Today

‘Communicating good news’

Acts 2:14-41

‘New beginnings for the people of God’

Aim

To show what Peter’s message can teach us today about how to communicate

good news of Jesus

‘Communicating good news’

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd

Acts 2:14a

1. Forget past failures

a. Declared his allegiance – Matt 26:31

1. Forget past failures

b. Distanced himself – Matt 26:58

c. Denied Jesus – Matt 26:70, 72, 74

d. Dejection – Matt 26:75

Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem

Acts 2:14b

2. Know your audience

you who are far from righteousness - Isaiah 46:12

Realising this man’s understanding … ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God - Mark 12:34 NLT

…you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to Him … - Eph 2:13 NLT

2. Know your audience

2. Know your audience – The Engels Scale

-6 Sceptical, resistant, or spiritually apathetic

-5 Becomes aware of an unmet need/spiritual void in life

-4 Begins looking for answers to questions

-3 Considers differences between themselves & believers

-2 Understands Gospel – why/how to become a Christian

-1 Ready to believe and receive Christ

0 Makes a commitment to Christ

let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! Acts 2:14b-15

3. Respond to the questions people ask

“The Church ... is answering questions which have not been asked ... doing it in a language which is not understood

... and it is doing it in places where nobody is listening”

3. Respond to the questions people ask

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy”

Acts 2:15-18

4. Use Scripture appropriately

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him … This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead …

Acts 2:22-24

5. Focus on the Person of Jesus

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Acts 2:37

6. Explain how people can respond

Repent and be baptised, 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.“

Acts 2:38-39

6. Explain how people can respond

With many other words he warned them … Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.

Acts 2:40-41

7. Get the baptistery ready!

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being

Eph 3:16

Lord Jesus Christ,

I know I have sinned in my thoughts, words & actions. There are so many good things I have not done. There are so many wrong things I have done. I am sorry for my sins and turn from everything I know to be wrong.

You gave your life for me on the cross. Gratefully, I give my life back to You. Now I ask You to come into my life. Come in as my Saviour to forgive me. Come in as my Lord to lead me. Come in as my Friend to be with me. Help me to live my life in obedience to You from this day forward.

“We are not going to move this world by criticism of it or by conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God”

Vance Havner