May 19, 2022

In Acts 10, Peter has a vision from God. It’s about food, but it isn’t just about food. Peter sees a blanket from heaven filled with animals that aren’t kosher to eat, and hears the voice of God inviting him to eat. At first he thinks it is a test from God to hold fast to the past way of distinguishing himself through eating differently than Gentiles. But, through a repetition of the vision and his encounter with faithful people who are different from himself – Cornelius and his household of Gentiles who fear and love God and seek to live the way of Jesus – Peter comes to understand the meaning of God’s vision given to him in the bold proclamation, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who trusts God and does what is right is acceptable to God.”

In our reading from Acts 11 last Sunday, some other members of the church are questioning Peter about this vision and message of inclusion of people who aren’t like them, you know, “those unclean Gentiles.” 

Peter retells the story of his vision and proclaims the good news that God’s grace and love are for all people from any nation and walk of life, for those who trust the Lord and follow the way of God and do what is right.

Peter received God’s vision for the church and does not hesitate to live it out, baptizing Cornelius and his household. Then, when the church asks what he is up to and Peter shares of God’s vision, they discern. The whole church prays and seeks to understand if the vision given to Peter is a vision for the whole church. After prayer, discussion, debate, and argument, the leaders of the church finally announce their affirmation of this vision of God and God’s call for the church that Peter first saw and heard.

We’re in a season of discernment about the future of Spirit in the Hills. Our strategic planning team is beginning ot glimpse a piece of God’s vision for the next five years of Spirit in the HIlls, but we know that this work is not for us alone. This is the work of the whole church. So we need to hear what God is saying to you and through you so that we can, like the church in Jerusalem, confidently and humbly proclaim who God is calling us to be and become.

We know that the core of this vision will continue to be diversely centered in Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and sent to share God’s love. We will live out Christ’s commandment to love one another as he loves us. What we are hoping to do is share a clear vision for what it looks like to share God’s love following Christ’s example in the Spicewood/Lakeway/Bee Cave community in the next five years.

Join in this conversation in a special way this weekend:

• Saturday, 3 PM at West Cypress Hills neighborhood park and pavilion
• Sunday, following worship at Spirit in the Hills
• Monday, 7 PM on Zoom

In the mantime, ask yourself: Whose feet am I called to wash right now? Who could I be sharing a meal with? How can I bring healing? What message of love is God asking me to share in word and deed?

Blessings,
Pastor Drew