70 rather than 80 m.p.h. Barriers printed on a cup remind you as you pick up that cup of coffee at the gas station it might actually be hot. Barriers tell us a certain movie is not appropriate for certain ages.
Caution: This lotion is for external use only. Oh, darn. I thought I would try it on my hot dog. Caution: smoking these cigarettes may be hazardous to your health. Yes, because I have yet to meet anyone who lingers around to enjoy the aroma while inside a burning building.
The Bible is full of barriers. “Noah, build an ark … a really big boat.” That shouldn’t be too hard since no one ever has seen one. Barrier! “Abram, start a nation with your barren wife, you old coot.” Barrier! “Moses, take a few million people across the sea.” Barrier! “Daniel, go into the lions lair.” Barrier! “Peter, step out onto the water.” Barrier!
Where man sees a barrier (danger, danger), God sees an opportunity to show his power and faithfulness. So, the boat floats, the old lady gets pregnant, the feet cross on dry ground, the lions are temporarily full and I guess the water gets hard.
Ironically, in our text, the barrier takes the form of food and a dinner party. If this seems foreign to our culture, it’s because it is foreign to our culture. Obviously, we don’t see any food consumption as sin (maybe we should). But as you know, to the Jews, it was a huge issue. Ironically, Jesus was reprimanded in his day just like Peter was in our text: “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them” (11:3). And there lies the barrier. It’s not just a cultural thing, it’s a “sin thing” in the eyes of these emerging Jewish Christians.
In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees got really hot at him for eating with “sinners” and “tax collectors” and one “wee little man.” Their continued persistence led to his death. Unlike the Pharisees, this group of Jewish Christians is quick to rejoice when they learn a barrier has been breached: “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God” (11:18).
In tearing down barriers, like Peter, we more importantly are imitating Jesus Christ. He bridged the greatest barrier of them all—our sorry old sinful selves. He did so with grace, mercy, sacrifice and self-denial. There is much to learn here.
In our text, and throughout Acts, we discover several principles about crossing barriers.
Crossing barriers breaks traditions
The tradition was to not fellowship with those Gentiles who had nasty Gentile habits. I love Jesus. He breaks the religious rules to get to the heart of the matter. He talks with women of the night. He meets an adulterous woman in broad daylight. He makes wine … and the expensive kind (and all the Baptists gasp). He touches lepers and dead bodies. He turns over tables. Do yourself a favor. Bust open a few traditions. Break the cycle of religious oppression that keeps people out of the kingdom.
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When leading people in your class or your church to change, remember this: You should be more concerned about the people not coming in your front door than the religious people who over react and walk out your back door. After all, the religious people already have been transformed by Christ (hopefully). And let me ask you: Aren’t you glad Peter had the courage to break tradition and minister to the Gentiles? After all, you are a Gentile.
Crossing barriers may bring criticism
I recently heard a Methodist pastor say: “To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing.” But beware. As you cross this barrier to reach people for Christ, the critics will line up. Prayerfully, they will rejoice when they see the good results. After all, aren’t you glad Peter pressed on even though he was criticized? Did I mention that you are a Gentile?
Crossing barriers is a sign of good leadership
What do Noah, Abram, Moses, Daniel, Peter, and of course Jesus have in common? They were excellent leaders who crossed unusual, insurmountable barriers.
Inspiration and application
I pastor in La Grange, a community founded by Germans and Czechs, like many places in Central Texas. We have sister cities in Germany and the Czech Republic. I learned this one evening while visiting our city hall.
As I stood and looked at two displays about our two sister cities, I heard that sweet, still, small voice say “take the gospel to both cities.” That’s a big barrier. Ocean barrier. Language barrier. Financial barrier. Time barrier. Long story short, we have taken the gospel to Datteln, Germany (though we didn’t know anyone there) and helped a church in Texas create a partnership with “Turning Point” Baptist Church there. Now we will begin the process of doing the same in Frenstat, Czech Republic. We don’t know anyone there either. That doesn’t matter. God already knows them.
Where we see barriers, God sees opportunities. Where we see problems, God sees solutions. Where we see danger, God sees provision. For God so loved the world, he gave his only Son … who conquered the barrier called the grave.
Since we are morphing your Bible study group into a “Bible-doing” group, here are a few ideas for this week:
1. Barriers tell us to be careful, but Jesus told us to expect persecution. What could your Bible study group do together that would communicate to your whole church “we are not afraid to cross a barrier.” Go beyond eating expired sour cream. Do something that crosses a real barrier.
2. Language is a huge barrier. Consider starting an ESL (English as Second Language) ministry in your church. It is a fantastic way to share the gospel.
3. If you want to be radical, you can’t go wrong with short-term mission work. Challenge a few people in your class to go on a short-term mission trip between now and August, the beginning of the new Sunday school year. That certainly crossed perceived barriers.
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