Sermon Tone Analysis

*STUDIES IN NEW TESTAMENT LEADERSHIP*

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Waterloo Hall 19th July 2007

 

*PETER*

 

 

*All things are yours, **22** **whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, **23** **and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.                **I Cor 3 v 22,23*

 

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The narrative we are using for this study extends over two chapters in Acts – from 10:1 to 11:18.

This detailed account tells us about Cornelius the centurion and his conversion along with those gathered at his home.

It tells us how God revealed to Peter that the Gospel was for the Gentile world as well as for Jews.

Luke will return to the story of Peter in Chapter 12, and in Chapter 15 (The Council of Jerusalem) – and from that point onwards Peter will disappear from the narrative.

You will have noticed already in our studies of Apollos and Paul that God was using these men in a critical role at a specific time.

*Apollos* demonstrated to us the way in which God overcomes a PARTIAL GOSPEL

 

*Paul* demonstrated how God used the weakness of Paul to address unresolved issues in the early church – a potentially COMPROMISED GOSPEL

 

As we turn back the pages to *Peter *– we see God dealing with the matter of a totally IMPARTIAL GOSPEL.

But the interesting fact remains that although God revealed the spread of the Church to the gentile community to Peter – Peter was not the one who would carry that mission forward.

ONE MAN’S MINISTRY is not God’s pattern.

He uses different gifts and circumstances to shape His people.

His work involves a number of different workers – and if the passage in 1 Corinthians is anything to go by – they are often *very* different ministries.

It is also interesting to notice that over time a vision that once transformed the way the church responded to God – over time that vision was modified.

The vision becomes the driving force or another minister – Paul, not Peter.

This succession if you like is seen e.g. in Moses and Joshua as well.

*OUTLINE*

 

Luke’s narrative – as always – is structured carefully:

 

10     1-7            Cornelius has a vision of an angel

 

10     10-23a       Peter is given a three times repeated vision …

 

10     23b-48      Peter visits Caesarea & the Holy Spirit comes on gentiles

 

11     1-18          Peter explains to the Christians at Jerusalem

 

In Chapter 15     Peter makes a statement at the Council in Jerusalem[1]

 

In Galatians       Paul rebukes Peter for going back on this teaching.

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God is at work in those with open hearts.

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Ministry is a two-way process – giving and receiving

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What has been learned has to be applied

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What has been learned and applied has to be explained

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The danger lies in drifting away from those hard won truths

 

Before we deal with each of those points let me make a very obvious observation that actually merits a series of studies of its own – we have here the Acts of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

As you read Luke’s narrative you are struck by the dynamic of the Holy Spirit as He orders the affairs of enquirer and preacher alike, as He prepares for the next great phase in the spread of the Gospel – the good news to the gentile world.

1.

God is at work in those with open hearts

 

We have Cornelius the God-fearing enquirer and Peter the committed Jew – poles apart in their world views, separated by historical oceans of discrimination.

God is at work in BOTH – melting the “iceberg”[2] of Peter’s Judaism, and firing the desire of truth that burned in Cornelius.

Luke gives us a beautiful description here of a truly original Church Home Group which sets a pattern for all to come.

/“A man opens his home, gathers his friends into it, has some refreshments ready, and invites a teacher to come and present the gospel to his friends.”/[3]

Luke’s dramatic narrative demonstrates in a series of scenes how God is at work in both Cornelius and Peter.

The minister and the recipient both experience the amazing work of God’s grace revealed by vision and by word.

The spread of the gospel is played out against a changing background – and in this narrative the contrasting neighbourhoods are Jewish and Gentile.

In this description of New Testament Leadership we see God at work where there is OPENESS OF HEART – on the part of the God-seeking centurion – and on the part of the obedient, but blinkered apostle Peter.

I suggest to you that this is going to be a PRE-REQUISITE of blessing in the church.

The fellowship needs to be receptive and hungry for God’s truth and a new direction, and God’s servant is going to be equally receptive to the vision of a dramatic change of world-view.

The marks of that openness are:

 

In Cornelius:  devout, God fearing, giving generously and praying.

(2)

 

In Peter:  praying, listening, wondering & obedient to the Holy Spirit.

(9-20)

 

 

The area of God’s working was:

 

In Cornelius – to make up that (which like Apollos) was lacking in his knowledge

 

In Peter – to transform that prejudice which was his by birth and upbringing

 

Had either man been CLOSED OF MIND AND HEART the work would not have been done – but God is busy preparing not only visions but miracles of grace.

It is beautifully described by Luke:

 

Cornelius (10:33)

 

*“Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”*

What a congregation!

Peter *“I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.”

*(34,35)

 

You have to recognise what an immense step that is for a Jew.

Two thousand years of gospel preaching have intervened and we gentiles take that as a given.

In Peter the process was interesting in so far as a threefold repetition of the vision is needed.

Vision ….

Command … Reluctance … then application.

(10:9-20)

 

I absolutely love the way the minister describes himself :

 

“I’m the one you’re looking for.”

(33)  The conclusion of a Spirit led open heart.

Presumably that is exactly the situation facing a church leadership decision – a congregation described in verse 33 and a pastor who announces himself in verse 21!

 

Is it possible?

Openness of heart is the key.

2.

Ministry is a Two-Way Process

 

Whilst the central part of these narratives is the vision given by God to Peter and it’s historic implications for the Church – the ministry of Peter is aptly demonstrated not just as a “teacher delivering a lecture” or a “preacher delivering a sermon” – but an EXCHANGE between Peter and Cornelius.

After Cornelius’ initial reaction is corrected:

 

25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.

26 But Peter made him get up.

“Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

Peter shares with them a reminder of the way things are:

 

27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.

28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.

…

 

If that had been all – it would have been a sad occasion.

But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

29 So when I was sent for, I came *without raising any objection*.

May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon.

Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.

32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.

He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come.

Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

At the very beginning – before ever Peter starts his address there is a conversation – a sharing of perspectives, an explanation and an appreciation:

 

*“It was good of you to come.”

* 33

 

Later – they will share at a deeper level as Peter, and his companions (six chosen so that the Roman ideal of seven witnesses would be realised?)

observe the Holy Spirit fall upon the gathered people.

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were *astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles*.

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “*Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water?*

They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”

48 So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Notice that Luke does not say that Peter was astonished.

But peter is learning not only from the vision – but from the experience of breaking with tradition and entering a Gentile home – and most profoundly of all – by seeing the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in the meeting.

When we say that ministry is a TWO-WAY PROCESS we do not mean that one is hearer and the other speaker although that may at times be true – but that God is at work in both speaker and hearer alike – and that each contributes to the work of God in the other.