Session 7: Ethnic-Based Challenges in the Early Church
Acts 11:1-18
Preparation Resources
Discussion Topics
Discussion Topics
- What did it mean for the early Christians to regard themselves as a “kinship group” and a new kind of family?
- What initial ethnic division occurred among the early Christians (Acts 6) and how was it resolved?
- Following that, what was the big ethnic division in the early Church (Acts 11) and how was it resolved (Acts 15)?
- In spite of the Acts 15 resolution, the problem continued and triggered Paul’s letter to the Galatians addressing this division. Why was the viewing of all in the Messiah as full members of the family so critical?
- What does this mean for the Church today and its members’ obligations towards each other? What problems and benefits might arise?