Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."

Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Peter is finally making connections to what Jesus was up to all along.

Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, 'Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.'”

Why is change difficult?

1. We like to be right

Proverbs 3:3-8 ESV

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

    bind them around your neck;

    write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success

    in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh

    and refreshment to your bones.

2. We only know one way

Why is change essential?

Matthew 19:28-30 NET

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Revelation 21:5 NET

“Look! I am making all things new!”

Matthew 4:17 ESV

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

This can be a painful process, but is also a hopeful process.

NT Wright, "The kingdom of God is not merely a future promise—it has already broken into the present in the power of the resurrection, and its full consummation will bring about the renewal of everything."

Jürgen Moltmann, “Hope, as the fundamental force of the new creation, transforms our present reality and points us to a future where all things will be made new.”

John Stott, “We are called to be citizens of God’s kingdom—not just waiting for a future hope, but actively manifesting its truth in our daily lives.”

What does it look like to embrace godly change?

Acts 11:19-21 ESV

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭‭26b‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

1. Don’t hesitate
2. Don’t do it alone
3. Don’t be afraid to be misunderstood

• Ask God to help you know what changes you need to embrace in your life. Identify areas where God is moving and you have been resisting. 
• Think of someone you know that you would like to invite to join you for church on Easter Sunday. Commit to praying for them for the next month. Look for opportunities to serve them, have spiritual conversations with them, and share your story with them.