The Church's First Sermon

Introduction

Video: Pentecost by Shift Worship

A little review of where we are right now in our series called “Ekklesia” where we are walking through the story of the early Christian Church as presented in the book of Acts. We are only in chapter 2, but we know that this is the second volume written by Luke who has given us these two volumes to know everything that “Jesus did and said”.

Tension

Things took a dramatic turn last week when we looked at the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost…The day “The Church was Born”. The Disciples were all gathered together and then the sound a great wind and the image of what looked like tongues of fire descended and all the believers began to share the might works of God in languages they had never studied before.

This caused a ruckus - it got loud- and that drew together the many “devout” Jews who were there to celebrate the Jewish festival and they were all “amazed” and wondered “What does this mean?”

What does this mean? What does “what” mean? This! Everything that they were seeing and hearing happen among these followers of Jesus…what does “THIS” mean? What is “This” all about? Is “This” important? Is “This” Significant? How are we to read “This” what does “This” mean?

Everyone was amazed and some were asking genuine questions about what “This” means but others wanted to just dismiss “This” away so they mocked the followers of Jesus - accusing them of being already drunk early in the morning.

And we said that these two responses are similar to how people will respond to followers of Jesus today when we faithfully obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in directions that the rest of the world doesn’t naturally go. We followers of Jesus responded to these questions. How they handled the mocking and how they handled the genuine questions.

We find their response encapsulated in the very first Christian Sermon ever preached and we will see how this new dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Apostles fundamentally changed them and caused a chain reaction that brought a transrmation in so many others as the Church grew and grew from Acts chapter 2 onward.

Today we are going to look at how the followers of Jesus responded to these questions. How they handled the mocking and how they handled the genuine questions. We find their response encapsulated in the very first Christian Sermon ever preached and we will see how this new dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Apostles fundamentally changed them and caused a chain reaction that brought a transformation in so many others as the Church grew and grew from Acts chapter 2 onward.

So open your Bibles up with me if you will to Acts chapter 2, beginning in verse 14 which is page 910 in the Bibles in the Chairs. I will pray and then we will continue in our quest to know how God has called us to become a part of the “Unstoppable Movement of God” which is the Church.

Truth

So the first thing we will see is how the...

1. Believers boldly share the gospel when the Holy Spirit creates the opportunity (Acts 2:14–21).

Starting in verse 14 we read...

Acts 2:14 ESV

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

The Holy Spirit had done this great work in the lives of the followers of Jesus and it left people asking questions and Peter now stands up to answer those questions. We probably could just gloss over this verse as some sort of introduction, but the there are a couple of things that are worth noting here. First the way in which Peter began his sermon and then the fact that Peter was able to speak like this at all.

Because the typical posture for a teacher was not standing but sitting. Even Jesus when He went to deliver the Sermon on the mount it says that:

Matthew 5:1–2 ESV

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

In Jesus’ day and culture, the most important person in a group would sit while the rest stood and so respected Rabbi’s never stood when they taught...but you know who did?....Heralds. Witnesses. Martyrs.

This is what the Apostles were called to do, be Witnesses, and Peter is not assuming a position of authority for himself, but a position of a messenger who is speaking on behalf of the one who holds the authority. He was declaring the good news that something has changed, something was new. Something that not only applied to the learned students of a particular rabbi but something that mattered for everyone within earshot. You stood up to get everyone's attention...and that is what Peter had.

And then consider how this is the same Peter that just a few weeks earlier had denied even knowing Jesus to a small gathering around a courtyard campfire late at night and here he is declaring Jesus to a large crowd of devout Jews in Jerusalem in the middle of the day.

That is exactly the kind of boldness that the Holy Spirit looks to give the followers of Jesus. There could be no other explanation for this kind of thing. Fishermen don’t go from coward to statesman in such a short period of time. They don’t go from denying even knowing Jesus to a lowly servant girl and then proclaim Him to a crowd...without something powerfully changing inside of Him.

“This” is what has happened and “This” is what Peter is about to explain to them all.

“Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.”

