The First Gentiles

It was a disappointing turnout this morning; just three families. Barely enough to tell our story; we had to recruit every single person!

Last week we saw Peter in Joppa.	Introduce Peter. Have him locate Joppa on map.
In a little while we will see what he is doing there, but first we will go to another city, called Caesarea, and meet another person named Cornelius.	Peter can sit down. Introduce Cornelius. Have him locate Caesarea on map.
Even though Cornelius was a Gentile, that is, not an Israelite, in his heart he believed in Yahweh the God of Israel, and worshipped and prayed to him alone.	Kneels down.
One day, while he was praying, an angel appeared to him.	Angel with halo comes & stands in front of him.
He was very frightened, but the angel reassured him, saying, God has heard your prayers and seen your good deeds, and He wants to bless you!	Angel "gunghei's" (congratulates) him.
The angel told him to send some servants to the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa, and look for a man staying there, called Peter. They should bring Peter back with them, and he would tell Cornelius how to receive God's blessing.	Cornelius chooses 2-3 to go. They put on backpacks. (we had to pare this down to one servant)
They had to travel for two days.	They walk one round of room, then take towels out of packs, "sleep"; get up, start walking again
The second day, as they were just about to arrive…let's see what Peter is doing.	Travelers can sit down. Set up table in front of storeroom transom; helper gets in position in storeroom with sheet , then bring Peter up.

 

What time was it?	Show clock set at 12:00 & ask
It's time for lunch, but lunch isn't ready yet. Peter is getting hungry! He decides to use the time while he is waiting, to pray.	Peter rubs his tummy, then kneels down (facing table in front of transom).
As he was praying, he saw a strange vision. Something like a big sheet was coming down from heaven!	Sheet starts lowering onto table
When it opened up, inside were all sorts of animals.	Sheet opens up, narrator picks up each animal & asks different kids what they are.
Every animal in the sheet was one that was considered "unclean" according to the law of Israel. Peter thought it was a disgusting sight! But then he heard a loud voice:	Helper on ladder says: "Beidak! Heiloih! Joi la, sihk la!" (Peter, get up, kill, and eat!)
Peter said, no way! Never in my life have I eaten unclean food!	Peter does "no, no"!
But the voice said:	"Sahn jihgei soh gitjihng ge yeh, neih mjeun donghaih batgitjihng ge." (If God cleanses something, you are not to say it is unclean)
While Peter is scratching his head and wondering what this was supposed to mean, the whole vision repeated itself.	Peter scratches head. Sheet closes up, then opens again, repeat highlighted section
And again a third time!	Repeat highlighted section
Finally, the sheet was taken back up into heaven.	Sheet is hauled back up. Peter can get up.

 

Now Cornelius' servants arrive. Because they are Gentiles, they know they might not be welcome in the house, so they stand on the street and yell: Is Peter there?	Servants stand several feet away from Peter. They all yell: Beidak haimhaidouh?
Peter hears the Holy Spirit in his heart saying, I myself have commanded these men to come, so whatever they ask you to do, do it.	Peter looks up to heaven and does "Yes, Sir!"
The servangs tell him that an angel has told them to bring Peter to see Cornelius in Caesarea. So he goes with them.	Peter puts on backpack and goes with them. (I skipped having them stay overnight. Also skipped Peter's companions—not enough people—or backpacks!)
Again, it took them two days.	All take out their towels and "sleep" again.
On the second day, they came to Cornelius' home. While he was waiting, he had invited friends and relatives over so they could hear what Peter was going to tell him.	Cornelius picks 2-3 & all stand up together.
Peter says to them, now you know that usually Israelites don't visit the homes of Gentiles. But God recently told me that I shouldn't automatically consider any person unclean, so I came when asked. So what is it you want from me?
Cornelius describes how the angel had told him that Peter had an important message of blessing from God for him.
Peter thought this was amazing. It was the first time he had thought that God might want the Gentiles to be able to hear the gospel of Jesus! So, he started to tell them about how Jesus had died for sinners, and rose on the third day…
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit came down on all the Gentiles who were listening to him, just like He had come on the birthday of the church!	Sprinkle orange/yellow paper scraps on Gentiles' heads
They all started praising God in different languages!	Have different Gentiles repeat "Jesus is Lord" in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Spanish
When Peter heard this, he praised God. How great is God's mercy, that He wants the whole world, not just Israel, to be saved! God's love is truly infinite! So he welcomed all to receive baptism and become part of the new, international church!	Baptizes the Gentiles with blue scraps. Everyone shakes hands with everyone else, then gather & sing "Hingdaih jimuih" (Brothers & sisters)

God wants people of all races and colors to be able to go to heaven! So each child received a different color of balloon to blow up and then kick soccer-style into a cardboard "heaven's door"

For our craft, we made paper-chain snakes.

Bible study was mainly from Ephesians 2:12-14, about how Christ broke down the wall of hostility between Israel and the Gentiles, and how the kind of humility it takes to admit your sins and receive Christ can also help break down walls in other kinds of relationships.