unstoppable message

---

SESSION 2

UNSTOPPABLE MESSAGE

The Point Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

The Passage Acts 2:22-24,32-33,36-38

The Bible Meets Life There are many good groups and organizations in our communities seeking to benefit society in some way. The church, however, is unique. Many organizations are short-lived or diminish as the need they seek to meet is realized. Or they change when the leadership changes. The church is different. Christ gave His church one unchanging message to proclaim: the message of salvation in Christ.

The Setting After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples followed His command to return to Jerusalem and await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Gathered together on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of a violent rushing wind and the appearance of flames like tongues of fire. The disciples began to speak in different languages. The Jews, who had gathered from various nations, miraculously understood what was being said in their own language (Acts 2:1-6). The crowd was amazed, and Peter took the opportunity to tell them about Jesus and the good news of the gospel.

© 2016 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

95

What does the Bible say?

Acts 2:22-24,32-33,36-38 (HCSB) Miracles, wonders, and signs (v. 22)—Miracles show the power of God. Wonders emphasize the response of the people who witness those miracles. Signs are intended to point attention back to God. Repent (v. 38)—In the New Testament, “repent” means to change one’s mind in the sense of turning away from sin and self, and turning toward God (Jesus) in a way that makes God (Jesus) the center of one’s life.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.

22

Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.

23

God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.”

24

32

“God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this.

Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.” 33

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!” 36

When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”

37

“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

38

96

S e ss i o n 2

© 2016 LifeWay

THE POINT

Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

GET INTO THE STUDY

10 minutes

DISCUSS: Invite your group members to

Notes

discuss Question #1 on page 75 of the PSG (Personal Study Guide): “What often gets you sidetracked during the day?”

TIP: Encourage everyone to answer Question #1. A response to an icebreaker question like this one encourages attendees to respond to other questions later in the study.

Allow time for each person to respond. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 76): Do you know the original mission statement of Harvard University? “Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and … seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of him (Proverbs 2:3).” Surprised? When the school was founded in 1636, the administration hired only Christian professors. The formation of Christian character was a top priority for students, and ministers were trained and equipped to share the gospel. Today, the university maintains a legacy of academic excellence but has lost its original mission. Harvard University has experienced “mission drift”; it lost sight of its original purpose. 5 SAY: “Mission drift happens in the church as well, but it doesn’t have to. God has given us a clear unstoppable message that drives our mission.” GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 76 of the PSG: “Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.” PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. Thank God for sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and for entrusting us to share this powerful message with others.

PLAYLIST PICK: “Jesus, Only Jesus” by Matt Redman

© 2016 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

97

10 minutes

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 2:22-24 (HCSB)

Notes

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. 24 God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.” 22

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, post newspaper or magazine articles with recent significant world events, sports news, or pop culture headlines around your meeting space. Ask: “In your opinion, which is the largest news story?” Instruct your group to rate the stories from “most significant” to “least significant.” Discuss how when we use Twitter®, Instagram®, Periscope®, and other media to share news, our messages quickly become old news as new posts replace older ones. Today’s study examines how the early Christ-followers took on the task of sharing the most important message in history: the gospel. Unlike messages that fill our social media feeds, the gospel will never be outdated news. It is unstoppable. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 2:22-24. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 77): In his message, Peter aimed for the heart of the crowd. He stated simply: Jesus was crucified, but God raised Him back to life.

»»

We can never grasp the meaning of the cross until we understand the depth of our sin and how it separates us from God.

»»

Jesus didn’t merely die; He rose again. Because of this, Jesus is unique in all of history; He is the only person who ever lived, died, and returned to life never to die again.

ALTERNATE QUESTION: What are the essentials of the gospel message?

»»

Jesus’ death and resurrection are the heartbeat of the gospel message.

DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 77 of the PSG: “What can we learn from Peter’s approach to sharing the gospel?” TRANSITION: Peter’s message was clear: Jesus died and rose again to bring salvation. The next verses reveal another important truth: Jesus is Lord.

