Jump Start # 1198

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’”

  Our verse is most interesting. It takes place on the day of Pentecost. Jews from around the world had gathered in Jerusalem. Weeks before this, Jesus had been crucified, resurrected and ascended to Heaven. There was still a lot of buzzing going on about Jesus.

Peter and the other apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, began preaching. This didn’t take place in a church building. The people hadn’t gathered for a religious service. There is no indication that songs or prayers were a part of what took place. It was an open air gathering. Peter talked about what was on everyone’s mind, this Jesus. He didn’t avoid that sensitive subject. He showed that Jesus was the chosen one, the Messiah. Connecting the dots from Old Testament prophets, Peter revealed that Jesus was proven to be who He claimed to be. He was Heaven sent. God made Him both Lord and Christ.

With that last statement, they cried out, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

Now some thoughts:

First, sermons are intended to help a person be right with God. Sermons are supposed to show, prove and lead to faith. This audience that heard Peter, was most uncomfortable with what Peter said. The text states that they were “pierced to the heart.” Most of us do not like being uncomfortable. If it is too hot or too cold, we adjust the thermostat. We want to be comfortable. If our shoes hurt, as soon as possible, we take them off. It’s cute seeing little boys at weddings wearing ties. They are not used to those things around their necks. They’ll pull and tug at those ties and wiggle in their seats because they are not comfortable at all.

We like going to church services to find comfort, not misery. We want to be welcomed, loved, appreciated and our minds put to ease. We like to laugh during church services. We like the warm fuzzy feelings during church services. What we don’t like is to be cut to the heart. This happens when God’s word intersects with our conscience and we are shown to be guilty. Guilt is a terrible feeling. Most don’t openly admit guilt unless pressured. The audience in Acts 2 was guilty. God knew it. Peter knew it. And now, they knew it. The guilt came from recognizing the truth from God’s word. It didn’t come from Peter simply saying that. It was their guilt that made them cry out, “What shall we do?”

Second, Peter’s sermon made them ask personal questions about themselves. They cried out, “Brethren, what shall we do?” They didn’t ask, “What shall the High Priest do?” Nor, “What shall the Romans do?” What shall we do? They were concerned about self. The preaching of Peter made them look within. They knew about Jesus. They knew that Jesus had been crucified. There were rumors that Jesus had risen. What they didn’t know was who Jesus really was. Now they knew. They were responsible for His death. They wanted Him dead. They were glad He was dead. Now, they wished they could have a do over. Now, they understood that they were wrong.

Sermons must end on our front porch. The audience must make the connection. It has to be something that they take to heart. Hearing good sermons that do not move me, change me, or connect me to God, are nothing more than interesting lectures. Hitting the heart, making it personal—this is where we become uncomfortable and this is where guilt leads to change.

Third, Peter’s sermon led the audience to ask a great question. The flow of the passage indicates that the audience interrupted Peter. They spoke out. They were following closely and now they knew. They asked, “Brethren, what shall we do?” The Messiah was killed by them. The hope of Israel was crucified, by them. The emotions of the moment led them to speak out.

Today, most would be shocked if that happened in a Sunday service. While the preacher is preaching away, someone from the audience shouts out, “What shall I do?” There would be stares. Some would whisper, “Shh.” I expect in some places, such a person might be escorted out. Why? He’s honest. He’s scared. He’s guilty. His heart wants to know. I’d like to see more of this. The deafening silence makes the preacher wonder where the audience is. The questions, even though they interrupt, reveals hearts that are honest and good.

I wonder if our sermons today provoke questions. I wonder if we cover our bases so well that no one even has a question. I wonder if few are making the connection personally. I wonder…

Fourth, Peter answered their question. He didn’t leave them hanging on wondering what to do. He didn’t tell them to go figure it out. Nor did he tell them that there was nothing to be done. There was. And he told them. He said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”. That’s the answer. That’s what they were to do. That’s where Peter was heading to in his sermon. Salvation in Christ. Forgiveness of sins. That’s why Jesus came. He came to seek and save that which was lost. He is the Savior of the world. Salvation involves personal acceptance and responsibility.

Notice Peter said nothing about the “sinner’s prayer.” That thought is not a Bible thought. If you have been told that, you were given an answer different than what the apostle said. You’ll notice that Peter didn’t say, God’s done it all. There is nothing for you to do. Peter did not say, if you do anything, it’s considered salvation by works. No, none of that came up. Peter said there was something that they had to do. They had to repent. Peter could not do that for them. They had to be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness came AFTER the baptism, not before it. Why is it so difficult to read the Bible the way it is written? Why is it so difficult to do what the Bible says?

Fifth, this crowd, a huge portion, did exactly what Peter told them. A few verses later, three thousand were baptized into Christ. They got it. They understood. They responded. The guilt was changed to salvation.

