Acts 2- Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation

As the Holy Spirit now lives within the Apostle Peter, He begins a transformational work in Peter’s life, making him into the man God wants Him to be. Let’s look at the structure and impact of Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation

Peter’s Sermon?

Hook (attention getter)

manifestation of the gifts of the spirit

2. Book (scriptural foundation)

quote from Joel about the outpouring of the holy spirit

3. Look (exposition)

this is about Jesus

this was God’s plan

you killed God’s anointed

*BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD

we are witnesses to that fact

supporting scripture from David (v25-31)

4. Took (application)

v 32- 36

jesus is risen

We are witnesses

God is pouring out His Spirit

And the people said…

Acts 2:37–41 “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.”

Peter’s hearers were cut to the heart. This yielded CHANGE in hearts, minds, and actions.

The Law of God was effective in doing its work

Psalm 19:7–11 “7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

The Spiritual Threat

There is a danger in being satisfied with the spiritual high and yielding no repentance or transformation.

The Danger of Dreaming

“We read of spiritual efforts and our imagination makes us believe that, because we enjoy the idea of doing them, we have done them. I am appalled to see how much of the change which I thought I had undergone lately was only imaginary. The real work seems still to be done. It is so fatally easy to confuse aesthetic appreciation of the spiritual life with the life itself—to dream that you have waked, washed, and dressed, & then to find yourself still in bed.” 

- C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves, June 7, 1930

We need to be cut to the heart.

We need the reality of discipleship, not the mere idea of it.

Our children, teens, young adults…

(Lyrics: we are cowards and thieves, will we never learn to grieve the damage done?; never see, never quake with rage at what we have become?)

Don’t be distracted

Don’t be diluted

Don’t be deluded

Don’t be lulled to sleep

Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation