Sermon Tone Analysis

The Book of Acts: The The global work of King Jesus through the Spirit in bringing the kingdom-of-God-good-news out to all families of the earth.

The Big Idea: How to Become a Christian and Why You Should Want To

Honest Questions & Mocking Accusations= Gospel Proclamations

Why?

Honest Questions & Mocking Accusations= Gospel Proclamations

Peter does two things here in verses 14-21 that show us two ways to help our neighbors want to become followers of Jesus:

To love our neighbors well, we must be answering the questions they are actually asking.

1.

We must be answering the questions they are actually asking.

2. The gospel and its results must be presented so attractively that they are virtually compelled to say “It would be wonderful if that were true, but it can’t be!”

Some of the biggest objections to Christianity from my Facebook Question:

-The Bible is Divine (How can we take so literal an ancient book?)

-The feeling of being judged by hypocrites, seemingly nothing but rules

-Shady Christian history

-Science makes much more sense

-It’s shaming of women and homosexuals

-It’s exclusivity (in regards to who gets “in” to heaven and who doesn’t)

-Grace (it isn’t fair that a murderer could repent and go to heaven and a good person wouldn’t get in)

-Lots of Bible knowledge (OT for example, Abraham & Isaac story for example)

Second, Peter shows us how to become a Christian in verses 36-41.

4 Things to Become a Christian:

Mind, Grace, Heart, and Life

SLIDE OF POST-CHRISTENDOM CONVERSION

Becoming a Christian doesn’t sidestep the mind, it engages it, and calls it to change (repentance).

Our job is to help our neighbors know Jesus, God is in charge of whether or not they will love Jesus.

Jesus is God’s answer to the human dilemma.

You don’t accept Jesus into your life, Jesus accepts you into His.

Religious people are sad they broke the rules of God, repentant people are sad they broke the heart of God.

One is outward modification, one is inward transformation.

Here’s how you become a Christian.

Your mind must first be engaged with the real Jesus, then you must see that salvation is something given to you freely by grace in Christ, then you are cut you to the heart acknowledging your sin, which leads to giving your life to the One who already gave His life for you.

The “gifts” of the gospel include a new freedom, a new family, and a new power.