ACTS 2 PART 2 - THE SERMON

ACTS 2 PART 2 – THE SERMON
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Acts 2:37

What is the “this” that upon hearing cut them to the heart? It is either the specific declaration, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (2:36) or, (and more likely) it is the entire sermon Peter had just preached! (2:14-36)

Acts 2:14-37

(14-21) Peter preached that Jesus of Nazareth was the focus and fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophets!
14 “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 " ' And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”

(22-23) Peter preached that they were personally responsible for the murder of Jesus!
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

(24) Peter preached that Jesus of Nazareth had been raised from the dead!
24 “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

(25-35) Peter preached that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of David!
25 For David says concerning him, " ' I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.' 29 "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, " ' The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.'”

(36) Peter preached that Jesus of Nazareth is both Lord and Christ!
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

(37) When they heard that Jesus of Nazareth was the focus and fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophets; they were personally responsible for His murder; God had raised Him from the dead; He is the Son of David; and, He is both Lord and Christ, they were cut to the heart!
37 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Beloved One, have you considered these five facts? Have you considered Who Jesus is? Have you considered your personal responsibility for His murder? Have you considered the implications of His resurrection from the dead? Have you considered what it means that He is the Son of David? Have you considered the biblical fact that He is both Lord and Christ; and not just the Christ?

Have you?

NEXT TIME: ACTS 2 PART 3 – PETER’S ANSWER

ACTS 2 PART 1 – INTRODUCTION

Acts 2:37-47 37 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

I am quickly coming to believe that reading, praying through, and meditating on Acts 2:37-47 is a very dangerous thing for the comfortable Christian! This passage reveals how the New Testament Church reached their world in a single generation. Every place and every way in which the modern Church has deviated from this pattern is why we may well lose our Nation in a single generation! In the days ahead, I want to take this passage apart piece-by-blessed piece and make application to us, our world, and our churches.

Some years ago I heard one of those sermon outlines that never leave you: “Why not Us, Why not Here, and Why not Now?” As I read these verses, these three questions come again and again into my thinking. The writer of Hebrews tells us in 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” With that being so, our failure to see anything like this move of God is not because Jesus has changed, the Word of God has changed, or because the Holy Spirit has changed.

The heart-breaking truth is that in most cases our churches have changed! Another great statement that bounces around in my head is, “God made the Church the way He wanted it; now, He wants it the way He made it.” I do too! And I believe that an important step in bringing about these needed changes in our lives and our churches is to carefully and prayerfully examine this passage and come to fully understand what it was about these one-hundred and twenty people that caused the Lord to be willing to use them in such a mighty way.

Next time, in PART 2, we will begin that examination.

Weather and Weekend Update!

The Church office is closed today, 1-7, and tomorrow 1-8, 2010. If you need anything, call me on my cell phone.

The Saturday Morning Seminary Class has been canceled due to the weather.

Sunday, as the Lord allows, I will continue my series on "Revelation for Rookies" with sermons on "The Great White Throne" in the morning; and, "The Battle of Gog and Magog" in the evening!

Remember! If you have unsaved or unchurched family and friends, Sunday Morning will be a great time to bring them with you to church! The passage on "The Great White Throne" is one of the most powerful and convicting in the Bible.

I hope to see you with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side...