All of this from a simple verse about salvation. It makes us think about our preaching. It makes us think about what we would do if we felt guilty during church service. Would we quit going? Would we ask what shall we do? Would we find another church that made us feel good? It makes us think about repentance and baptism and where God places them. It makes us think why do so many churches today feel that baptism has nothing to do with forgiveness and salvation when Peter shows us differently. It makes us wonder why preachers today don’t say what Peter said. But mostly, it makes us think about self. Where am I with God. The Bible is not a happy devotional nor Heaven’s “Chicken Soup for my soul.” It is God’s message for me. It’s God’s way of getting guilty me right with Him. It is my hope for pleasing God whom I have disappointed and hurt. It is the means to learn and believe about Jesus.

What about you? What about me? Is it time to start asking questions…real questions.

Roger

Jump Start # 799

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’”

Our passage today comes from the great Pentecost sermon of Peter. The killing of Jesus was a little more than a month in the past. That was huge news. Jesus had influenced many lives and was very popular with many people. The hierarchy within the Pharisees viewed Jesus as a radical who was upsetting their traditions. More than that, many were viewing Him as the Messiah. They must have thought that the execution of Jesus would have killed His movement and things would settle down and return to normal. They hadn’t. His disciples and others were spreading a story that this dead Jesus came back to life. He was resurrected. Now Peter, in Jerusalem, before a massive crowd, connects the dots between O.T. prophecies, the Messiah and Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Messiah. You, Peter tells them, killed Jesus. In the midst of this sermon, the people cry out, “What shall we do?”

They got it. They realized that Jesus was the Messiah. They realized that they had killed the very one God sent. Peter answers their confusion by telling them to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” That’s what you do. You accept this Jesus. You become a disciple of this Jesus. You obey this Jesus. You commit to this Jesus. You follow this Jesus. You become baptized.

The end of this chapter tells us that 3,000 were baptized that day. A massive amount of people. The power of God’s word touch hearts. These new converts became the first church. It started when they heard and responded to the sermon about Jesus. It started when they were pierced to the heart.

Older translations use the expression, “cut to the heart.” Pierced is a term that soldiers understood. Their number one weapon was the sword. In the midst of the battle a soldier thrusting his sword into the chest, into the heart, of the enemy was a death blow. Few survived piercing of the heart. That image is what took place during Peter’s sermon. His words, the truth pierced deep into the mind, conscience, will and soul of the audience. They understood. They made application. They got it. They realized they were dead. They, for the first time, felt guilt and shame for killing Jesus. They understood that they were wrong. They saw themselves as sinners before a righteous God.  This is where an honest and good heart will take you when it intersects with the word of God. This is how the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.

This didn’t happen to everyone. Throughout the N.T. there are examples when an audience heard a sermon but rejected the message. In some occasions, such as Stephen’s sermon, they turned against the preacher.

Why is it that way? Why is it that some are pierced to the heart and others have little or no effect? Same sermon, different reactions. Some got nothing out of the lesson and for others it was life changing. Why? It’s not the message or the messenger, but the heart of the listener. That’s the key. The person who is listening intently, with an honest heart will be convicted and changed. Sermons help. Sermons answer questions and remove doubt. Sermons build faith and confidence. Some get better because of sermons. Others, sleep. Every preacher wonders why? Every preacher questions if the fault lies in the delivery of the sermon. Every preacher quietly asks, “Am I boring?” Been there. Done that. Experienced that. Felt that. Not a good place to be. The honest preacher will adjust, grow and continue to try to be the best that he can be in presentation, thought and passion. But there is that element in the audience who are not pierced in the heart. Even the greatest preacher, Jesus, faced this. Some walked away from Him. Some didn’t hear what He said.

The piercing takes place when the pure message meets an honest heart. That heart has to be open to listening, considering and thinking. A person whose mind is made up, will not be cut to the heart. A person who is not interested will not be affected. A person who doesn’t care, will not be changed.

What happened in Acts 2, was that an audience listened. They thought. They traveled with Peter as he made points about Jesus. They saw. They understood. Then the lights came on. Then they realized. Then the guilt. Then the question, “what shall we do?”

God’s word is living and active. It’s sharp like a sword. It will cut right through error, preconceived ideas, prejudice, pride, and sin. It will get right into a person’s heart. The Bible can make a person feel very uncomfortable. That’s good! It can make them realize that they have not been doing right. It can show them that they have angered God. It can show that unless they change, they will not go to Heaven. Serious thoughts. Scary thoughts. Yet, that same Bible, once a person starts applying it, following it, obeying it, brings great comfort and joy. That book that once pierced the heart, now fills the heart with great truths and love. That book that was once unknown becomes a best friend. That book becomes a ready companion. It is sought to find answers. It is read to known and learn. It is followed as a trustworthy friend. It is defended and shared.

Amazing how that works. Amazing is the power of God’s word. The pure word meeting an honest heart is always a good thing.

Roger