The Early Church: Forgiven Series

The Early Church: Forgiven

Acts 2: 37-41

INTRO:

NEW SERIES - THE EARLY CHURCH

CHURCHES TODAY:

WRONG FOCUS

LAKEWOOD / OSTEEN: "YOUR BEST LIFE NOW: 7 STEPS TO LIVING AT YOUR

FULL POTENTIAL 1. ENLARGE VISION 2. HEALTHY SELF-IMAGE 3. POWER OF

THOUGHTS AND WORDS 4. LET GO OF PAST 5. STRENGTH THROUGH

ADVERSITY 6. LIVE TO GIVE 7. CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY

WRONG EMPHASIS

INTERVIEW WITH "FAITHFUL READER"

30 QUESTIONS MENTIONS GOD IN 8 ANSWERS - NO JESUS

CORE MESSAGE - BETTER LIFE NOW

"NOT NECESSARILY EVANGELISTIC"

WRONG MESSAGE

FEEL GOOD THEOLOGY AT ITS PINNACLE

"18,000 WALKED AISLE" - SO WHAT, WHAT DID THEY COMMIT TO, HAPPINESS?

THIS IS A BETTER LIFE(CHRIST), BUT THATS NOT WHAT ITS ABOUT

NEW LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!

CYCLE THROUGHOUT HISTORY

DRIFTING AWAY FROM BIBLICAL MODEL

AWAY FROM EXAMPLE SET

AWAY FROM DOCTRINAL SOUNDNESS

LOOK LESS LIKE CHURCH OF ACTS

ACTS EXCELLENT EXAMPLE

RETURN TO AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

RETURN TO BIBLE AS OUR MODEL

SCRIPTURE FINAL COURT OF ARBITRATION

AN INWARD LOOK - NOT FINGER POINTING

REFORMATION - GREAT AWAKENING

TODAY - BEGINNING OF CHURCH

PRIMARY TEXT ACTS 2 - DAY OF PENTECOST

DISCIPLES SPEAKING IN TOUNGES,

PETER POWERFUL SERMON - AUDIENCE

THERE IN JERUSALEM FOR PASSOVER FROM ALL OVER KNOWN WORLD

TEXT

Ac 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "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 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

THIS TEXT IS THE CLIMAX TO THE DAY OF PENTECOST

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS DAY

HAVE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS IN HEARTS AND

MINDS OF DISCIPLES AND THE AUDIENCE

DISCIPLES WITH JESUS FOR WHOLE MINISTRY, SOME 3 YEARS

LEFT THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVES, TRAVELED W/ HIM

ATE TOGETHER, SLEPT TOGETHER, STUDIED UNDER JESUS,

LISTENED TO HIM EVERY DAY

OVER AND OVER AGAIN, JESUS EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT HE WOULD SOON LEAVE

THEY DIDN’T GET IT

JESUS EVEN TOLD THEM THAT HE WOULD BE CAPTURED BEATEN AND KILLED

THEY STILL DIDN’T GET IT (LUKE 18:31-34)

DISCIPLES STILL OPERATING FROM PRE-CONCEIVED

NOTION OF EARTHLY REIGN OF MESSIAH

(JEWS STILL WAITING)

IT HAPPENS JUST AS JESUS AND THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS DESCRIBED

JESUS - HANDED OVER TO GENTILES

MOCKED, SPIT ON, BEATEN AND KILLED

HE WAS INNOCENT, BUT CONDEMNED TO DIE AS A CRIMINAL

HE WAS SCOURGED, HIS FLESH RIPPED FROM HIS BONES

NAILED TO THE CROSS TO SUFFER IN AGONY AND DIE A SHAMEFUL DEATH

PURPOSE -

ISAIAH

ISA 53: 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all

HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

ON OUR MERITS WE ALL COME UP SHORT BEFORE A HOLY GOD

JESUS TOOK OUR PLACE ON THE CROSS TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS

HE MADE A WAY FOR US TO BE RECONCILED TO OUR CREATOR

DISCIPLES WERE CRUSHED

WHEN JESUS ARRESTED, PETER DENIED HIM 3 TIMES TO HIS SHAME

WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED, DEAD AND BURIED,

THE DISCIPLES WENT BACK TO THEIR OLD LIVES

BUT DEATH COULD NOT HOLD JESUS, FOR HE IS GOD,

HE IS THE MESSIAH AND HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE

HE APPEARED TO THE DISCIPLES AND TO MANY OTHERS-40 DAYS

THIS IS RECORDED FOR US IN ACTS CHAPTER ONE

HE TELLS THEM THAT HE IS SENDING THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT

STILL DON’T GET IT (V6)

HE GIVES THEM THEIR ASSIGNMENT (V8)

RIGHT BEFORE THEIR EYES JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN

AT BEGINNING OF ACTS 2 :ARRIVAL OF PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT

ABOUT 120 BELIEVERS GATHERED IN ONE PLACE

HOLY SPIRIT COMES LIKE TONGUES OF FIRE -

ALL OF THEM ARE FILLED WITH HIS HOLY PRESENCE

THEY BEGIN TO SPEAK IN LANGUAGES THEY DO NOT THEMSELVES KNOW

PEOPLE GATHERED FOR PASSOVER HEAR THEM SPEAKING,

EACH ONE IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

THEY ARE AMAZED, BUT SOME LAUGH AND ACCUSE THEM OF BEING DRUNK

BRINGS US TO PETER’S ADDRESS

PETER HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN HIM

THE SAME PETER WHO DENIED JESUS 3 TIMES IN FEAR

NOW SPEAKS BOLDLY FOR HIS SAVIOR (ACTS 2:14-41)