Untitled Sermon (4)

Preaching and Teaching Among the New Testament Churches

Through faith in the gospel all humanity can be forgiven of their sin and restored into a right relationship with God. The New Testament church was birthed and founded upon the Kergyma, which is the preaching of the gospel. The preacher of this gospel would call each person to repent and believe. This type of preaching we would call evangelistic.

In the life of the church, especially in all of Paul’s writings, we recognize a shift from the proclamation of the gospel to the teaching of the gospel. How is this new life supposed to be lived out? How is the church to live in light of being now a part of God’s family? Below is a look at the different narrative stories in Acts of where public discourse or preaching happens. We’ll quickly examine the themes of each sermon, the audience, as well as different methods of preaching that we could classify them as.

Public and Private Discourses in Acts

Peter’s DiscourseOn six occasions we see Peter speaking and teaching in Acts.Peter with the eleven spoke to a crowd of Jews in public in Jerusalem at Pentecost Acts 2:14-41 Method: Evangelistic, reciting Scripture, witnessing that Jesus is the MessiahActivities: Explaining to the crowds why and what was happening at Pentecost and calling all to repent and believe.Peter in Solomon’s Portico (which was a place in the temple where teaching happened) after just healing a lame man. Acts 3:12-26Method: Evangelistic, witnessing to Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenantsActivities: Witnessing to the power of the name of Jesus through the display of healing the lame beggar and calling the Jews to repent and turn to Jesus.Peter speaks to the Sanhedrin Acts 4:5-12 Method: Evangelistic, witnessing to Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenantsActivities: Witnessing to the power of the name of Jesus through the display of healing the lame beggar and calling the Jews to repent and turn to Jesus.Peter speaks to Cornelius & his household (Gentiles) Acts 10:28-47 Method: Evangelistic, prophetic, conversationalActivities: Witnessing to Jesus being Lord of all and the Holy Spirit being poured out to the Gentiles.Peter speaks to the church in Jerusalem Acts 11:4-18 Method: Teaching, reporting, sharing visionActivities: Reporting to the church how God had given the Gentiles repentance that leads to eternal life.Peter speaks in the Jerusalem Council Acts 15:7-11 Method: Teaching, reporting, sharing visionActivities: Reporting to the church how God had given the Gentiles repentance that leads to eternal life.Stephen’s DiscourseThere was only one speech recorded of Stephen right before being stoned and becoming the first martyr. The sermon was preached in Jerusalem and the audience was primarily Jewish leaders. Acts 7 Method: Prophetic (The Jews nailed Jesus to the cross)Activities: Telling the history of the JewsPaul’s DiscoursesPaul preached and taught in Acts on seven occasions.Paul speaks to the people in Athens Acts 17:22-31 Method: Evangelistic, reasoning about GodActivities: Proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection.Paul Lovingly Exhorts the Ephesian elders in Miletus Acts 20:17-35 Method: Prophetic preaching, exhortationActivities: Telling the elders he is leaving to die, encouraging them, and exhorting them to continue shepherding the flock.Paul speaks to a crowd in Jerusalem Acts 22:1-21 Method: Evangelistic preachingActivities: Sharing his personal testimony and how God sent him to the Gentiles.Paul Speaks to the Sanhedrin counsel Acts 23:1-6 Method: Prophetic preaching, defense, expositionActivities: Paul defends himself before the counsel.Paul speaks to Felix Acts 24: Method: Evangelistic preaching, exposition, defense, testimonyActivities: Paul confesses to Felix the way to God through Jesus Christ. Paul speaks to King Agrippa, Bernice, & Festus Acts 26:2-23 Method: Evangelist preaching, defense, testimonyActivities: Paul shares his testimony and hope in God and tries to persuade all to become as he is, except his chains. Paul speaks to the Jews at Antioch of Pisidia Acts 13:16-41 Method: Evangelistic preachingActivities: Sharing the good news that what God promised to the Jews is fulfilled in Jesus.James’ DiscourseJames sharing at the Jerusalem Council Acts 15:13-21 Method: Prophetic preachingActivities: James declares that they shouldn’t trouble the Gentiles with being under the law.