Acts 2:15 ESV

15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

The third hour of the day is 9 am and beyond the fact that this is early to be drinking for any of us, Jews never ate or drank anything until after morning prayers. So this was more than just socially unacceptable, it was a violation of Jewish Law. So Peter quickly dismisses these unfounded accusations and then moves on to explain that in vivid contrast to “this” being a violation of Jewish life, “this” is a joyful fulfillment of Jewish prophecy. It’s like Peter is saying, This is not that, which is bad, but- verse 16...

Acts 2:16–20 ESV

16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

It is so important that we try and understand the state of mind of Peter’s audience that day, otherwise we will miss the significance of his message.

In the History of the Jewish people there was this gap of some 400 years between the Old and New Testament where the Holy Spirit did not speak the “Word of the Lord” through any prophet. These years are often referred to as the “Silent Years”. So God’s people were just waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the Holy Spirit to speak again through a Prophet. As they waited they poured over the written prophecies of Old, from prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

But the reason that this prophecy from Joel stood out was because it did not just speak of a time when the Holy Spirit would speak again through A prophet, but when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all God’s people. Did you hear the categories mentioned here? Men, Women, Young, Old, Free, Slave…they would all be given the Holy Spirit. It was not a return to the old way of doing things, this is new time and something has come to bring an entirely new way.

There would be many days that followed before “the day of the Lord, that great and magnificent day” but something has fundamentally changed from this day forward. Peter’s proclamation is that “This” is that! “This” is what they were waiting for-for generations! And the last words of Joel’s prophecy that Peter leaves them with are:

Acts 2:21 ESV

21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

And Peter’s message isn’t just about the ancient prophet Joel, a Christian sermon never stops in the Old Testament, it can only begin there in order to bring more brilliance to the glory of the New Testament!

Our second theme for the week is that...

2. Believers boldly proclaim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s promises (Acts 2:22–32)

So now that Peter has them thinking on the “last days” that Joel prophesied about, where the Holy Spirit is poured out on all people and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved…he transitions them to consider Jesus. He says:

Acts 2:22 ESV

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Peter is connecting them with what they already know about what has been happening in Jerusalem lately. The title “Jesus of Nazareth” is how the religious leaders and the general public referred to Jesus when they were talking about His teaching, miracles and ministry. Jesus was actually a very common name at the time, so this distinction had to be made but as soon as it was everyone knew who Peter was talking about.

Many if not most of them were there to see Jesus’ heal the sick and blind and lame. These are devout Jews who either live here in Jerusalem or faithfully make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem each year. So news of this “Jesus of Nazareth” guy got around and according to Peter here, many of them had first hand experience with Jesus’ miracles and ministry.

So Peter continues to say...

Acts 2:23–24 ESV

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Peter makes this personal now. You. killed. Him...but...He could not be kept by death. He has risen from the dead.

And remember the resurrection of the dead was one of the most argued about doctrines of the religious leaders that day. The Pharisees believed that there was life after death, the Sadducees believed there was nothing after death. Peter claims that this “Jesus” could not be held by death but has risen from the dead.

But Peter’s claim is more bold than just agreeing with the Pharisees perspective on the afterlife. He goes on to say that King David also spoke of one who not be able to be held by death...

Acts 2:25–28 ESV

25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

If we were to read this in the midst of David’s story we might be tempted to think that David is just talking about himself here. That because the “Lord” is with him he will not die…but Peter says that can’t be all David means. For he continues:

Acts 2:29 ESV

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Peter’s point being that since David is dead, he has gone the way of Hades, his flesh has seen corruption or “decay” is another way it is translated. So David must be talking about more than his own life, and so in the power of the Holy Spirit Peter says that David was prophetically speaking of the “Christ” the “Son of David”

Acts 2:30–31 ESV

30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

So Peter says that David is Speaking about the “Christ” the “Messiah” who was raised up from the grave and then he says.

Acts 2:32 ESV

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

Are you beginning to see the outline of the very first Christian Sermon? The highlights look like this:

The people were amazed and asked What can “This” mean

Peter’s sermon said “This” is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit that the prophet Joel talked about.

He said “This” initiates the “last days” when those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

He said David prophesied that this “Lord” is the “Christ” who would be raised from the dead.

