The Gospel For Today Series

Introduction

First sermons are either memorable or forgettable.

My first sermon was forgettable.

My pastor in Cape Town knew that I was headed to seminary to prepare for pastoral ministry. He also knew that there was a little church in beautiful Llandudno Bay that needed a preacher for an upcoming Sunday. So, he asked me to preach at Llandudno Bay Church.

I was nervous. When I got up to preach, there were only 13 people in that tiny congregation—12 women and 1 man!

After the service, the people politely thanked me and left. One lady invited me to her house for lunch. The man shook my hand, and in the palm of his hand was a Ten Rand bill. I assumed that was my honorarium!

The Apostle Peter’s first sermon, however, was memorable.

Peter’s first sermon was on the Day of Pentecost. On that day, the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 disciples in terms of wind, fire, and the ability to speak the gospel in foreign languages.

Jews, who had come from every nation under heaven to Jerusalem, were amazed and perplexed, and they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12).

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They are filled with new wine” (Acts 2:13).

But Peter, standing with the eleven apostles, most likely in the temple precinct, lifted up his voice and addressed the vast crowd of thousands of people (Acts 2:14).

He explained what had just happened based on Joel 2:28-32. The extraordinary phenomenon of Spirit-filled believers declaring the wonders of God in foreign languages was the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s prediction that God would pour out his Holy Spirit on all people.

Peter based his exposition on several texts of Scripture.

Peter’s memorable sermon shows how the good news of the gospel that he proclaimed is still the gospel for today.

Scripture

Let us read Acts 2:14-41:

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

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

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— 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. 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.’

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