Click here to see the sermon discussion questions or see them listed below. We highly encourage you to listen, think, and talk about the sermon. These are questions you can reflect on by yourself, with your family, or with your small group.

Sermon Discussion Questions: 

1. What comes to mind when you think of a “voyager”? Think of the first people to discover Hawaii - what fears and uncertainties would they have faced?  Would you ever consider going on such a journey?  Why or why not?  

2. How are Christians supposed to be like voyagers?  Does this mean that every Christian must go to a far away country in order to obey Christ?  Even if you do not go to Africa as a missionary, but stay here in comfortable Hawaii Kai, what fears and uncertainties must you overcome to be a ‘voyager’?

3. What made Cornelius an unlikely candidate to become a follower of Jesus Christ?  When you think about the conversion of Cornelius as well as the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, what does this tell you about God’s heart for the lost? What lesson is God trying to teach us through this?

4. Although Cornelius was not a Jew, he was what was known as a ‘God fearer’.  What do you think it means to ‘fear’ God?  What about Cornelius’ life gives evidence to the fact that he was indeed a God fearer? (See v.2)  What evidence is there in your life that you fear God? How does the fear of God impact the way you raise your children, the way you tithe, and the way you pray?  

5. Long before Peter would preach the gospel to Cornelius, God was preparing his heart to receive the good news.  Thinking back in your own life before you were a believer, how was God preparing you to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?  

6. God’s love for a Roman centurion should not surprise us, just as His love for us should not surprise us. If we could understand just a fraction of the love God has for us it would solve most of our issues in this life.  Do you agree with this statement?  Why or why not?  Do you believe that everything humanity is longing for can be found in Jesus the Christ?  Why or why not?

7. Cornelius responds immediately to obey the Lord’s command to send men to retrieve Simon Peter from Joppa. What are some reasons/excuses Cornelius could have made for hesitating to obey or even completely ignoring God’s command?  Think about your own life and the ways in which you hesitate to obey or completely ignore God’s commands.  Why do we do this, and why is simple obedience always the best and most beneficial thing for our lives?  Can you trust God?