It was against the Jewish Law to enter the house of a Gentile or even to associate with them.  And that’s exactly what Peter did.  And he preached the gospel to them and they were saved.

When the apostles in Antioch heard of his actions, they summoned him to do some explaining.  Why did he preach to them?  Why did he enter their home?  What was going on?

Peter recounted his vision to them.  Then he told them how he went and preached to them.

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.  Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Repentance.  It is one of the greatest gifts of God.  That we can repent and be forgiven through the blood of Christ.  And this repentance leads to life.

Peter wasn’t the only one preaching to the non-Jews.  Others started doing the same.

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.  The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Persecution was meant to stop the church.  Instead it accelerated it as people went forth, they preached the good news of the Lord Jesus.  And the Lord was with them and many came to faith.

Once again the church of Antioch had some questions.  This time they sent Barnabas to go check on what was happening.  When he went, he saw all the good that was happening and encouraged them.  Once again a great number of people were brought to the faith.

After this Barnabas went up to Syria and found Paul.  Then he brought him back to Antioch and for year they could teach and strengthen the church there.  People were called Christians first here in Antioch.

We really see some interesting things happening here in the early church.  There was definitely pastoral oversight to make sure that the people were not falling into sin and into error.  There was accountability even among the apostles.

At the same time, the leaders had a humility to be open to the move of God.  When they heard the testimonies and saw for themselves, they rejoiced at what God as doing.  It wasn’t about Jewish superiority or control, but about how the Lord was moving.  And He was clearly doing so among the Gentiles.

It’s easy in leadership to sway too far to either side.  A church with no accountability is open to error.  But a church with too much control is not open to the move of God.

Part of the responsibility of leaders is to safeguard against false teaching.  It abounds.  But there’s also that role of humility of seeing things in Scripture and making sure it isn’t against the gospel or the teachings of the Bible, and yet being open to God doing new things in new ways.

There is a danger here when it comes to saying that God is open to doing new things.  Some will try to redefine Scripture to sanctify immorality.  God doesn’t do new things in THAT kind of a way.  But he does bring new ways of getting the gospel of salvation to all peoples.

For many years, using any instrument other than an organ in worship was shocking.  Now it’s not uncommon to have a full worship band.

For some “church” can only happen in a building with an alter and priests.  But “church” can happen wherever his believers gather together.

And here’s another one.  For many only the King James Version has been accepted.  But there are newer translations such  ESV and NASB)that reflect the most ancient manuscripts.  And the translations use a modern language that more people can understand.   (And no, The Passion Translation is not a translation.  That book should be used to start your fireplace).

These things help the gospel go forth.  They aren’t issues of morality.  Just like Gentile inclusion was not an issue of morality but rather a lack of understanding their own Scriptures.

But you get the point.  Church leaders have a responsibility to check to make sure that heresy is not brought into the church.  But there’s also a humility that says God will never compromise truth, but sometimes he is doing a new thing on the earth.