Acts 3

Introduction

Image

Have you ever seen a child open a present in a large box? If it is big enough, sometimes the child will be more interested in the box than the actual gift. The box is all the focus for hours. While it is really fun, the child is missing the point of box.

Need

This morning, we are going to see in Acts 3 a bunch of people that needed to be reminded that there were focusing on the wrong thing.

Referent

Acts 3:1-26

Organization

Beautiful Opportunity (vs. 1-12)

Sermon in a sentence:

Beautiful Opportunity (vs. 1-12)

John and Peter are having brotherly company in the Lord.

We ended chapter 2 with the twice mentioned practices of the early church. They were fellowshipping, praying, breaking bread, and following the apostles’ teaching. In other words, chapter 2 ends with the early church being described as a church that is growing and living life together.

These details will be fleshed out a little more in chapter 3-4.

Sidebar, the apostles are going to the temple during hte regular hour of prayer. While they didn’t continue all the practices of Judaism (sacrifices), they did not immediately cut themselves off from it. They saw themselves as the true Jews.

Luke is echoing the events of Jesus healing the paralytic man in Luke 5:17-26 and Bartimaeus in Luke 18:35-43.

Luke is connecting the Apostles as a continuation of the work and ministry of Jesus.

(vs. 4-5) They disciples called for the attention of the beggar.

Most people probably tried to ignore this beggar. Yet, the apostles specifically called out for his attention. They recognized the opportunity in front of them.

So many people miss all the beautiful opportunities in front of them. This broken world has a lot brokenness and ugliness that needs the hope and beauty of the gospel. I know that I am quick to be occupied with my life that I am too quick to miss the beauty of the gospel impacting lives.

The very same people that recognized and ignored the beggar are now all excited and rush to him. It is amazing that God can turn something so annoying or mundane into a moment of worship. Saints, the gospel still has that same power today.

Ugly Truth (vs. 12-26)

Peter’s second (third if you count Acts 1:15-25) sermon refocuses the people’s attention away from the box and back onto the real gift.

Peter’s sermon takes the attention away from the miracle.

Peter’s sermon takes the attention away from the apostles.

Peter’s sermon takes them back to the Scriptures, Jesus, his death, his ressurrection, and their need for repentance.

Peter tells his audience who Jesus really is.

(v. 13) He is the “servant” of God - (Isa 42:1-9, 49:1-6, 50:4-11, 52:13-53:12)

(v. 14) He is the holy and righteous one - (Isa 6, 24:14-15)

(v. 15) He is the author of life (Gen 1-2)

Peter reminds them of their sin.

(v. 14) They denied Jesus

(v. 15) they killed him

(v. 17) they were ignorant even though God told them to expect this

Repentance is the way of blessing (vs. 19 &26)

Sometimes beauty is misinterpreted for ugliness. For example, there are so many dogs that are so ugly that they are cute come to my mind. Or on a serious note, you might carry a scary that is physically a reminder of beauty that overshadows its pain. A woman might have a scar from a c-section. But that scar is a beautify reminder of what a blessing children are. Saints, many times, the path to God’s blessing is paved in difficulty, pain, messiness, and what the world might sees as ugliness. But, the gospel shows us how beautiful and freeing it is to walk in repentance.

Conclusion

Saints, I want us to train our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to see the beauty of the gospel in our lives. We train ourselves to see the beauty of the gospel by living in a fantasy. We train ourselves by seeing it in person.

Application

Repent, believe in Jesus Christ, and see the beauty of the gospel in your own life.

Take every opportunity to repent and bring the freedom of the gospel into your lives.

Meditate on your actions this week and ask the Lord to show you where you need to repent.

Seek out opportunities where you can take an ordinary event into a gospel opportunity.