Series: n/a Easter Sunday

Title: Who is Jesus and why does it matter?

Scripture: Acts 2: NIV

Bottom line: 

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. OUTLINES

7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

Illustration or story

Perhaps no one has illustrated the meekness and majesty of Jesus better in recent history than C. S. Lewis. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy is posing questions to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver about Aslan, a character representative of Christ:

"Is—is he a man?" asked Lucy.

"Aslan a man!" said Mr. Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion."

"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he— quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."

"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."

"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe.

But he's good. He's the King, I tell you" (Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, 75-76).

Yes. Christ is good. But he isn't safe. Jesus really is the true King. So stand in awe of him. Don't be silly. Confess him as Lord. That's Peter's message. He says, "Know with certainty!" Be assured of this. Jesus is the ascended King.

• Merida, p. 30-31

CONTEXT

The context here is that it is 10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven, which followed 40 days of him meeting with his disciples in his resurrected body. The festival of Pentecost is at hand which happens 50 days after the Passover. 

The disciples and the 120 are all gathered in the upper room, praying and waiting as Jesus instructed. 

So the city is full of Jews from all over the world who have come to celebrate the festival of the harvest. They are very close to the temple grounds, which is where they end up gathering and Peter ends up preaching 1000s of people. 

SERMON OUTLINE (based on Hughes’ outline):

I. What happened TO the Apostles at Pentecost? (2:1-4)

II. What happened IN the Apostles at Pentecost? (2:4; Ephesians 5:18-21)

III. What happened THROUGH the Apostles at Pentecost? (2:5-13)

IV. Peter Explained What Had Happened. (2:16-21)

V. Peter Explained about Jesus. (2:22-37)

A. The incarnation

B. The crucifixion

C. The resurrection

1. Psalm 16:8-11

2. Psalm 110:1

D. The ascension

VI. Key to spiritual growth and maturity

A. Teaching (2:42)

B. Fellowship (2:42)

C. Worship (2:42)

D. Evangelism (2:47)

CONCLUSION

Peter was a nobody in the eyes of the world. So am I.

Peter was in turmoil over his life decisions. So am I. 

Peter came to his senses. Peter found Jesus. So have I.

What about you?

Bottom line: “

Pray

NOTES

Let’s ask some summary questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. 

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. 

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. 

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. 

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. 

OUTLINES

Outline Bible (Willmington)

W Wiersbe sermon outline

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process:

1. Retell the story in your own words.

2. Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really God’s word, what changes would I have to make in my life?

3. Who am I going to tell about this?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now? 

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

Final Questions (index cards optional)

• What is God saying to you right now? 

• What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Acts,” by Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Acts, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY