Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene
Sunday, October 4
  • Forever
  • Forever Reign
  • King Of My Heart
  • Good Good Father
  • Turn to acts chapter 2. As you do - just a little FYI for those of you who like to plan ahead, we’ll spend two maybe three more weeks in Acts and then move to the letter to the Ephesians.
    As we go through Acts 2, the sermon is not really about what the text says, but rather what the Holy Spirit did through Peter. Our focus is really on the transformation of Peter. Before we can appreciate that transformation, we need to know a little about Peter prior to Pentecost - prior to being baptized in the Spirit. To be transparent, I gleaned from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
    We know that Peter, whose original name was Simon, had a family. This meant he had to provide for his wife, his children and his mother-in-law - and he followed Jesus - Peter was a busy man. He and his brother Andrew were Galilean fishermen - hardworking, blue collar- no master’s or bachelor’s degree. An important occupation, but they weren’t CEO’s or rolling in the dough.
    Once Peter became a disciple, he was often the leader and spokesman for the disciples. He asked Jesus a lot of questions. “Lord, what about this? What about that? What about so and so?” He was kind of a jump first - think later kind of guy. Remember, Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on water, then his brain kicked in and started sinking.
    Peter seemed to be a man of extremes - he was either all in or all out. At times he had little faith, and at others huge faith. Sometimes he was self-seeking, while at other times he was self-sacrificing. Sometimes he was super perceptive, and others dumb as an ox. Peter was the first to confess that Jesus was the Messiah and promised he would never abandon Jesus, and yet he was the first to deny Christ - three times.
    Question: If you were Jesus, would you choose Peter to be on your team?
    Whether you would or wouldn’t, Jesus did. He choose Peter to be on the team, to help change the world. Jesus chose Peter with all of his flaws and inconsistencies and weaknesses.
    Question: What does this tell us about God and the kind of people He invites to be on His team to change the world? Know anyone with flaws and inconsistencies and weaknesses?
    So that’s the before picture of Peter. Let's look at Peter after the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Remember, our focus is on what the Spirit did through Peter - this flawed inconsistent fisherman.
    Acts 2:1 NIV
    When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
    Acts 2:4 ESV
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
    1. Peter received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
    Question: Have you received the Holy Spirit? We've talked about this for the last several months, so if you're not certain then let's talk. If not, my simplest explanation is this - 1) You receive Jesus Christ as Savior and 2) You surrender all to Him.
    Acts 2:5–11 NIV
    Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
    ​
    2. Peter was declaring the wonders of God.
    Telling how good God is.
    Question: Do you declare the wonders of God? Do we tell people, in normal everyday conversation how good God is, what He’s done in our lives, how He blessed us and helped us?
    If not, what’s one wonder of God you can share this week just in normal conversation?
    Acts 2:14 NIV
    Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
    ​
    3. Peter saw an opportunity to talk about God and he took advantage of it.
    They were asking what is going on. They were curious. Asking questions.
    Question: Do you see opportunities to talk about God? Do you take advantage of those opportunities? Are we even looking for opportunities?
    If not, what is one thing you can do this week to look for opportunities to talk about God?
    4. Peter knew the crowd.
    He knew they were Jews; they understood the story of God and Scriptures. They knew about Jesus because they were there when He was crucified 50 days earlier at Passover.
    He also made a connection - “Fellow Israelites. We have some common ground.”
    Question: How well do you know your crowd? The people you live with, work with, neighbors - whoever your crowd is. Do you know how much they know about Jesus? Do you know …? Are there any connection points? (Rep & Dem agree on one thing - debate)
    What’s one thing you can do this week to better know your crowd or make a connection?
    Acts 2:15–16 NIV
    These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
    ​
    5. Peter knew the Word and its Author
    They’re like, “What’s going on?” and what does Peter do? He quoted appropriate Scripture (not chapter and verse, but he quoted). Now I'm convinced that Peter already knew the Word of God (he had it in here - not the Spirit). The Holy Spirit took what Peter knew and applied it to the situation. Peter quoted the Word; he explained what it meant and how it applied to the Jews. Again, the Spirit used what Peter already knew.
    Question: What do you know (what’s in here) that God can use? How well do you know Scripture? How well do you know Jesus? What do you have that God can use? Tough question.
    What is one thing you can do to be more knowledgeable - to better understand the Word? Now I didn't say anything about reading the Bible more. What is one thing you can do to be more knowledgeable so God can use what’s in here?
    So Peter told them about how Jesus is the Messiah, and as Peter shared, the Spirit convicted the Jews.
    Acts 2:37–40 NIV
    When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
    ​
    7. Peter shared the Good News!
    Question: Do you know the Good News? Do you believe the Good News is still good news?
    What can you do know the Gospel? Know it well enough to share it? Sinclairs
    What did the Spirit do with an uneducated, blue collar fisherman from Galilee with flaws, inconsistencies and weaknesses who was busy providing for his family?
    Acts 2:41 NIV
    Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
    ​
    If the Spirit can use an uneducated, blue collar fisherman from Galilee with flaws, inconsistencies and weakness who was busy providing for his family - what can God do with you and I - especially when we are filled with His Spirit?

      • Acts 2:1NLT

      • Acts 2:4NLT

      • Acts 2:5–11ESV

      • Acts 2:14ESV

      • Acts 2:15–16NLT

      • Acts 2:37–40ESV

      • Acts 2:41ESV

  • Goodness Of God
Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene
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