PREACHING THE CROSS
August 17, 2008 AM
Sermon Outline
THE "THIRD" SERMON
INTRO:Acts 5:42 tells us that the apostles preached Jesus "daily in the temple, and in every house". Prior to this, the apostles had been "commanded ..not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18). The early days of preaching and teaching in Jerusalem must have been exciting. The word "multitude" was used to describe the number of the disciples. Can you imagine a time when hundreds of people were responding to gospel preaching in a desire to be baptized into Christ? It was a time of great generosity as people shared their material blessings with those who had nothing. It was a time when miracles of healing were very evident. All of this, however, did not go unnoticed by the high priest and his henchmen! So...
- THE "ADDING" OF DISCIPLES CONTINUED DRAMATICALLY
- Acts 5:14 - "..multitudes both of men and women"
- keep in mind Acts 2:41 - these are people being baptized!
- remember, too, Acts 2:47 - these are saved people being added!
- Acts 4:31 - "..they spake the word of God with boldness"
- I know they spoke of the crucifixion - see Acts 4:27,28
- and they spoke powerfully of the resurrection - Acts 4:33
- Acts 5:14 - "..multitudes both of men and women"
- BUT HOSTILITY TO THEIR PREACHING WAS VERY REAL
- Remember something which apostle Paul said...
- Acts 26:26 - ",,this thing was not done in a corner"
- the apostles were in Solomon's porch - they could hardly be missed!
- Acts 5:17,18 - Ah, the Sadducees again
- preaching of Jesus' resurrection was grossly objectionable to them
- such teaching would undermine their own credibility - jail them!
- Acts 5:19,20 - But God had other plans for them
- deliverance from the prison was certainly an exceptional thing
- but the reason had nothing to do with the injustice, the personal comforts, and such - it was all about teaching "the words of this life"
- Remember something which apostle Paul said...
- THE HIGH PRIEST'S CHARGE?
- He said three very distinct things
- he reminded them they had been forbidden to teach in Jesus' name
- he accused them of filling Jerusalem with their doctrine
- he accused them of trying to lay the blame for Jesus' death on them
- they remembered well the crucifixion .. they had initiated it
- but guilty people often want to shift blame to others - guilt is not fun
- The "words of this life" challenged their tradition and status quo
- arrogance, prejudice are enemies of truth
- any challenge to arrogance, prejudice is unwanted, unpopular!
- this man and his henchmen were well entrenched in position and power - there was no room for any admission of error - there was no room for change
- He said three very distinct things
- THE APOSTLES' RESPONSE TO WHAT HE SAID?
- They first acknowledged loyalty to God - Acts 5:29
- true, human authority had commanded them to stop preaching
- but when faced with this choice - God, or men - only choice was God
- this statement is a "good to live by" truth for you and me, too
- They proclaimed the cross of Christ - Acts 5:30
- they make clear that Jesus is God sent - thus, Messiah
- they are unafraid of identifying them as guilty of crucifying Jesus
- as I read through Acts, I see the crucifixion mentioned in various ways - but always as central to the proclamation of the word of God
- They proclaimed the resurrection by reference to exaltation - Acts 5:31
- whom they declared unworthy, God declared to be Prince & Savior
- the great need of Israel? repentance
- the great possibility because of the cross? forgiveness
- Not here say... "we are his witnesses of these things"
- the high priest and friends could deny, complain, do bodily harm, etc.
- but there was no way they could bury the truth of Jesus
- their predictable response? Acts 5:33 ... their answer for any opposition seemed to be "kill it"!
- What is your answer to gospel truth? to the cross?
- Jesus' crucifixion is not isolated in history
- it happened - and it happened for you and me
- but, like the high priest, we make the choice - he chose so badly - will you?
- They first acknowledged loyalty to God - Acts 5:29
INTRO: Preaching the cross does not always make sense to stubborn, prejudiced people. My hope and prayer are that the preaching of the cross of Jesus will affect each of us and make of us better people.
Cecil A. Hutson
17 August 2008