And then finally he says that he and these 12 men are witnesses that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Do you see how Peter is walking them right up into the message of Jesus. And then Peter finishes with summary

Acts 2:33–36 ESV

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

This is the message of the very first Christian Sermon, and this should be the message of every Christian sermon. Not just about the prophets or proverbs or the Psalms or even the teachings of Jesus - although all of these are great places to start- but every Christian sermon should end with a bold proclamation of the life death and resurrection of Jesus who is both Lord and Christ!

Anything else is just a good speech. That doesn’t make it a bad thing. Bold men and women have made some great speeches that have influenced the course of human history, but a Christian Sermon does more than just influence history, it’s message has the power to transform humanity. That is the what the message of the Gospel does in the life of the believer.

3. Believers live in the Gospel message though daily repentance, obedience and reliance on the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-47).

Acts 2:37 ESV

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

They are freaking out. We killed the Messiah. He came to us, revealed himself to us and instead of embracing Him as our King like He deserved we treated him like an enemy and sinned against Him…sound familiar?

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Peter’s message to them is really a message to us...

Acts 2:38–41 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Boom! MEGA CHURCH! No not really, because where were they all from? All over the know world. So we could just start turning the arrows around from our map and see how the message of the Gospel was not just growing “A” Mega Church in Jerusalem but it was moving throughout the known world to for “Thee” Christian Church”. Local expressions of the Gospel loving and Gospel living people influencing the entire world.

There will be other forces later in the story of the Church that work to send out the message even more but the Church is growing and it was an exciting time.

Some of us who have natural or even supernatural gifts in evangelism hear this kind of story and we just wish we could be there, seeing the Gospel go forth and thousands coming to be repent and be baptized…but that is not all that they did.

Remember at the end of August when we talked about our mission statement and how God has called us to evangelize, but He has also called us to come together in Fellowship, Worship, Service and Biblical Study? You know to

Partner together to proclaim, grow, serve and rejoice in the life giving message of Jesus Christ. That is our mission statement and that is what we see reflected here from the Church at the beginning. Even as 3,000 people were added to their numbers we see in the next verses what they were all about:

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

It’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it? In a couple of weeks we will look even more intently on the community that the early Church developed, but for now I just wanted to emphasize that Jesus’ Church, the Ekklesia is not just something that we do, in many ways it is something that is done to us.

Yes, we must actively engage in the ministry of the Gospel but we must also receive from the Gospel otherwise we will have nothing to give that is worth giving. This is where many Churches have gone astray, they have left the preaching of the Gospel message behind and began to preach something like “7 steps” to this or that moral behavior. And it is not that it is completely useless, it may be a good speech...but it is not a Christian Sermon.

Without going back to the Gospel and the daily repentance and obedience that the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and minds we are powerless to accomplish even one of those helpful steps in any meaningful way.

So when the Holy Spirit creates the opportunity, Believers boldly share the gospel

And we boldly proclaim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s promises - because it was always a part of His perfect plan

And we live in the Gospel message though daily repentance, obedience and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Gospel Application

As you can see in the bulletin we have a lot going on here at Friendship Church right now, but everything that we do is aimed at “the life giving message of Jesus Christ”. It is all about the Gospel message.

I am really excited for the baptism next week when Curt and Cheri Dahl will be up here on this stage to proclaim that they believe the Gospel. They have found true life in Jesus Christ and they want to publically declare this through baptism. If you think that might be the next step that God is calling you towards then come see me. We could try and make it happen by next Sunday, but if we need more time we will fill’er up again another week. I’d love to fill it up every week! That would be awesome.

But we also have the rehearsals for the Christmas musical on Wednesday and the kids are already doing such a great job. I don’t want spoil anything so I won’t get into the details, but I will say that even though we love to enjoy their singing and acting and laugh at the great one liners - ultimately it is not about that. It is about the message of the Gospel.

Even our Fellowship Events, like the Boards, Brushes and Brunch for the ladies and the Corn Maze in the dark for the Teens all of these have components in them that are driven towards “Communicating the Life Giving Message of Jesus Christ”

Landing

And my hope is that week after week you hear from me that same life giving message in every Sermon - because in line with the very first one, that is what makes a sermon a Christian Sermon…without it…it is just a good speech.

Let me invite the Worship Team forward and we will worship God together for the blessings we have in the message of the Gospel.

Let’s pray.