Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, May 4, 2025

2025-05-04

Simplicity of Faith Today, Pastor Michael discusses the gospel and its purity, not needing rules and attachments to its core. The gospel isn’t complicated. There is joy in the simplicity of the gospel message, so don’t complicate what Jesus made simple. Michael then gives us examples that churches and Christians complicate the message to confound potentially new believers: Expecting people to clean up before they meet Jesus. Be patient with folks and allow them to grow!

Simplicity of Faith

Today, Pastor Michael discusses the gospel and its purity, not needing rules and attachments to its core.

The gospel isn’t complicated. There is joy in the simplicity of the gospel message, so don’t complicate what Jesus made simple.

Michael then gives us examples that churches and Christians complicate the message to confound potentially new believers:

Expecting people to clean up before they meet Jesus. Be patient with folks and allow them to grow!
Expecting people to be doctrinal pros from the get-go.
Making an idol out of our preferences and traditions.
Forgetting that not everybody’s an insider.

(CSB Bible Notes) 15:19 James’s position as the first among equals in the Jerusalem church is seen in his summarizing conclusion to the debate. In his judgment, Jewish believers should not cause difficulties for those turning to God from among the Gentiles.

Today’s verses are found in Acts 15: 19

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

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