Tim Sensing, DMIN, PHD - Director of Academic Services, Professor of Ministry, ACU Graduate School of Theology

Below are sermon notes from that Gospel Meeting, the second of five that I will post: “The Gospel of God Proclaimed (Acts 2:14-47)?”

Beginning at the end. Spoiler Alert! How does the book of Acts end? He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance (28:30-31). It is the fulfillment of Israel’s hope. The Gospel is Unleashed! The Gospel is Unhindered!

Let’s go to the beginning where it all started.

• The Jews believed that the Messiah would come and establish his unshakable kingdom freeing them from Roman oppression. Josephus states that there were four political groups: 1) Pharisees, 2) Sadducees, 3) Essenes, 4) Those in the north. This last group would be a band of guerrilla war fighters, insurgents, located in Galilee the home of 11 of the disciples. This was a well-organized group of trained fighters. They were expecting and waiting ——
• These northern Galileans are the descendants of the Maccabbees’ who overthrew Greek dominion and ruled Palestine until the Romans. Many thought this would be the time of the Messiah and God’s eternal Kingdom prophesied in Daniel. But it did not happen then. When would God bring his kingdom?
• 63 people claiming to be Messiah went to the desert who try to bring about uprising. Gamaliel refers to two: Judas and Theudus.
• Those in the north country ate and slept with apocalyptic. They breathed revolution. In hush whispers in back rooms they talked Messiah talk. It is within this context that Jesus came to earth to be Messiah. This is why so many misunderstood Jesus as Messiah and Jesus’ understanding of Kingdom.
• The Feeding of the 5000, a miracle that occurs in all four Gospels—the 12 return from the limited commission with an army of all males; a Messianic uprising. A coordinated coming together to a place where they were familiar, green grass, the spring of the year, Passover. They were a group without a leader. An army without a general. A nation without a national leader. So, Jesus taught them many things — Jesus had to explain to the mob why he could not comply with their wishes.
• They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Similar to the temptation in the desert enticing him to be King. And when Jesus realizes they were going to force him to be King, he dismisses the crowds and sends his disciples away and goes to prayer. He had resisted the attempt to make him into a political and military Messiah.
• From now on Jesus’ popularity faltered. Unable to trust the crowds, Jesus concentrates on the disciples. This story is a turning point in all 4 Gospels. Jesus refused to allow the crowd to make him the Messiah of their choosing.
• And out of Galilee, Peter grew up expecting, waiting, and hungering for Messiah. When Jesus said, “Come, follow me,” it is no mystery why this fisherman dropped his net. Messiah. He lived the next three years with Messiah. Jesus taught him discipleship. We read in the gospels about his struggles and his victories as he followed Messiah. Sometimes he tried to thwart Messiah only to be rebuked, “Get behind me Satan.” Then Peter’s tragic denial, “I do not know the man,” reminds us all of the times we too have thwarted the will of God in our lives. Now, in our text, Peter stands in Jerusalem boldly proclaiming “Messiah.” What made the difference? What transformed Peter from denier to defender? It happened Sunday 50 days earlier-Resurrection!

Imagine you are in the crowd…[Read Acts 2:22-36]. God has acted! God is the subject of every sentence. This is the message that was preached on that first Sunday, and every Sunday afterwards.

• On Sunday, be assured that the one who was crucified, God made both Lord and Messiah.

• On Sunday, as we gather around the table, we not only recall the facts of the gospel, we rejoice and give thanks and participate.

• On Sunday, we can be affirmed that our faith is not in vain.

• On Sunday, we can go forth with confidence that Jesus is alive.

Here we are on Sunday. Like every Sunday now for 2000 years, we hear the arousing crescendo of God’s mighty act of raising Jesus from the dead. He is risen; He is risen indeed. Sunday is resurrection day!

But then Monday comes. And we were back to our jobs and mundane routines. We gather around tables throughout the week …conference tables, dinner tables, game tables…Does Sunday’s table make a difference in how we gather around those other tables?

1.     What happens on the Monday after Sunday? We have all returned to the Monday through Saturday grind of everyday living. Bills still need to be paid. There is laundry to do; meals to cook; yards to mow; kids to bathe; more laundry; doctor’s appointments; dishes to wash; jobs; hobbies; chores; and more and more laundry. Hours after our celebration of resurrection on Sunday, we find ourselves drowning in the mundane on Monday. We live lives that contradict the abundant life Jesus died to give us; where Monday contradicts Sunday.

2.     Yet, Peter declares, you crucified and killed [him] by the hands of those outside the law.

• A Jesus entered into the holy city, he was greeted with cheers, palm branches, and shouts of ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Yet, this same city cried, ‘Let him be crucified.’ Peter reminds this city, you crucified and killed [him] by the hands of those outside the law.
• Yet, 3000 that day were convicted, they repented, and were baptized into the name of Jesus so that their sins would be forgiven and to receive the Holy Spirit. What made the difference? What caused these 3000, seven and a half weeks after Good Friday, to repent? What brought these 3000 together in community as devotees to the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer? Devoted to one another’s needs and meeting together daily.
• What made the difference in their lives? Resurrection. What made the difference in the life of Peter? Resurrection. But also, conversion—our response to resurrection. We must not only believe in Messiah, we must submit to him as Lord. You crucified him; But God raised him to be Messiah and Lord.

3.     We all want a Messiah. We all want a Savior. We want freedom from our captivity, relief from our oppression, forgiveness from our sins. We want a Great Physician to rescue us from heart problems. And God responded. God raised him up and made him Messiah. And we like that part. Therefore, let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah! We don’t like that “Lord” part nearly as much as we like that “Messiah” part.

And it makes a difference …

• At your meeting on Monday @ 3, If your boss makes out of line demands on your time…live out your baptism.

• The ballgame on Tuesday evening, when others are yelling at the coach, the umpire, and their own kids…live out your baptism—words of encouragement

• Around the dinner table Wednesday—listen to one another with genuine interest and live out your baptism.

• If someone runs a red light and smashes your fender on Thursday—live out your baptism.

• If someone at church gossips about your kids on Friday…live out your baptism.

• At the doctor’s office on Saturday—you are confident, whatever the report, you are secure in God’s loving arms and you live out your baptism.

4.     Imagine you are in the crowd… The promise is for you and for all our God will call. Will you accept the work of God on your behalf? Will you submit to the Lordship of God’s Son in your life?

• God is doing all the work … God is the one forgiving sins. God is the one who giving the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart. God is the one who puts the old self to death. God is the one who raises the new self to new life. All because, God is the one who has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. And your baptism makes a difference.
• And when you respond to God’s Son as Messiah, the Christ, you accept him as Lord. You are called to live out your baptism. For Sunday makes a difference on Monday.