What is Christianity?

July 6, 2025   /   Cornerstone Global Methodist Church

Scripture Reading: Acts 15:1-11

ACTS of the Apostles is the main book of the first 30 years of the birth of Christianity.

When anti-Jesus Jewish leader Saul converted and believed in Jesus as his Savior and Leader, Saul’s name was changed to .

The first “Christians” were Jews – so what is Christianity?

  • What religion was Jesus? He was .
  • Such people worship by following the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament’s 613 .
  • So…do Christians first have to become ?

To decide this, in Acts 15 we read about the first Christian Church – a meeting to decide what Christianity is.

Is it an extension of Judaism, OR, is it something new built on top of Judaism?

Paul and shared about the non-Jewish “Gentile” lives that were changed by faith in Jesus in their first missionary journey.

Peter then said:

Acts 15:8-9 “8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.”

The Apostles all agreed: Christianity is NOT Judaism, but a new agreement or new “” built on top of Judaism!

THEREFORE CHRISTIANITY IS:
  1. The New built on top of the old covenant.
  2. The way to a cleansed : by having faith in Jesus  (FAITH = belief + trust + obedience)
  3. The way to make right moral  NOW, by the help of the Holy Spirit within us!

NOTE: We don’t have to follow ALL the Laws in the Old Testament. We just follow the universally moral ones, as an expression of our faith and cleansed heart rather than to earn salvation … AND we should avoid unnecessary offensiveness.

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G.R.O.W. THIS SUMMER!

This summer we’re seeking to grow spiritually as a church as we simultaneously strategize on how to renovate our facilities to keep up with our church’s growth.

Here’s the plan to GROW this Summer in Gratitude, Reflection, Outreach, and Worship:

FIRST: Continue reading a chapter a day of the book of Acts that corresponds to the date.  

SECOND: Starting Sunday July 6, as you read Acts 6 try adding in a prayer of Gratitude (the “G” in G.R.O.W), such as the following: 

G–ratitude Prayer: “God, as Psalms 9 & 86 declare, I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Thank you for THE Scriptures, and thank you for this Scripture…”

SO THIS WEEK:

 July 6 – Read Acts 6              + G

  July 7 – Read Acts 7              + G

  July 8 – Read Acts 8             + G

  July 9 – Read Acts 9             + G

  July 10 – Read Acts 10           + G

  July 11 – Read Acts 11              + G

  July 12 – Read Acts 12            + G

You’ll find yourself more knowledgable about the Bible, more in tune with the sermons, AND more thankful! Happy summer!

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