Acts 3 A Polaroid Moment: A picture seeing/telling/changing lives

A need to see it – feel it – observe it

The power of a living illustration

Move from the masses to the individual

Nothing makes something as a real as seeing it someone’s life

Time of transition it is going to happen in spades – no deniability here

Just as in Jesus’ ministry

I. A Picture: A man in need of a changed life

A. Crippled from birth

(ESV) Acts 3 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

1. The problem was in who he was from birth

2. Over 40 years old (later mentions)

B. Having no control

(ESV) Acts 3 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

1. Could not change things himself

C. A hopeless cycle

(ESV) Acts 3 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

1. A continuous striving for merely daily survival

2. No expectation that anything would ever change

THE PICTURE

A picture of a person lost. Crippled by sin from birth. Having no control in life. And enduring an endless cycle of hopelessness.

II. A Picture: A man offering a changed life

A. Saw the real need

(ESV) Acts 3 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. … 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold

1. Saw what was really needed

2. Needed a radical transformation

B. Willing to respond to the need

(ESV) Acts 3 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. …

1. Peter interrupted his normal routine

2. Risk failure / Risk arrest

3. Involved personally

C. Knew who could meet the need

(ESV) Acts 3 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

1. Knew the real solution – found in Christ

2. Name associated with the person

3. He could meet the real need (and in this case the external need)

THE PICTURE

A picture of a person offering hope to the hopeless – offering the way to a changed life. A person who sees the depth of the real need and responds by pointing to the One who can really meet that need.

III. A Picture: A man’s life changed

A. Totally different

(ESV) Acts 3 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

1. Immediate / Completely

B. A spiritual transformation

(ESV) Acts 3 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

1. The real miracle – an everlasting one

C. Others impacted

(ESV) Acts 3 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

1. When lives change, other’s notice

THE PICTURE

A picture of a person transformed in Christ. Totally different as they are spiritually transformed. And the resulting change impacts others as well.

IV. A Picture: An opportunity to explain

A. Pointing to Jesus

(ESV) Acts 3 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers…

13 … glorified his servant Jesus, 14 … the Holy and Righteous One, … 15 … the Author of life, 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

1. Exposition of the name (person of Jesus)

stresses “the name of Jesus” = The person / Christ

2. God’s servant (Isaiah) vv. 13, 26), Isaiah 42–53

a) The one who took on the wrath of God for others

3. “His Servant” v. 13

4. “the Holy One” v. 14

5. “the Righteous One” v. 14

6. “the author of life” v. 15

B. Talking about sin

(ESV) Acts 3 13 … Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

1. Denied / Killed

2. Had killed life – rejected the one that came for them

C. An opportunity to invite a response of faith

(ESV) Acts 3 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

1. A fresh opportunity to respond – a need for faith in this Jesus and what He did

D. An opportunity to invite to turn to God

(ESV) Acts 3 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

1. The need to turn to God – recognize the wrong path and be willing to turn to the right One

THE PICTURE

A picture of the need to take the opportunity to point people to Jesus. To talk about sin as a problem and the need to turn to God, responding in faith.

Invitation

Be seated. Deacons come forward and sit in the front row.

I want to think about another picture this morning. The picture that Jesus gave us to declare His death and its ramifications for our lives.

Show bread and juice

A picture of Jesus body broken for us

A picture of Jesus blood shed for us

Jesus gathered His disciples and gave them this picture of what He was about to do.

(ESV) Matthew 26 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

A picture of His body that was to be broken for them / for us – a picture of the cross in all its horrors. Jesus’ body broken for our sakes. In our place

A picture of His blood that would be shed for them / for us

A picture of the penalty of sin that must be paid for with the shedding of blood. Jesus’ blood – a sacrifice made on our behalf. The foundation of a new relationship with God because now available in Christ. Because His blood was shed for us.

And so they were to reflect and remember We are to reflect and remember what He has done for us.

If you are Christian and are seeking to walk with Christ, we invite you to take the bread and juice as the deacons serve you.

Take a moment and reflect on what Jesus has done for you. Recommit yourself to Him because of the price He has paid for you.

The double cups contain a piece of bread and juice. Hold them until we pray and then we will eat and drink them together.

Music. Hand the trays to the deacons. They serve. Return. I will serve the deacons.

Will xxx pray and give thanks for the bread – the symbol of Christ’s broken body

Will xxx pray and give thanks for the juice – the symbol of Christ’s shed blood

Prayer

Let us eat and drink together.

Remember tonight 6:00 reception for Mary Parker and planning meeting.