Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
It’s football season.
Did everyone know that?
Now, I’m not one who really follows sports.
I have so much on my plate that I just don’t have the time or inclination.
But there is a training exercise in football that has always fascinated me.
It’s called the blocking sled (S).
This device is designed to train how to block and to increase the strength and stamina of the blocker.
I’ve always wanted to see if I could even get one to move.
The important thing about the blocking sled is that it only works if there is resistance.
If the blocking sled is too light there isn’t enough resistance for the training to be valuable.
However, if there is too much resistance it fails to simulate a real block and again fails to be valuable.
As I understand it, the key to a good blocking sled is finding the perfect amount of resistance.
This tool can then be used to train the player and make them better able to to perform in their position.
I believe that this same principle applies to Christianity.
God allows there to be opposition, for us to face resistance because it helps us to grow!
It increases our strength and stamina and demonstrates to everyone watching that we are truly serious about our faith.
In our passage this morning the disciples and the early church begin to face opposition.
They begin to experience resistance to the message of Jesus Christ.
In our book outline I have titled this chapter i. Opposition Promoted By Unbelief 4:1-31.
Our goal this morning is to experience a change in perspective.
Most often we view trials and opposition as bad things.
This passage is going to demonstrate that opposition can be turned to opportunity.
As we begin to turn opposition into opportunity our faith is strengthened, people are saved, and the church grows.
Our faith is strengthened.
People are saved.
Kent Hughes writes that
Persecution is an inevitable element of genuine Christian faith.
The church grows.
This passage reveals two forms of opposition.
The first is…
1. Opposition In The Form Of Arrest And Interrogation vv.
1-12
1. Opposition In The Form Of Arrest And Interrogation vv.
1-12
Peter has just finished speaking to the crowd that gathered around the crippled man who was healed.
He gave a powerful message that was Christ-centered and called for repentance and conversion through faith in Jesus Christ.
As ch. 4 opens we are going to learn how both the religious leaders and the people respond.
Right away Luke tells us how Peter and John are…
a. Arrested for the name of Jesus vv.
1-4
This section involves a discovery, a disturbance, and a detainment.
As Peter and John are preaching in v. 1 a group of leaders discovers them.
There were some priests, which are Levites dedicated to serve in the temple, as well as the captain, or officer, of the temple.
These are men responsible for maintaining order and purity of worship in the temple.
There were also some Sadducees.
Sadducees were interesting.
The High priest was a Sadducee, so they had the power.
They were mostly aristocratic Jews and in Acts they lead the persecution of the church.
They held exclusively to the Pentateuch rejecting the rest of the OT.
They rejected the supernatural and had alligned themselves with the Romans to gain power and influence.
They do not believe in any form of resurrection.
This becomes important in v. 2.
This section involves a discovery, a disturbance, and a detainment.
As Peter and John are preaching in v. 1 a group of leaders discovers them.
There were some priests, which are Levites dedicated to serve in the temple, as well as the captain, or officer, of the temple.
These are men responsible for maintaining order and purity of worship in the temple.
There were also some Sadducees.
Sadducees were essential the theological liberals of Judaism.
They do not believe in any form of resurrection.
This becomes important in v. 2.
1. Discovery v. 1
As Peter and John are preaching a group of leaders discovers them.
There were some priests, those Levites dedicated to serve in the temple.
The captain, or officer, of the temple.
And some Sadducees.
Sadducees were essential the theological liberals of Judaism.
They do not believe in any form of resurrection.
This is important in v. 2.
There are two things the religious leaders object to, both the fact they are teaching, and what they are teaching.
The leaders at this time felt that they were the only ones who could teach the people.
Teaching in Jesus name is bad enough.
But teaching resurrection in Jesus name is going to far for these leaders.
The verse seems to imply that they were upset over the disciples preaching the resurrection through Jesus.
All of these various factions are united in their opposition to what is being preached.
It is not the fact that they taught the people that is disturbing these men, it is what they are teaching.
Teaching in Jesus name is bad enough.
But teaching resurrection in Jesus name is going to far for these leaders.
Seems to imply they were upset that they preached the resurrection through Jesus, not resurrection in general (though the Sadducees would object to both).
They are united in their opposition.
They are “greatly disturbed”.
This word has the idea of being greatly irritated or vexed.
Being irritated, and having the power and authority to do so, they detain Peter and John in v. 3. The disciples are held in confinement or prison, until the following day because it is already evening.
This is interesting because they went into the temple at 3pm.
They have spent several hours in this prayer time and in preaching to the people.
The response of the religious leadership is to arrest Peter and John!
V. 4 tells us how the people responded.
3. Detainment v. 3
Verse 4 tells us how the people responded.
The disciples are held in confinement or prison, until the following day because it is already evening.
This is interesting because they went into the temple at 3pm.
They have spent several hours in this prayer time and in preaching to the people.
Many believe.
This word “many” is often used to refer to an unspecified number, but here we are given the number.
Many believe.
This word is often used to refer to an unspecified number, but here we are given the number.
Notice the order that is given here.
They hear the Word, then they believe.
This coincides exactly with (S).
Romans 10:14
This word “heard” reflects more than just listening, it refers to hearing with intention.
They hear the message that Peter preaches in ch. 3 and they believe.
Peter had proclaimed Jesus to be the suffering servant of , the Holy and Just One, and the Prince of Life.
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