Text: Acts 2:37-47
Topic: The Gospel, The deity of Christ, filled with the Spirit
Application Point: As we continue to devote ourselves to God and one another, God will draw people into His kingdom.
Sermon Title: Responding to the Gospel: Conviction, Repentance, and Promise
Acts 2:37 (NASB95)
37 Now when they heard [this,] they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
1. The Gospel
a response.
John 16:7-11 (NASB95)
7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB95)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does [anyone] light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB95)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Acts 2:38-40 (NASB95)
38 Peter [said] to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized 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 your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
2. The “promise” of the Holy Spirit is for all
of Christ followers.
Matthew 21:31-32 (NASB95)
31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing [this,] did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB95)
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God’s own] possession, to the praise of His glory.
Romans 10:14-15, 17 (NASB95)
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” … 17 So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Acts 2:41-45 (NASB95)
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they [began] selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
3. The
process is simple but not always easy.
Exodus 32:27-28 (NASB95)
27 He said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Every man [of you] put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” 28 So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB95)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Genesis 11:6 (NASB95)
6 The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.
Acts 2:46-47 (NASB95)
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
4) Discipleship is a
-
cycle of growth and reproduction.
Luke 9:23 (NASB95)
23 And He was saying to [them] all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Genesis 4:6-7 (NASB95)
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will not [your countenance] be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NASB95)
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
Life Group Questions:
1) Why do you think questions should not be feared in our conversations with others about life, faith, and God? How can we prepare ourselves to answer difficult questions about our faith?
2) What does repentance mean to you, and how does it relate to our salvation in Christ? How much emphasis should Christian’s place on repentance after salvation? Is there possible danger in repenting too much or too little?
3) How can we experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in our journey of faith? How does the promise of the Holy Spirit apply to all generations of Christ followers, including us today?