June 7, 2026

Acts 10

A Light So Lovely

Throughout the book of Acts, we witness the wildfire-like growth of the Church; beginning in Jerusalem and spreading first through Judea, and reaching even into Samaria, a people long at odds with Israel. The Gospel is proclaimed, and the Samaritans believe and receive the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 10, Luke will recount an even more remarkable moment. The Holy Spirit brings together Cornelius, a Roman centurion who is a God-fearer, and Simon Peter, who is still a rule-follower despite his faith in Christ. God is going to use this meeting to fling wide open the door of the Gospel to the Gentiles, revealing that His invitation extends to all nations, tribes, and tongues.

Join Pastor Matt as we study this encounter and its world-changing impact. The Gospel is for all people, the Holy Spirit is on the move, and every believer is invited to take part in what God is doing.

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Sermon Notes

Acts 10

A Light So Lovely

Pastor Matt Pierson

The Gospel invitation is offered to all

“But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Ephesians 2:13

“The message of the Gospel, the good news, is universal. It’s for everyone. It excludes nobody.”
Alistair Begg

The Gospel erases every division

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…”
Ephesians 2:14

“Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith… There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to a promise.”
Galatians 3:26-29

The Holy Spirit is moving. How will we respond?

“We cannot tell in what strange ways God will work. We can be sure he is utterly worthy of our trust.”
N.T. Wright

“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).”
Ephesians 5:8b-9

“This is the message we have heard from and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all… But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5,7

“We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”
Madeline L’Engle, Walking on Water

 

Discussion Questions

  • Read the passage together: Before today’s sermon, what did you already know or believe about this passage? Did anything in your understanding shift after hearing the message?
  • Challenge and Reflection: Was there a part of today’s message that was particularly challenging or surprising for you? Why?
  • Unpacking the Message: Pick a quote from today’s sermon notes. Discuss what it means to you.
  • Personal Impact: What’s one specific way you feel called to change or grow after hearing this message?
  • Practical Application: What’s one step you can take this week to put today’s message into practice?
  • Connecting Scripture: Are there other Bible passages or stories this message reminds you of? How do they expand or confirm this teaching?
  • Gratitude: What aspect of God’s character stood out to you in today’s message? How does it inspire praise or gratitude?
  • Pray the Scripture: After hearing the message, is there a specific area where you feel led to pray? How can we pray for one another in light of today’s teaching?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“Come People Of The Risen King“ by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
“May The Peoples Praise You“ by David Zimmer, Ed Cash, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
“Grace Greater Than Our Sin“ by Julia H. Johnston
“There Is A Fountain“ by William Cowper and Lowell Mason
“It Was Finished Upon That Cross“ by Jonny Robinson, Nigel Hendroff, and Rich Thompson
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used with permission. CCLI License no. 2003690

Looking for our Hymns of the Week or resources to worship anytime? We’ve curated a playlist of hymns TVC Worship has led on our YouTube Channel!

Call To Worship: Eternal God

Eternal God, You set Jesus Christ to rule over all things and made us servants in Your kingdom.
By Your Spirit, empower us to love the unloved and to minister to all in need.
Then at the last bring us into Your eternal kingdom, where we may worship and adore You and be welcomed into Your everlasting joy.
We offer this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Classic Prayer: William Barclay

Eternal God, grant that we may count it a day wasted when we do not learn something new, and when we are not a little further on on the way to goodness and to Thee. Help us to try to do our work better every day. Help us to try to add something to our store of knowledge every day. Help us to try to know some one better every day. Grant unto us each day to learn more of self-mastery and self control. Grant unto us each day better to rule our temper and our tongue. Grant unto us each day to leave our faults farther behind and to grow more nearly into the likeness of our Lord. So grant that at the end of this day, and at the end of every day, we may be nearer to Thee than when the day began: through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Confession of Sin

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

TVC Prayer Ministry

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