Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Joseph started 1st grade a few weeks ago.

As we were preparing for his first day Jess was sharpening pencils.

Sharpening pencils can either be a relatively speedy process or a long arduous battle.

What makes the difference is whether or not you have the proper pencil sharpener.

We don’t have the proper pencil sharpener.

This is what we have (S).

My wonderful wife and the incredible mother of my children sat there fighting hand cramps twisting 10 pencils through this tiny little sharpener.

We are probably going to be buying a better one now.

As I was preparing for this message the image of that pencil sharpener came to mind.

The whole idea of sharpening a pencil is that you peel back the wood to expose the lead.

Until you do this, the pencil is there, but it is useless.

There is something preventing the pencil from being used.

It takes force, pressure, and a sharp edge to peel back the wood and expose the lead for use.

In the Christian life there are things in each of us preventing us from full use.

God uses opposition, persecution, and trials to peel away what hinders us and expose us to greater usefulness!

In the early church it was necessary to peel away any complacency and fear that the early believers might be used by God to spread the gospel!

Opposition is the tool God uses for great opportunity, strength, and growth in the church.

Joseph started 1st grade a few weeks ago.

As we were preparing for his first day Jess was sharpening pencils.

Sharpening pencils can either be a relatively speedy process or a long arduous battle.

What makes the difference is whether or not you have the proper pencil sharpener.

We don’t have the proper pencil sharpener.

This is what we have (S).

My wonderful wife and the incredible mother of my children sat there fighting hand cramps twisting 10 pencils through this tiny little sharpener.

We are probably going to be buying a better one now.

As I was preparing for this message the image of that pencil sharpener came to mind.

The whole idea of sharpening a pencil is that you peel back the wood to expose the lead.

Until you do this, the pencil is there, but it is useless.

There is something preventing the pencil from being used.

It takes force, pressure, and a sharp edge to peel back the wood and expose the lead for use.

In the Christian life there are things in each of us preventing us from full use.

God uses opposition, persecution, and trials to peel away what hinders us and expose us to greater usefulness!

In the early church it was necessary to peel away any complacency and fear that the early believers might be used by God to spread the gospel!

Opposition is the tool God uses for great opportunity, strength, and growth in the church.

In our passage this morning the disciples and the early church are facing opposition.

They are experiencing resistance to the message of Jesus Christ.

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.

This passage reveals two forms of opposition.

The first is…

1. Opposition In The Form Of Arrest And Interrogation vv.

1-12

This is what we looked at last week.

The spiritual leaders in Jerusalem responded to Peter’s message by arresting him and John and then interrogating them the next day.

Yet even in the midst of this persecution, many believe!

Instead of being silenced by fear at being brought before the Sanhedrin, Peter responds to their interrogation by proclaiming the Gospel!

This highlights a theme we find in the book of Acts.

Opposition and persecution can become gospel opportunities as we respond in faith.

We ended last week with Peter’s bold declaration that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who they crucified and hung on a tree, is the only way of salvation!

There is no other name, under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved!

Having faced the arrest and interrogation, the disciples now face a second form of opposition…

ConclusionI had originally hoped to get all the way down through v. 22, but by Friday it was obvious that wouldn’t happen.

We are going to stop here.

As we close I want to remind us of three things.The souls of men are worth any arrest and imprisonment.When we respond in faith, God will transform opposition into opportunity.The gospel of Jesus Christ excludes all other paths to salvation and God.Holding to the true gospel is worth any cost.

It is worth it because the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.

I beg you, I plead with you, do not compromise the gospel.There is going to be opposition.

There will be resistance.

But that is how we grow stronger!

That is how the church grows!

And that is how gospel opportunities are found.May we be men and women who proclaim the gospel as we stand firm on Jesus Christ our Cornerstone.

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.Notice, 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.

The verse seems to imply that they were upset over the disciples preaching the resurrection through Jesus, not resurrection in general (though the Sadducees would object to both).

All of these various factions are united in their opposition to what is being preached.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.Many believe.

This word “many” 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).

​ NKJVHow then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

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.

Peter proclaimed that faith in Jesus made this man physically whole.

He called for their repentance and conversion that their sins might be blotted out by Jesus as all the prophets foretold.

Jesus was sent to turn them from their iniquities, to Himself.

Hearing this message, 5,000 men place their faith in Christ!

5,000!

This doesn’t include women or children.

Even though they see Peter and John be arrested, they still believe.

It is significant that they are said to have beleived while still in Solomon’s porch at the temple.