Unashamed of the Gospel
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 9 viewsSince salvation comes only through the name of Jesus, we must courageously share the gospel even in the most difficult circumstances.
Notes
Transcript
Random Question
Random Question
If you fail in a driver’s test, why would you have failed?
Recap from Last week
Vs. 1-2
Vs. 1-2
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
Q: Take 1 minute to make observations from vs. 1-4 (People, things happening, etc)
Q: Did anyone catch onto what they thought of Peter’s Sermon (vs. 2)? (Grieved, greatly disturbed that they taught about the resurrection)
Q: What do we know about the Sadducees that would make them angry that Peter taught about the resurrection? (They didn’t believe in it, preaching stirred up a croud)
Vs. 3-4
Vs. 3-4
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Q: Tell me, how do they handle their frustration in vs. 3? (Arrest them)
Q: First persecution of the church… When does the Devil tend to attack us? (When things are going well, 5000 people got saved)
Vs. 5-6
Vs. 5-6
5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
Q: The Jews form a council to figure out what to do with the Apostles, who’s all a part of that council (vs. 5-6)?
Rulers (Sanhedrin?)
Elders (Lay members of Jewish Gov.)
Scribes (Teachers, interpret the law)
Annas (Ex-High priest, lots of power, the big boss)
Caiaphas (Current high priest, Annas’ son-in-law, instrumental in Jesus’ death
John (Annas’ son? High priest...)
Alexander (Not sure, member of high priestly family)
Family of the high priest
Jewish Supreme court (Likely 71 members)
Q: Anyone getting a bit nervous if you’re Peter or John?
Illustration: Supreme Court of Canada
- On trial in front of judge, PM, MP’s
Q: Remember, these two guys were just Galilean fishermen, why do you think so much firepower is aimed at these two average Joe’s? (Threat to their social & religious power)
Turning the world upside down
Q: If a few rough fishermen and a few dozen nobody’s can flip the world upside down, do you think God can do the same through us?
Sinners who serve a great God
Vs. 7
Vs. 7
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Illustration: Draw the council layout (Halfmoon)
Q: Explain to me the religious leader’s question in vs. 7 (How did this happen, and who gave you the authority to do it)
We struggle sometimes to talk about spiritual things, but not here!...
Q: If you could think of one thing the religious leaders treasured, what would it be? (Power, control)
Q: How were Christians a threat to their control? (Jews turning to Christ, lots of attention)
Vs. 8
Vs. 8
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
Q: What part of vs. 8 shows us Peter wasn’t alone? (filled with the Holy Spirit)
Spirit helps us in these moments (Luke 21:14-15)
Vs. 9
Vs. 9
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
Q: Can someone put vs. 9 in your own words?
Q: Can you see how their court case is a little rediculous?
Are you seriously judging us for doing something good? But if you want to know how this happened, I’ll tell you...
Vs. 10
Vs. 10
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Q: Peter holds nothing back in his answer; he was healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and you killed Him. What do you think could have tempted him to water down his message? (Fear of men, fear of consequences, fear of rejection...)
Q: What can we learn from Peter’s example of evangelism? (Never water down the Gospel, be unashamed)
Vs. 11
Vs. 11
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
Q: Peter uses an illustration of a a stone that was rejected. Can you explain to me what that means? (Stone = Christ)
Psalm 118:22
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
Illustration: Draw cornerstone
A cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Vs. 12
Vs. 12
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Q: Can you spot what might be key words in vs. 12? (Neither/nor, salvation, saved, name, given)
Q: What do we learn about salvation in this verse? (Exclusivity)
Q: What do people think about that today?
Exclusivity rejected, plurality pushed on us...
Illustration: Draw God’s bridge to eternal life, many names under heaven
Q: This was risky evangelism, what did the council have power to do to Peter and John? (Imprisonment, execution, etc.)
Yet they are still there, sharing the Word
Q: What can we learn from their example? (We need to share the truth even if that means difficulty)
Application
Application
Being filled with the Spirit, we can be bold with the Gospel
Unashamed, even in danger
