The Players in an Effective Invitation

Introduction

Acts 2:37–41 KJV 1900

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Player 1: Repentant Sinner.

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Explain

They were pricked in the heart...

A good sermon brings about a desperation in it’s witnesses then gives them hope.

Pricked is a word only used once in the NT.

It occurs in the OT 10X in various contexts.

Grief Genesis 34:7 “And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved,...”

Aaron’s silence at the death of two of his sons. Leviticus 10:3 “Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”

Stillness before God. Psalm 4:4 “Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”

Brokeness - Psalm 109:16 “Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart.”

Humble oneself before God and be in conviction. 1 Kings 21:29 “Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.”

The people realize their sin. They have murdered their Messiah, “Men and brethren what shall we do?”

Argue

Baptismal Regeneration is taught. NO.

Illustrate

Apply

Player 2: Reasoning Saint.

Acts 2:38–40 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

Explain

Argue

Illustrate

History was repeating itself. During the forty years in the wilderness, the new generation “saved itself” from the older generation that rebelled against God. Now, God would give His people another forty years of grace; and on that day, 3,000 people repented, believed, and were saved. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 410.)

Apply

Player 3: Regenerating Spirit.

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Explain

Argue

Illustrate

Apply