98

S e ss i o n 2

© 2016 LifeWay

THE POINT

Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

Acts 2:22-24 Commentary Jesus died and rose again to bring salvation. Verse 22: On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in power. The believers in Jerusalem who were empowered by the Spirit spoke in many other languages and drew the attention of a crowd. Peter spoke to the crowd to help them correctly interpret the events (Acts 2:1-21). Peter initially quoted words from the prophet Joel that explained and confirmed what they had seen and heard (Joel 2:28-32). He boldly directed the men to listen to him. Peter started by calling attention to Jesus. Peter clarified who Jesus was by calling Him ”the Nazarene,” that is, He was from the town of Nazareth. Jesus was sometimes identified as the Nazarene during His earthly ministry. Rather than immediately jumping to the reality that Jesus is the Messiah, Peter emphasized that Jesus was a man. Thousands of people had encountered Him in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria during the previous three years. Skeptics could’ve questioned Jesus’ deity; there was no question of His humanity. Peter noted Jesus was “pointed out … by God.” God chose Him for a unique position—a role that no one else could fill. God worked in and through Jesus’ humanity to prove who He really was. Peter reminded the people of the miracles, wonders, and signs done by Jesus. Miracles show the power of God. Wonders emphasize the response of people who witness miracles. Signs are intended to point back to God. Verse 23: Peter emphasized that the Jews played a role in Jesus’ death. The Jewish religious leaders arrested Jesus and delivered up Jesus to those who could carry out their ultimate desire. The Jews used “lawless people” (the Romans) to kill Jesus. While the Jewish leaders plotted to put Jesus to death and the Romans carried out the sentence, the Jewish people also bore the responsibility for what had happened. They should have recognized who Jesus was: God’s Messiah. Though most people who knew Jesus did not anticipate His death, God was not caught off guard. The sacrificial death of Jesus was part of God’s determined plan for His creation. God had not only decreed that Jesus would die (1 Peter 1:20) but also set the appointed time for it to happen (Galatians 4:4-5). God planned for the death of His Son because there was no other way for sinful people to be in a right relationship with Him. Verse 24: Peter stressed that “God raised Him up.” God restored Jesus to life again. This was also part of God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. Why was it not possible for death to hold Jesus in its grip? Because His death and resurrection were a part of God’s unstoppable plan. God had chosen Jesus for His unique position as Messiah to make salvation possible for all humanity—a truth Peter would clarify soon enough. Nothing, not even death itself, could hinder God’s purpose.

© 2016 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

99

10 minutes

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 2:32-33,36 (HCSB)

Notes

“God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.” 32

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”

36

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 2:32-33,36. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 78-79): Peter’s message centered on the power and sovereignty of Jesus.

»»

Jesus “has been exalted to the right hand of God” (v. 33). With the Father, Jesus sits in the most authoritative, sovereign position in the universe.

»»

Early Romans often used the term kurios when they referred to Caesar to signify his divinity and authority.

»»

In verse 36, Peter used the same term, ”Lord,” as a majestic title to describe Jesus’ sovereignty and divine power. The word points to the Deity of Jesus; Peter was declaring Jesus is God.

DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 78 of the PSG: “What are the personal implications of recognizing Jesus as Lord?” (Note: Help your group to consider what it means to acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son and to follow Him in our daily lives. How do we live this out?)

ALTERNATE QUESTION: When is it a struggle to know with certainty that Jesus is Lord?

SAY: “Because Jesus is Lord and Messiah, He is worthy of our worship and our obedience.” DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 79 of the PSG: “What are the worldwide implications of Jesus’ role as Lord?” TRANSITION: The next verses focus on our response when we recognize Jesus as Lord—we’re called to turn from our sin.

10 0

S e ss i o n 2

© 2016 LifeWay

THE POINT

Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

Acts 2:32-33,36 Commentary Jesus is exalted as Lord. Verse 32: After citing David’s prophecy in Psalm  16:10 proclaiming God’s plan, Peter again noted that God resurrected Jesus from the dead just as He had planned. The resurrection of Jesus was the primary focus of the apostles’ preaching after Pentecost. That’s because the resurrection is the foundational truth of the Christian faith. It provides assurance that Jesus’ sacrificial death brought victory over sin and death for all who believe. Paul later noted that if the resurrection did not happen then our faith is “worthless” (1 Corinthians 15:17) and all humanity is still held captive by the guilt and power of sin. Peter added that he and the other apostles were witnesses of it. They had not only seen Jesus die and be buried; they also saw Him restored to life after being dead for three days. While the other eleven apostles were standing with Peter in front of the crowd (Acts 2:14), the witnesses could have included many of the 120 who were gathered together when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:15). Scripture confirms that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6), so many others could have testified as well to the truth of the resurrection. Verse 33: Jesus ascended into heaven where He is living still and where He has been “exalted to the right hand of God.” The person seated at the right hand of a king was in a position associated with great power and authority. On the morning of His crucifixion, as He endured the pretense of a trial before the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus prophesied that He would soon sit in this exalted position “at the right hand of the Power of God” (Luke 22:69). This is the place Jesus now occupies in heaven as He reigns with His Father over God’s kingdom and over all creation. In this powerful position Jesus received the Holy Spirit and the authority to distribute the Spirit to others in accordance with God’s promise. Thus like water is poured out from above and floods whatever is below, God’s Spirit was poured out from heaven and engulfed the believers who had gathered in the room in Jerusalem. Peter went on to emphasize that what the people of Israel had seen and heard that day—the Spirit’s powerful activity that enabled the believers “to speak in different languages” (Acts 2:4)—was further evidence of Jesus’ identity and authority. Verse 36: In a powerful summation Peter emphasized a point he did not want the Israelites to miss. All of them needed to know “with certainty” the truth about Jesus. In referring to Jesus as “Lord,” Peter reached the climax of his message. More than simply a designation of respect (as it was sometimes used in the Bible), the word “Lord” here indicated the divine nature of Jesus.

