{"id":306,"date":"2010-10-25T23:36:11","date_gmt":"2010-10-26T04:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/acugst\/?p=306"},"modified":"2010-11-22T11:20:41","modified_gmt":"2010-11-22T17:20:41","slug":"the-gospel-of-god-proclaimed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/acugst\/the-gospel-of-god-proclaimed\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gospel of God Proclaimed (Sermon Notes)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tim

Tim Sensing, DMIN, PHD - Director of Academic Services, Professor of Ministry, ACU Graduate School of Theology<\/p><\/div>\n

Below are sermon notes from that Gospel Meeting, the second of five that I will post: \u201cThe Gospel of God Proclaimed (Acts 2:14-47)?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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).<\/em> It is the fulfillment of Israel\u2019s hope. The Gospel is Unleashed! The Gospel is Unhindered!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go to the beginning where it all started.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\tThe 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 \u2014\u2014
\n\u2022\tThese 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?
\n\u2022\t63 people claiming to be Messiah went to the desert who try to bring about uprising. Gamaliel refers to two: Judas and Theudus.
\n\u2022\tThose 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\u2019 understanding of Kingdom.
\n\u2022\tThe Feeding of the 5000<\/em>, a miracle that occurs in all four Gospels\u2014the 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 \u2014 Jesus had to explain to the mob why he could not comply with their wishes.
\n\u2022\tThey 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.
\n\u2022\tFrom 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.
\n\u2022\tAnd 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!<\/p>\n

Imagine you are in the crowd\u2026[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.<\/strong><\/p>\n