How to Share the Gospel

Introduction: As Christians, one of our greatest challenges will be to stand upon our faith during times of cultural persecution. Peter and John demonstrate how believers can hold firm to their faith, despite concerted cultural persecution that seeks to silence their witness.  Only 2.4 Billion of the world’s 7.8 Billion people profess to be Christians. In the United States, the number of professing Christians has declined from 78% in 2007 to 63% in 2019. However, 7 out of 10 people said they would be willing to hear a Gospel presentation from a friend, neighbor or relative. Unfortunately, today, many professing Christians (36%) do not see it as their responsibility to share their faith.”

Outline of Acts

Acts 1: A Planned Church

Acts 2: A Powerful Church

Acts 3: A Productive Church

Acts 4-8: A Persecuted Church

Cultural Conflicts

Conflict with those who want to maintain the status quo. (4:1) - 1 Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,

Conflict with the culture comes even when we do the right thing. (4:2) - “2 because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

Conflict with culture can still produce change. (4:3-4) - “3 So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.”

5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: "By what power or in what name have you done this?"

How to Share the Gospel

Be Spiritually Convicted (4:8)

Being Forgiven and Redeemed Makes You Better (4:8a) - “8 Then Peter....”

Being Filled with the Holy Spirit Makes You Bold (4:8b) - “was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders.”

“Because you are not speaking but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.” - Matthew 10:20

“For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.” - Luke 12:12

Show the results of a converted life. (4:9-10)

Converted lives are the greatest examples of God’s power. (4:9) - “9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man-by what means he was healed”

Christ does the conversion in our lives. (4:10) - “10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead-by Him this man is standing here before you healthy.”

“12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.” - John 5:12-15

Share your convictions about the Lord Jesus Christ (4:11-12)

Christ is the cornerstone of our faith. (4:11) - “11 This [Jesus] is The stone despised by you builders, who has become the cornerstone.”

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” - Ephesians 2:20

“For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11

Christ is the catalyst of our faith. (4:12) - “12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved."

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” - Psalm 118:22

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human,” - 1 Timothy 2:5