ACTS 3:11-26 Hope

Healing and Hope: The Power of the Gospel

Bible Passage: Acts 3:11–26

Summary: In Acts 3:11-26, Peter addresses the crowd after healing a lame man, emphasizing that the healing was done in the name of Jesus. He calls the people to repentance and faith, explaining how Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the Messiah.

Application: This sermon reminds Christians that true healing—spiritual and physical—comes through faith in Jesus. It calls believers to share their testimony of Christ’s work and encourages those struggling with sin, despair, or brokenness to seek the transformative power of the Gospel.

Teaching: The teaching focuses on the central role of Jesus as the healer and the fulfillment of God's promises, urging repentance and a fresh commitment to faith in Him. It underlines that the mission of the church is to proclaim this message of hope to the world.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage shows Jesus as the promised Messiah, illustrating how Old Testament prophecies point to Him. Jesus is not just the healer of this man but the ultimate solution to humanity's brokenness, emphasizing a redemptive arc that runs throughout Scripture.

Big Idea: True healing and a hope-filled life come through faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfills God's promises and empowers His followers to proclaim this truth.

Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon using your Logos library, consider examining the Greek terms used in the passage, particularly related to healing and repentance, to deepen your understanding of Peter's call to the crowd. Investigate the prophetic references Peter makes to the Old Testament, especially how they connect to Jesus' life and mission. Additionally, exploring scholarly articles on the cultural context of Solomon's Portico could offer insights into the significance of these events for your audience.

1. Present Power of His Name

Acts 3:11–16 “The man was holding on to Peter and John. All the people were amazed. They ran to Peter and John at Solomon’s Porch. When Peter saw this, he said to the people, “My Jewish brothers, why are you surprised at this? You are looking at us as if it was our power that made this man walk. Do you think this was done because we are good? No, God did it! He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is the God of all our Fathers. He gave Glory to Jesus, his special servant. But you handed him over to be killed. Pilate decided to let him go free. But you told Pilate you did not want him. Jesus was Holy and good, but you said you did not want him. You told Pilate to give you a murderer instead of Jesus. And so you killed the one who gives life! But God raised him from death. We are witnesses of this—we saw it with our own eyes. “This crippled man was healed because we trusted in Jesus. It was Jesus’ power that made him well. You can see this man, and you know him. He was…”

Perhaps you could highlight how Peter redirects the crowd's amazement from the miracle itself to faith in Jesus. This point emphasizes that true healing comes from trusting in the power and name of Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation. It's not about the apostles' own power, but the authority of Christ at work. Encouraging a focus on giving Jesus the glory in our lives can be the transformative application here.

2. Promise of Refreshing Repentance

Acts 3:17–21 ““My brothers, I know that what you did to Jesus was done because you did not understand what you were doing. And your leaders did not understand any more than you did. But God said these things would happen. Through the Prophets he said that his Messiah would suffer and die. I have told you how God made this happen. So you must change your hearts and lives. Come back to God, and he will forgive your sins. Then the Lord will give you times of spiritual rest. He will send you Jesus, the one he chose to be the Messiah. “But Jesus must stay in heaven until the time when all things will be made right again. God told about this time when he spoke long ago through his holy prophets.”

Maybe you could discuss how Peter urges the people to repent and turn to God so their sins may be wiped out. This passage emphasizes Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the Scriptures and the necessity of repentance for healing and restoration. The call to personal repentance is central, demonstrating how faith in Jesus brings spiritual refreshment and hope, a profound application for believers today.

3. Prophecy Fulfilled in Christ

Acts 3:22–26 “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will give you a prophet. That prophet will come from among your own people. He will be like me. You must obey everything he tells you. And anyone who refuses to obey that prophet will die, separated from God’s people.’ “Samuel, and all the other prophets who spoke for God after Samuel, said that this time would come. And what those prophets talked about is for you, their descendants. You have received the agreement that God made with your fathers. God said to your father Abraham, ‘Every nation on earth will be blessed through your descendants.’ God has sent his special servant Jesus. He sent him to you first. He sent him to bless you by causing each of you to turn away from your evil ways.””

You could focus on how Peter uses Old Testament references to validate Jesus as the prophesied Messiah, calling the crowd to listen to Him. This point underscores Jesus' role in God’s redemptive history and how this truth should inspire Christians to live out and witness this message of hope. It illustrates that through Jesus, God is fulfilling his promises, offering a message of hope to a broken world.

QUESTIONS?

How can we share our testimonies of Christ's work in our lives with others?

How can we share our testimonies of Christ's work in our lives with others?

How can we apply Peter's call to repentance in our daily lives?