© 2016 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

101

10 minutes

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 2:37-38 (HCSB)

Notes

When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” 38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 37

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 2:37-38. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 80): Peter’s sermon had a devastating impact on his hearers.

»»

In the original Greek, Luke’s words in verse 37 mean his hearers were “cut to the heart.” These people were suffering and sorrowing over the sin of having rejected and crucified the Messiah.

»»

When the people asked, “What must we do?” (v. 37), Peter was poised and ready with a call to action: “Repent … and be baptized” (v. 38).

»»

The word “repent” in the Greek language means to change the way you think about your life and your behavior. It is agreeing that God is right and we were wrong. Peter told his listeners to repent and reverse the course of their lives.

ALTERNATE QUESTION: How did you initially respond when you heard the gospel?

DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 81 of the PSG: “Why is it important that we repent when we follow Christ?” (Note: Point out that following Christ involves an initial repentance when we come to Him and ongoing repentance as we turn from sin and seek Him daily.) DO: In advance, download from iTunes® the song “Jesus, Only Jesus” by Matt Redman. Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 81 of the PSG on their own as the song plays. If time permits, allow volunteers to share their responses. SAVIOR AND LORD:

»» »»

What phrases or images most stand out to you from this song? How have you seen a display of Jesus’ power recently? In the space belowyour notes, write out a brief prayer in response.

102

S e ss i o n 2

© 2016 LifeWay

THE POINT

Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

Acts 2:37-38 Commentary The message of Christ calls for a response. Verse 37: While the Jews had earlier seen evidence of the Spirit at work in the lives of believers, now they experienced Him at work in their own lives. On the night before His death, Jesus told His disciples about the Holy Spirit’s ministry. Jesus promised that the Spirit would “convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). Now on the day of Pentecost, with thousands of Jews from around the world gathered in Jerusalem, the Spirit carried out His assignment as He brought a “deep conviction” on the people who had heard Peter’s message. A more literal translation of “deep conviction” would be “cut to the heart.” Peter’s words brought intense emotional pain as the Jewish people realized the enormity of their sin. It was natural that they wanted a solution to their problem. So they asked Peter and the other apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” Verse 38: The solution to their problem was to repent. They needed to change their thinking, especially about Jesus, sin, and salvation. To repent in their thinking about Jesus they needed to acknowledge Him as Lord and Messiah. To repent in their thinking about sin they needed to understand sin separates us from God and Jesus provided the perfect, final sacrifice for our sin. To repent in their thinking about salvation they needed to know that faith in Jesus is the only way to come into right relationship with the Father and experience eternal life. The biblical usage of “repent” also refers to a change of action—not only thinking differently but also acting on this new belief. Thus Peter added that each of them needed to be baptized. Baptism is an outward picture of an inward change that has happened to a person. Thus after the people changed their thinking about Jesus, sin, and salvation they were to give evidence of that change by being baptized. Being baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” means acknowledging His identity and accepting His authority. This baptism would reflect their newfound commitment to Christ. This is the only place in the Book of Acts where there is any question about the relationship of baptism, repentance, and forgiveness of sins. Some have incorrectly interpreted this verse to teach that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins. But this is not taught anywhere else in Scripture. Not long after Pentecost on a different occasion, Peter specifically charged people to “repent … so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19) without a mention of baptism. At other times belief (Acts 10:43) or faith (Acts 26:18) are mentioned as the basis for forgiveness of sins. Thus the phrase in 2:38 should be understood as forgiveness of sins as a result of repentance, and baptism is the outward demonstration of the changed mind and life. To those who experienced salvation, Peter noted they would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This gift does not refer to special manifestations of the Spirit (which are His gifts), but instead to His indwelling presence in believers’ lives.

© 2016 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

103

5 minutes

LIVE IT OUT SAY: “Today’s study points to the unstoppable message that salvation is found in Jesus.”

Notes

GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 82 of the PSG.

»»

Evaluate the focus of your spiritual life. Is it focused on Jesus or on programs, activities, or your own interests? If your faith isn’t centered on Jesus, ask God to change your heart and attentions so that they are firmly fixed on Him.

»»

Dive deep into Scripture. Over the next few weeks, read through the Book of Acts. You’ll learn about the challenges and joys the early church experienced and gain a fresh appreciation for the message of the gospel.

»»

Be prepared to share the gospel. Then, pray for opportunities to share the message of Jesus in your everyday conversations. In a genuine way, share about what Jesus has done for you.

Wrap It Up
 SAY: “Let’s avoid ‘mission drift’ in our lives and in our churches. The message of Jesus Christ and salvation found only in Him is the reason for all we do.”

Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog. LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry 10 4

S e ss i o n 2

© 2016 LifeWay