The Cost Of Preaching Jesus Series

In Jesus Holy Name June 26, 2022

Text: Acts 4:12 Redeemer Lutheran

“The Cost of Preaching Jesus”

Russian born, author and researcher Ariel Durant helped her husband William Durant co author their book: The Story of Civilization. She wrote: “There is no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion.” “The greatest question of our time is . . . whether men can live without God.” Western culture no longer looks to Christianity as its moral source. But what will be its new source for moral ethics?

Watching our news we know this is true. This is the battle ground. The culture must find a new moral source, their option is “government”. That reality introduces major problems for lawmakers, as our culture awaits the Supreme Court decision on the Abortion issue. Amid such confusion, Christians should not give up but position individuals to provide the guidance our society needs. Here are several examples of how Christians and Christian organizations are providing guidance.

Today we should trust that God is not absent, nor does He lack concern. He is on the move in our own culture as He was in Jerusalem. 1) Organizations like Habitat for Humanity, which has built more than 200,000 houses, with much of the labor provided by caring Christians. 2) Samaritan Purse is working around the world, which speaks loudly for the name of Jesus.

3) The International Justice Mission aggressively tackles the problem of sexual trafficking, as does our local support for “Breaking the Chains”. 4) Prison Fellowship International, established by Charles Colson, has chartered work in more than 80 countries. At the present time almost half the legislature and cabinet of South Africa spent time in prison, but now they influence their government. God is using Christians to have an impact on the leaders of tomorrow.

Last Sunday in our message on Acts 3, I stated that “God is on the move in Jerusalem”. There are now 3,120 new Christians in Jerusalem. These new Jewish followers of Jesus did not stop going to the temple at the time of prayer. In Acts chapter 3 we find Peter and John going up to the temple at the time of prayer at 3 in the afternoon. The Temple, no doubt, has become one of the meeting places for the new Christian Community.

Peter and John are just trying to keep up. No doubt they were going to the Temple to answer questions about Jesus. On the way into the temple they were stopped by a man crippled for 40 years. We know that the physical presence of Jesus is in heaven. The new reality is that His Spirit causes Peter to reach out his hand to the crippled man. 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!" The man's feet and ankles were immediately made strong.

It was a special moment for the man no longer crippled, who went into the temple laughing and jumping and shouting. He was, as you might understand, positively giddy for the impossible had become possible. His running and jumping and cheering drew much attention. Peter gave his 2nd sermon in the Temple regarding the power of the risen Jesus. That’s the point…Jesus had told the disciples to tell His story first in Jerusalem…. The Holy Spirit drew the crowd. All Peter had to do is tell the Jesus story. Acts 4 states the number grew to 5000 after the healing of the man crippled from birth.

When the rulers of the Jews heard about all this, they had Peter and John arrested and held overnight. The rulers were disturbed because the apostles were “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” It was the Sadducees who had the Temple guards arrest Peter and John. You and I know the reason. the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead…. How sad. … But that is why they are called: “Sad-u-sees”. They were incensed with the claim that Jesus himself had risen from the dead. Such dangerous teaching could not be ignored.

The next day Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin—the Supreme Court of ancient Israel. This group of 70 men had with Rome’s permission.— to enforce Jewish law, to try cases, and to settle disputes. Acts 4:7 tells us that the Sanhedrin asked these two apostles a very leading question: “By what power or what name did you do this?” What a question! And what a moment for the followers of Jesus.

What will Peter do? He has three choices: 1) He can apologize for making trouble. There’s no way he’s going to do that. 2) He can say nothing and hope for the best. Peter never “said nothing” in his whole life. 3) He can seize the moment to preach the gospel—which is exactly what he does.