We have to Deal With It - Notes on Acts

Sermon Notes for April 17, 2011

And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Ruler and elders of the people!....It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone." Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:8, 10-12)

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

The whole notion that these verses are God's Truth is problematic for many people. Most people, actually.

Have you ever noticed that when a public Christian is being interviewed on TV, the climax question is -- 'Do you really believe that those who don't believe the way you believe are going to hell?' (What they are saying is ...'You can't be serious'....'who are you to be such a bigot'..'nobody believes that any more....')

Actually, never have most people believed it! Jesus had just been beaten, scorned, and crucified, a couple of months before, by masses of people who did not believe He was the way to God, who was His Father.

Here in Acts, Peter is talked to the religious leaders, who rejected the whole mission of Jesus!

Let's Talk About Jesus

--In a world of pluralistic toleration

In the Roman Empire at that time all religions were tolerated -- remember the shrines "To the Unknown God" in case they left one out? An environment much like ours today.

Modern culture wants us to lay down our doctrine and embrace all others. Everyone is included in pluralism, except those of us who are not pluralistic!

--In a world of non-specific vagueness

(I love this phrase!) Bro Mike's illustration was about AA - originally organized as a Christian answer to the problem of alcoholism -- but now the only term they use for God is "Higher Power" -- Star Wars - "May the Force be with you!"

-- In a world of Christian discrimination
All around us our culture is rejecting Christian truth and morality. Prime time TV is a good example. Christians are pictured as unintelligent, judgmental, and self-righteous.
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Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given to men by which they must be saved.

Salvation is found in no one else - we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is not in me. It's in Another. When we stand before God, we will need a Savior.

No other name - The name "above all names." "The way, the truth."

Given - What a gift. God pursues us through sermons, music, words of others, the physical world around us. He lays it all out for us.

Must - It is a command. We like "suggestions," not commands. His Word is authoritative.

When we mention something about Jesus, don't we often sense the people around us getting tense? They shift position. Look another way. Perhaps gather into a smaller group and turn away from us? Earlier in Acts 4 we read that the leaders were "greatly disturbed." Same thing today.

Peter's speech resulted from an act of loving kindness -- a crippled man was healed -- our speech should be motivated by loving kindness also. Let love fill the room.

Acts - Where the Real Action is

The next day, the elders, rulers and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest, was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed; He is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone."(Psalm 118:22) Acts 4:5-11

Sermon Notes from Bro Mike's message April 10, 2011

This moment was Ground Zero for the collision between Judaism and Christianity. Judaism was the religion of God -- from the words of His mouth and from His fingers on the tablets.

Jesus was a serious threat to Judaism. They thought they had stamped it out with the crucifixion of Christ. They thought it was all over. But it wasn't. It was an even greater threat than before.

Their question: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Was it rhetorical? Here were Paul and John before the Sanhedrin: 71 powerful religious leaders. Were they intimidated?

When Peter replied, he was "filled with the Holy Spirit." Often before he had been filled with himself. This was a different Peter.

The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is a mark of all Christians. We may not act like it or look like it all the time, but the Holy Spirit is a permanent resident in our lives.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth. A flesh and blood figure. They thought they had successfully rid themselves of Him. He was gone. He would not bother them anymore. But His followers would!

Peter and John went to the temple to pray. Not to have a confrontation. But their presence started a chain of events that led to their arrest and appearance before the Sanhedrin.

Peter used a reference from Psalms to challenge them. The stone you builders rejected has become the capstone.

Builders have to choose the stones they will use.

Israel was originally the stones God was using. Now Jesus was the capstone.

1. Biblical Christianity Will Stir Up Controversy.
2. A Believer Will Be Confronted With The Controversy.
3. The Testimony In The Face Of Controversy Is Christ.

Peter and John were brought before the Council. We face opposition, too, to the message of Christ. It might be in our car pools, lunchrooms, Dairy Queen, grocery stores, family reunions, etc. Christ had said to the disciples:

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Luke 21:10-14

All on account of my name. Was Peter remembering Christ speaking these words?

