5.5.2019 Sermon Notes & Slides

Everyone Whom the Lord Our God Calls to Himself
Acts 2
Tony Chute, Interim Pastor

Overview: The day of Pentecost marks the occasion in which the Holy Spirit indwelt the apostles, empowering them to proclaim the saving work of God through Jesus Christ. The apostles were able to speak in foreign languages which they had not learned previously, thus communicating the gospel to people from all over the world. In response to criticism from those who dismissed the miraculous nature of their preaching, Peter affirmed that God was at work through his Spirit as foretold by the prophets. His subsequent proclamation of the gospel underscored the sovereignty of God in saving people from their sins and directing all of history to that end. The response from the crowd illustrates how God continues to call people to Himself, and the gathering of believers indicates that conversion leads to community.

01. The gospel and our response to the gospel are the same now as it was for the earliest Christians.

02. The gospel and our response to the gospel are a work of sovereign grace for all Christians.

03. The gospel and our response to the gospel are made visible through the gathered community of Christians.

Questions For Discussion & Discovery

1. Have you ever tried to visualize the events of Acts 2? What might the coming of the Spirit have sounded or looked like? What might preaching in various languages at one time have sounded like? How might Peter have quieted the crowd in order to draw attention to what was actually happening? What stirrings among the crowd might have occurred as they were convicted by the Spirit for the first time?

2. Read Genesis 10-11. What event led to the introduction of various languages in the world? In what way was the introduction of various languages designed to spread humanity across the globe? In what way is Acts 2 a reversal of God’s judgment in Genesis 10-11? How does Pentecost underscore the saving work of God in the context of its global impact?

3. What accounts for the different reactions to the proclamation of the gospel in Acts 2:13 and 2:37? In what ways do the events of Pentecost differ from the ordinary means of preaching the gospel today? Is the work of God in the salvation of sinners any less miraculous today without the outward signs and wonders of Acts 2?

4. Outline the gospel message using Acts 2:22-36, namely by asking, “What has God done through Jesus Christ to deliver sinners from the consequences of sin?” Consider the following in your response: the person of Jesus, the works of Jesus, the crucifixion of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and the ascension of Jesus. How significant is it for those who preach the gospel to call for a response?

5. Acts 2:42-47 is often used as a template for the church today, thus giving rise to dozens of denominational movements. What elements of the early church in this text are most visible today? Which elements are missing? Is this section prescriptive (stating what should occur in the church today) or descriptive (reflecting what was true about the church back then), or a mixture of both?

For Further Reading: John Blanchard, Ultimate Questions (Evangelical Press, 2014), 32 pages!