August 16, 2026

Acts 15:1-35

Is Grace Really Enough?

Sunday Sermons

We live in a world that runs on performance. Your value is your output. Your worth is your record. Your acceptance depends on what you’ve achieved, what you’ve avoided, and whether your résumé — moral, professional, spiritual — is good enough to get you through the door. Most of us have absorbed this logic so deeply that we’ve brought it straight into our relationship with God without even noticing. We believe in grace. We just don’t quite trust that it’s enough.

The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 was called to settle exactly that question. And what the apostles declared in that room is the verdict the church has spent two thousand years preaching and defending, but occasionally almost giving away. Is grace really enough? Not enough to get you started, with your effort taking over from there. Not enough for most people, with exceptions for the especially bad. Enough. Completely. Finally. Full stop enough.

Speaker

Jim Thomas

Series

Acts of the Apostles

Go to Series

Scripture

Acts 15:1-35

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Worldview & Culture

Sermon Notes

Acts 15:1-35

Is Grace Really Enough?

Pastor Jim Thomas

It is the burden of every religion to answer at least two questions:

1. By what authority do they believe and teach what they believe and teach?
2. How can sinful human beings be reconciled to a holy God?

Acts 15:1-35 wasn’t a simple lesson about learning how to get along with others better, what was at stake were the core questions about salvation.
Four Questions for Bible Study:
  1. How does God reveal Himself in this passage?
  2. What does this passage expose about the human condition — our pride, our fears, our self-deceptions, and our need?
  3. How are Jesus and the Gospel foreshadowed or reflected?
  4. What does this passage call us — personally and together — to believe, do, or become?

Acts 15 reminds us:

1. God is generous with grace and eager to save all who repent and believe.

Grace is for the guilty and undeserving.
Mercy is for the helpless and needy.
All of us are all of that, so all of us need grace and mercy.

2. Sometimes our problem isn’t unbelief, but misbelief.

“They were telling Gentile converts that faith in Jesus was not enough, not sufficient for salvation: they must add to faith circumcision, and to circumcision observance of the law. In other words, they must let Moses complete what Jesus had begun, and let the law supplement the Gospel. The issue was immense.”
John Stott, The Message of Acts

3. God’s solution isn’t more religious activities, it’s a reconciled relationship.

“When religion has said its last word, there is little that we need other than God Himself. The evil habit of seeking God-and effectively prevents us from finding God in full revelation. In the ‘and’ lies our great woe. If we omit the ‘and’, we shall soon find God, and in Him we shall find that for which we have all our lives been secretly longing.”
A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

4. We do well to pursue what seems right to the Holy Spirit. (vv. 22, 25, 28, 34)

“They made a decision and sent it out to the church with the fascinating words, ‘It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…’ In other words, they used their best thinking and reasoning, their knowledge and their experience, and came up with a sound decision that they attributed to the Holy Spirit.”
Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor

How can we discover what is right in the eyes of the Lord?
  1. What does scripture say?
  2. What does the church teach?
  3. What is God impressing upon me through His Word and Spirit as I pray?
  4. What will deliver the greatest glory to God and the highest good to others?

Is Grace Really Enough?
No, it’s more than enough.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16

“Only grace can work to remind us that faith in God is a resting place and trust in self is a minefield. It is grace and grace alone that empowers us to follow and to rest.”
Paul Tripp

“I used to think that understanding Him was the main thing. It isn’t. The main thing is being loved by Him. And that I know.”
Steve Brown, What Was I Thinking?

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

“Christ Our Hope In Life and Death“ by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker and Matt Papa
“Grace Greater Than Our Sin“ by Julia H. Johnston
“Jesus, Only Jesus“ Christy Nockels, Nathan Nockels, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill, Chris Tomlin, and Tony Wood
“All My Boast Is in Jesus“ by Bryan Fowler, Matt Papa, Matthew Boswell, Keith Getty
“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: Make a Joyful Noise

Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!
People: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God While I have my being.

Leader: Believers in Christ, bless the Lord; Let all that is within you Bless His holy name!
People: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
All: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Amen!

Confession of Faith

New City Catechism
Part 2, Christ, Redemption, Grace
Q 24

Leader: What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?
People: One who is truly human and also truly God.

Leader: Why must the Redeemer be truly human?
People: That in human nature He might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin; and also that He might sympathize with our weaknesses.

Leader: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
People: That because of His divine nature His obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that He would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.

Classic Prayer: John Chrysostom

Remember, O Lord, this city wherein we dwell and every other city and country, and all the faithful who dwell in them. Remember, O Lord, all who travel by land or water, all that labor under sickness or struggle. Remember, O Lord, those in Your church who bring forth good fruit, are faithful in service. Grant unto us all Thy mercy and loving-kindness, and grant that we may with one mouth and one heart praise and glorify Thy great and glorious name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now, henceforth, and forever.

TVC Prayer Ministry

TVC Ministry: TVC Youth
Vocation: Gardening, Horticulture, Agriculture, Landscaping, Parks, Earth Care
Mission Highlight: Kevin Twit at Reformed University Fellowship (Belmont)
Praying for the Persecuted Church: Turkey

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