Confirmation Sunday
Confirmation Sunday • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 67 viewsNotes
Transcript
We are Witnesses
We are Witnesses
27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Prayer
Intro —> A couple of Mondays ago I played in a golf tournament. It was a 2 person scramble meaning 2 people play best ball. Meaning every shot you take both partners take a turn and you take the best result. Me and my partner finished at even par for the day. I have never shot even par by myself in my life in fact I’ve never shot sub 80
Acts: An Introduction and Commentary h. The Second Arrest of the Apostles (5:17–42)
29. Peter’s reply to the accusation is a plainer and more direct reaffirmation of what he said in 4:19. A command of God, such as that given in 5:20, takes precedence over human commands. It is the price of being a Christian that one must be prepared to obey God rather than men—and bear the cost of doing so.
Acts: An Introduction and Commentary h. The Second Arrest of the Apostles (5:17–42)
31. This crucified man, however, was the one whom God had exalted to sit at his right hand (2:34; Ps. 110:1) and to be a leader and saviour (3:15) through whom the people of Israel might have the opportunity of repentance and of receiving forgiveness of their sins. Here is the offer of salvation to the very people who had crucified Jesus; the apostles use the opportunity provided in court to preach the gospel to their accusers and judges. The description of Jesus resembles that of Moses in 7:35, and the implication is that the former now replaces the latter as the mediator of salvation to Israel. This
THOUGHTS........
vs 27
27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,
—> today is a day that you will soon stand before this body of believers and too be questioned.
28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”
—> Not everyone is ready to hear the good news that you confess. The Jewish leaders weren’t ready to hear it as the questioned the disciples and not everyone in your life will be ready either.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
—> Today is a day to think about what has authority to speak to and in your life and what doesn’t.
—> Today is a day to really ask the question is God the ultimate authority in my life?
30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
—> obedience to God means the knowledge and faith that Jesus is who the Bible says he his. Jesus is our savior and our way to the father. It was the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that offers us and EVERYONE the opportunity to repent of our sin and be forgiven.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
—> When you commit to these things, when you know these things, when you experience the forgiveness, love, and grace of Jesus Christ you are a witness. You are part of the evidence for who God is and how God loves us.
—> But what do witnesses do?
—> They tell there story. You tell the story of what God has done in your life and what you have seen and experienced.
—> That can be a little scary though, right? You may feel like that’s something that’s too big for you.
—> Jesus knew that and that’s why he left for us the Holy Spirit. The member of the Trinity that is always with us. The Holy Spirit gives us strength and wisdom to share things about God with others when its too much for us.
—> Not only do you have the Holy Spirit but you also have “we”
—> Have you noticed in this text there are numerous places where there is a reference to a “we” or a group of people
—> vs 27 “the apostles”
—> vs 29 “Peter and the other apostles replied, ‘We must obey’”
—> vs 32 “We are witnesses”
—> Being a Christian means you don’t have to go through anything in life alone. God is with you. The Holy Spirit is with you. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are with you. That means in all situations you aren’t alone, and that includes when you witness and who God is and what God has done and is doing in your life.
—> It isn’t just your story but this is all of our stories to share and share together.