Christ was telling them how to respond when accused by authorities.

Later Peter told us how to respond to people who are genuinely asking us probing questions:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect....I Peter 3:15

Peter was brief and to the point. It was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

Bro Mike's closing prayer included a request that we may be equipped to minister in our unfriendly culture....with gentleness and respect.

Back to Acts - Sermon Notes

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and because it was evening they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. Acts 4:1-4

Sermon Notes from April 3, 2011

PART I

Bro Mike reminded us that our example, the prototype for our church, is this early church as described in the Book of Acts. We do not seek denominational or community approval, but to accurately replicate the early church.

MINISTRY SETTING
OF THE
FLAGSHIP CHURCH OF CHRISTIANITY

This is the church we should follow.

Setting of that church - unfriendly environment - our own environment is also unfriendly, and seems to be getting more unfriendly - will we reach the same degree of cultural hostility as did the Roman and Jewish culture?

[Note: In some of the early American colonies, like Virginia, it was a crime to preach the gospel if you did not have a 'license' from the government. It is recorded by witnesses that ministers who preached without that license were often beaten severely, publicly, and often were beaten to death. Patrick Henry witnessed one such beating, and began a campaign against that law. John Bunyon, 100 years earlier, in England, was often imprisoned over that little problem of a 'license.' Of course, to be granted a license meant you agreed to preach what the government decreed permissible, or in line with, the beliefs of the established state church.]

In the text of Acts 4:1-4 we can see that three groups were opposed to the message delivered by Peter and John: (1) the priests, (2) captain of the temple guard, and (3) the Sadducees.

The text says they were "greatly disturbed." And they were all religious groups.

There is a sharp contrast here. Three groups were "greatly disturbed" and yet (v. 4) many who heard the message believed...five thousand...

1. All religious organization is potentially lethal to its original purpose
2. All positions of ministry are potentially lethal to spiritual vitality
3. No human authority can stop the ministry of the Holy Spirit

PART II

1. All religious organization is potentially lethal to its original purpose.

Look back at chapter 3:24 to Peter's sermon: "Indeed all the prophets, from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your families. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all the peoples on the earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Peter and John and Matthew and the other disciples put it all together -- because they had 'ears to hear'. But the main stream religious leaders did not.

The original purpose of the Jewish leadership was to know and proclaim the next work God had to show His people. The next thing on God's agenda was the Messiah, and they missed it. They did not have 'ears to hear.'

They were to be the watchmen on the walls. But they were not watching God, nor for God's activity.

Every church, the minute it starts growing, begins to feel a gravity drag that begins to pull it back.


2. All positions of ministry are potentially lethal to spiritual vitality.

Bro Mike illustrated this point by mentioning that at seminary one of the things continually stressed to ministerial students was that they must always keep their own personal contact with God for their source of vitality and strength. They must never substitute sermon-preparation for personal devotional time.

This goes for teachers, deacons, musicians, and all the ministries in the church. Sometimes the mere number of our "church activities" can hinder our devotional life and our close personal walk with God. If Satan can keep us really busy, even with church activities, he can keep us from prayer and seeking God's guidance from scripture.


3. No human activity can stop the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The early church was a persecuted church. The early church calls us to check our devotional lives. How strong are we?

Is the Holy Spirit empowering, directing and energizing me?

Peter and John went to jail, but 5,000 believed.

Is the American church spiritual enough to deal with an unfriendly environment?
Is our church spiritual enough to deal with an unfriendly environment?
Am I?

Am I spiritual enough to know when to speak out and where and what to say?
Am I being led by the Holy Spirit in these matters?

Our setting, too, is an unfriendly environment.

Where are we in our devotional walk? Are we being led by the Holy Spirit?


This sermon compels me to make some changes in my priorities.