A Radical Change of Plans

Peter's vision of a sheet with animals, Domenico Fetti, 1619, Kunsthistorisches Museum - Wikepedia images

READ: Peter was staying in a city near the sea called Joppa. It was the same city where long ago the prophet Jonah had gone to tell the people of God’s ways. Jonah had not been happy to be sent to Joppa--it was a city far from his home, and he didn’t want to share about God with people from another country. Despite his reluctance, the people had been convinced by Jonah’s preaching and had turned toward God. 
One day Peter was up on a rooftop waiting for lunch to be ready. It was a warm day and he soon fell asleep. Peter had a strange dream, he saw a sheet holding all sorts of creatures, and a voice telling him to eat. But the creatures were things which Peter had been told not to eat since he was a child. Three times Peter had this dream, and he wondered what this dream meant. 
While he was wondering, there was a knock at the door. Three men stood there, having been sent by a Roman commander, Cornelius, to come find Peter. He had also had a dream and had been told to send for Peter. Peter went with the men and met Cornelius. Suddenly God’s Spirit helped Peter to understand his strange dream. God’s story of love was not for Peter and his people only--the message of love was for the whole world. He baptized Cornelius and all the others there. (Acts 10:1-11:18)
WONDER: I wonder how Peter felt when he had this dream?
I wonder why Peter decided to go with the men who were sent by Cornelius? 
I wonder what made Peter change his mind?
I wonder how Cornelius felt to hear the story of God’s love?
I wonder what part of this story you like best?
SAY: In this story Peter learns that the good news of Jesus was for everyone, not just for his friends and family. God wanted Peter to welcome others with openness, even if they were different from him.
PRAY: Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you people who help us learn more about your love. Help us accept others as your children, whom you love, just as you love us. Amen.
EXTEND

• Peter was learning to see how God was at work in the world. Think about your week. Have you seen God’s love at work in others? Was someone helpful or kind? Did anyone stand up when someone else was bullied? Draw a picture or write a poem about what you saw.
• Watch Civil Rights Act of 1964 from Kids Academy on YouTube. Civil Rights leaders worked hard and risked their lives to break down barriers in our society. What connections do you see between our story today and the stories of Rosa Parks and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Read Who Is My Neighbor? written by Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrated by Denise Turu. In this retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan, Blues and Yellows just don’t mix, and that’s how it’s always been. That is, until the day Midnight Blue takes a tumble along the road and a Yellow named Lemon stops to help him. What connections do you see between this story and Peter’s story?