When the Rock Rolled: Shaking Things Up

May 24, 2015

When the Rock Rolled

Shaking Things Up

Acts 2:1-47

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

How well do you embrace new technology?

(Advance Slide #2)

• One customer called Dell Computers to report that he couldn’t get his computer to fax anything.
• After at least 40 minutes to troubleshooting the problem the tech. discovered the problem.
• The man was trying to fax something by holding a sheet of paper in front of the monitor and hitting the enter/send key.

Another man was trying to access a folder but was receiving the message “Access Denied”

• The tech. asked the man if he to try the password again but in lower case letters.
• The man replied, “I can’t I only have capital letters on my keyboard.”

(Advance Slide #3)

What happens when something new is introduced to our lives?

• Often times, we find ourselves becoming overwhelmed and intimidated!
• It’s just too complicated so I better not do it.

Sadly, people approach the sharing of their faith and talking about Jesus in much the same way.

(Advance Slide #4)

Wither we call it witnessing or evangelism, in Acts 2 we find a dynamic example.

• We call is a sermon, and it is, but what Peter is doing is sharing what he knew about Jesus.
• Now, we will likely never baptize 3,000 people like Peter, but what if we can change the life of one person?
• If you did that you would be doing more than most people do in an entire lifetime.

(Advance Slide #5)

Text

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Acts 2:22-24

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News travels fast in the East.

• Most of the adults in Jerusalem, residents and visitors, knew about the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.
• They also had heard rumors, and the “official announcement” that His followers had stolen the body of Jesus.
• An effort to make people think that He had kept His word and been raised from the dead.

(Advance Slide #7)

But Peter told them the truth.

• Jesus of Nazareth had indeed been raised from the dead, and the Resurrection proves that He is the Messiah!

• Peter gave them four proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
• He called on them to believe on Christ, to repent and be baptized.

Lesson

Is there someone that you care about that you want to see go to heaven?

• What have you done about that?
• What we learn in Acts 2 and Peter’s sermon are lessons that will make us better evangelists and witnesses.

(Advance Slide #8)

PRAY - that God is involved

• God showed His mighty works at Pentecost!
• There were ‘tongues of fires’ and ‘speaking in tongues.’

We might find ourselves saying, “If only things like this could happen...then I could save souls.”

• We may not have all the bells and whistles (i.e. miraculous abilities), but we do have God on our side.
• The truth of the matter is that no one was ever saved only because of ‘tongues of fire’.
• No one was ever saved only because of ‘speaking strange languages.’
• These things created an opportunity for Peter to speak.

Once the audience paid attention to Peter...he preached to them Jesus!

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TAKE - advantage of the situation

• We must take advantage of every opportunity that God gives us!
• Expect that God will give us opportunities; Pray for God to give you those opportunities; Look for the opportunities.
• In Acts, God provided the opportunity and Peter stepped in.

What opportunities do you find yourself in regularly?

• Can you see any a way in that situation where you can talk about Jesus?
• There are opportunities every day, and we can share Jesus.

(Advance Slide #10)

USE - scripture whenever you can

• This goes without saying.
• If you look closely to Peter’s message you will find that about 70% of it was directly from scripture.
• In fact, almost 2 of every 3 verses were OT quotes.

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

• Scripture has power!
• It is the power to accomplish God’s goals and purposes!

(Advance Slide #11)

KNOW - what it is that changed you and why you became a Christian.

• Peter’s message never changed:

“ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 2:36

• You crucified...you’re guilty!
• Again we find the same message in Acts 3:13-15 and Acts 4:10.

Why would Peter preach like this?

• He preached like this because it changed his life!
• He too felt guilt of betrayal…
• 3 times on the night before Jesus was crucified he denied Jesus!
• It was such a part of his life that it became a part of his message/his witness!

So here is the question…

• Why did you become a Christian?
• What was the message that changed your life?
• If it is part of your life...it should be part of your message!

Conclusion

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If God has changed your life then you should want Him to change the lives of others you care for!

This morning there may be some people who want to know how to become a Christian.

(Advance Slide #13)

• Just like the people on the day of Pentecost you may be asking, “What must I do to be saved?”
• Peter tells us:

(Advance Slide #14)

“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 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 3:38-39