Sermon Tone Analysis

This morning we are picking back up in our study of the book of Acts.

If you’re new to our church, it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called Expository Preaching.

What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what they mean in our lives today.

With that said, we are currently doing that through the NT book of Acts.

A book that was written to tell the story of how the church started, but more importantly to teach us how the church is meant to function in order to accomplish the mission of taking the gospel to the entire world.

A mission that Jesus himself gave to the church.

So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to MCF.LIFE where you can listen to all of the messages leading up to today.

As we come back to out study today, we are coming to the end of chapter 5 as Luke wraps up the second act of persecution on the early church.

A persecution that came by way of a religious group known as the Sadducees.

A religious body that was greatly concerned and threatened by the growth and popularity of the early church.

Why were they threatened?

Primarily for two reasons.

First, the message of the church ran contrary to the theology of the Sadducees.

The Sadducees didn’t believe in life after death.

They believed when you’re dead your dead.

Game over.

That’s why they are Sadducee.

But the early church was teaching the resurrection of the dead.

Back in chapter 4 Luke writes:

Acts 4:1-

But the early church was teaching the resurrection of the dead.

This then led to a second problem.

In addition to teaching the resurrection of the dead, they were teaching that Jesus is the promised redeemer of Israel and savior of mankind, and that if a person wants to have eternal life, they need to put their faith in Jesus.

And it was a message that threatened the political stability of the region.

A message in the minds of the Sadducees that threatened the political stability of the region.

Largely because the Sadducees had a political agreement with the Roman government.

An agreement that gave the Sadducees extensive power and control in exchange for their commitment to keep the Jewish people submissive to the Roman government.

Why?

Because the Sadducees had a political agreement with the Roman government.

And the agreement was as long as the Sadducees kept the Jewish people in check, Rome would give the Sadducees extensive power and control.

And herein lies the problem.

Because if the people begin to think there is a redeemer.

If they start to believe that they could be delivered from Roman occupation, this hope could unravel the agreement the Sadducees have with Rome causing them to lose their power and influence.

As a result, the Sadducees were bent on getting rid of the church and its politically destructive message, which in chapter 5 led to the arrest of two key disciples, Peter and John.

But as we learned, the plot to arrest and publically humiliate the disciples went south on the Sadducees.

Because Luke says during the night an angel came into the prison and set the disciples free.

As a result, Peter and John went back to preaching the message of Jesus.

And now the Sadducees have a bigger problem on their hands.

Because not only are the disciples out preaching again, but their supernatural escape from prison has emboldened the people.

And now the Sadduccees fear for their own safety.

Luke writes:

Acts 5

Luke says recognizing their plan failed, the Sadducees are fearful a forceful attempt to subdue the disciples may lead to their own demise.

So, they decide to take a different approach.

Now, instead of forcing the disciples to come to them, they invite them to come.

And as we learned last week, this provided an amazing opportunity for Peter and John to now defend and share the message of Jesus with a group of people who desperately needed to hear it.

And that’s exactly what they did.

So, what did Peter and John say to the Sadducees?

Not what they wanted to hear.

Because in a Christ like and respectful manner, Peter and John told them the truth.

Listen to how Luke describes what they said:

Acts 5:27-

Luke says while respectful, the disciples didn’t hold anything back as they presented them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As they told them they were guilty of sin.

As they told them that God had provided a savior for their sins.

And then pointed them to Jesus who is able to provide forgiveness for their sin.

So, how did the Sadducees respond?

Well, we’ll get that in a minute, but before we do, and in order to get our minds around what we are about to read, I’d like to begin by asking you to consider a possible scenario you may have experienced at some point in your life when facing a conflict.

And the scenario goes something like this.

So, in order to paint a picture of what we are about to read, I want to begin by asking you

Scenario: How many of you have ever been in a situation where you presented an argument or you took a position on something where you believed or knew you were right and the person or party opposing you was wrong?

For example, maybe as a parent, you’ve been in a situation where you were trying to instruct your child or teenager on an aspect of life that you knew to be true, but they were pushing back refusing to listen or believe you.

Any moms or dads ever been in a situation like that?

I think we probably all have.

So, let me ask you this.

When you’ve been in a situation like that, how did your child or teenager respond as you insisted you were right and they were wrong?

Well, more than likely they pushed back and got upset, right?

So, why did they get upset?

Possibly for a couple of reasons.

Number 1, they might have got up set because they knew you were right, but they didn’t want to admit it.

So instead of admitting you might be right, they got angry instead.

And I think a lot of us do that, right?

Somebody makes a valid point, and we know they’re right, but we don’t want to admit it, so we get angry.

I see that happen a lot in marriages.

Or number 2, they might of got upset because they actually believed you were wrong and they were right.

And because you insisted on being right, they responded by getting angry and upset.

I think that happens a lot as well.

Again,

But regardless of why they got upset, at the end of the day they were upset or angry because you insisted they you were right and they were wrong.

And the truth is, the more you insisted on it, the uglier the situation became and the angrier they got.

But regardless of why they got upset, at the end of the day they were upset or angry because you insisted they were wrong and you were right and vice versa.

And the truth is, the more you insisted you were right and they were wrong, the angrier they became.

And as a result, the conversation didn’t end well with each of you leaving the conversation frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

We’ve all been there, right?

Now, let me ask you this, in a situation like that, when you can’t get somebody to see the truth, how does a situation like that get resolved?

Well, it could get resolved if the opposing party were willing to conceded admit they were wrong.

For example, the child admits they were wrong.

Or the parent admits they were wrong.

Or the husband admits they were wrong.

Or the wife, well, that’s probably not going to happen.

I’m just kidding.

Or it could be resolved if a third party were to get involved and helped each side come to an agreement or understanding as they help each side or one side see reason or truth.

That’s another possibility.

But what if I told you there is another way to resolve it.

A way that without a doubt determines who was in the wrong and who was in the right.

A way that doesn’t involve somebody admitting they were wrong.

A way that doesn’t involve a third party or a counselor.

What if I told you there is an absolute with out a shadow of a doubt way to determine who is right and who is wrong.

Would you be interested in knowing what they way is?

So, what is that way?