Book of Acts Sermon Starters Week 3

Background

In Week 1 of this series, anticipation of the coming Holy Spirit permeates Acts 1. In Week 2, the miraculous follows the Spirit's arrival. The Holy Spirit enables people to speak and hear in other languages. This week, we witness another miracle: evidence of the transformation of Peter from cowering denier of Christ to courageous proclaimer of the risen Lord. Peter's proclamation comes in response to mockers in Acts 2:13. They said, "They are filled with new wine," a comment about those enabled to speak in other languages by the Holy Spirit. Peter's counter to their comment (prophecy from Joel 2:28-32) underscores the Pentecost experience as the inaugural event of Israel's "last days." During these last days, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Notes for Acts 2:14-36*

Peter delivered his sermon in the context of excitement over the signs and wonders seen on the Day of Pentecost. Notice that Peter did not just point to the signs as evidence of Jesus' resurrection. He took the time necessary to tell the story of Jesus' miraculous life, heinous death, and triumphant resurrection.
As you study this sermon, be reminded that Peter was a Jew talking to the Jewish audience that had gathered. He reminded this Jewish audience that they had either heard of or seen Jesus and knew about the miracles he performed -- reminding that Jesus was God-sent.
Joel's prophecy mentions "the Lord's great and glorious day," ("Day of the Lord") a time of judgment of nations that badly mistreated Israel. Interestingly, the outpouring of the Spirit with accompanying signs and wonders serves as preparation of the church for mission rather than God's retribution. (v. 19-20)
The phrase "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," here narrowly understood in reference to Jews who turn to Christ, will through the Jerusalem Council, expand its meaning to include Gentiles in Acts 15. (Acts 2:21)
Although Peter indicted those present for Jesus' death, it is vital that we as Christians avoid a blanket indictment of the Jewish people. The religious leaders of Israel are representative of human nature. It is human to err -- even under the guise of religious devotion and fidelity.
But God raised him up. Jesus indeed died, but death could not hold him (v. 24, 32).
Peter applied the words that David spoke in Psalm 16 to Jesus' resurrection (Acts 22:31, Psalm 16:10).
All of us are witnesses (Acts 22:32). Peter and the strange group that spilled into the courtyard from the Upper Room were all witnesses of the resurrection of Christ.
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Sermon Notes

Nearly one third of the Book of Acts consists of speeches, most with similar goals of convincing listeners of key tenets of the gospel: Jesus is Messiah (confirmed through resurrection), and through Jesus, God fulfilled God's promise to save the world from sin and death.
Peter's sermon underscores the redemptive theme of the book of Acts: the purposes of God are realized through Holy Spirit-empowered believers who witness to the risen Christ.
The crowd had difficulty interpreting the meaning of this unheard of phenomenon (verse 12-13). Peter, speaking for the group, explained that the events of that day were the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28-31) and that salvation comes from calling on the name of the Lord (verse 21).
Peter implores the mockers to enotizomai; that is, listen carefully, or more literally "let me place it [the word of God] into your ears" (v. 14). Listening is a key theme in Acts. Note the importance of listening mentioned in Week 2 of this series.
This was the first time that those who believed in Jesus' resurrection had spoken so openly about their beliefs or the way of salvation.
Peter references a prophecy of Joel that spoke of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that members of the household of Israel just experienced; an outpouring that inaugurates the "last days" when everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The outpouring of the Spirit of prophecy is a distinguishing feature of this passage. The Spirit is poured on all flesh. The Spirit is an equalizer who obliterates class distinctions, as even household slaves become God's servants with prophetic tasks to perform (v. 16-18).
Scattered throughout Peter's proclamation are key repetitions and concepts: signs and wonders, Spirit baptism, Spirit filling, inspired prophets, and conversion. These key points provide the reader a fuller understanding of the significance of God's outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. One Bible commentary refers to the Acts 2:14-15:12 passage as, "A Narrative of Conversion."

Putting the Sermon Together*

Gathered by the Wind. And of that all of us are witnesses. (Acts 2:32) What did Peter and the people from the Upper Room have in common? They were from varied backgrounds and occupations, from different places on the socioeconomic ladder. What glue held them together and turned them into a mighty force for righteousness? I would like to suggest that they were gathered by the Wind (the WIND of the Holy Spirit that blew on the day of Pentecost). Their common belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ combined with a shared transcendent experience of wind and fire helped them become a group defined by their beliefs and their experiences. Standing in the courtyard with Peter, they could all give voice to the same testimony: Jesus is alive!

What implications are there for the twenty-first-century church? Church growth experts have fretted themselves into a frenzy devising ways to make it possible for people of different backgrounds and ethnicities to go to church together. In the Acts of the Apostles it seemed to be enough that they shared beliefs and had common experiences with God. What beliefs do we share? Is the element of transcendence present in our worship experiences? What glue holds us together? Is it possible for the same Wind to gather us today?

Peter--You've Changed. Peter's persuasive sermon on the Day of Pentecost ends by convincing thousands that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. The disciples in the upper room see Jesus, touch Jesus, and realize that he is back from death. A character study on Peter may aid you in developing a fuller exploration of conversion and its effect on believers. Even a brief comparison and contrast between Peter's actions during Christ's passion and the day of Pentecost might illustrate the potent ability of Christian conversion to transform lives.

Questions to Wrestle With

One Bible commentator refers to this passage as "A Narrative of Conversion." What basic understandings of Christian conversion need to be explored or rehearsed this week?
Peter addressed mockers of the Spirit's activity by referencing a prophecy by Joel and a psalm of King David -- respected voices in Israel's sacred history. Which sacred voices do people in your congregation respect?
How might you appeal to your congregation to "listen carefully" and allow the gospel proclaimer to "put the Word of God" in their ears?
Peter told the story of Jesus' miraculous life, heinous death, and triumphant resurrection. If you had to share a brief overview of Jesus' life, what would you include?
Israel waited in anticipation of the "Day of the Lord" when nations who mistreated her would be judged, yet the work of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost focused on launching the church into mission. What things tend to preoccupy the attention of your congregation more than the mission of Christ?
Pentecost initiates Israel into the "last days" of God's salvation history in which "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." In a nutshell, what does your congregation need to know about salvation through Jesus Christ? How does one access salvation? How do you ensure people that they have experienced genuine salvation?
This passage emphasizes speaking: prophecy and proclamation. How well can your congregation verbalize its relationship with Christ? In short, have people seen and learned how to talk about the difference Jesus Christ has made in their lives? (See "Faith Sharing: Easy as 1-2-3")
The Spirit is poured on all flesh,regardless of socioeconomic class or ethnicity. How has the Holy Spirit served as an "equalizer" in your congregation?

Suggested Resources

Online

"Faith Sharing: Easy as 1-2-3"

John Wesley's Translation of the Acts of the Apostles

Links to the writings of the Early Church Fathers on Acts 2.
Scroll down the page to find links to writings by Tertullian, Ireneaus, etc., on this passage.

The Jesus Movement -- How early believers responded in the days following Jesus' death, from PBS' Frontline: From Jesus to Christ.

Print

Preaching Luke-Acts by Ronald Allen

The Acts of the Apostles by F. F. Bruce

Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free by F. F. Bruce – a classic on the life of Paul

Interpretation Bible Commentary: Acts

New Interpreter's Bible Volume X

Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Acts

The Storyteller's Companion to the Bible, Volume 12: Acts of the Apostles by Michael Williams and Dennis Smith

Classics

The Helper (written from a layperson's perspective) by Catherine Marshall

The Breaking of the Outward Man by Watchman Nee