Engage: The Whole Gospel Summary and Goal The world has always challenged us to de-emphasize certain aspects of the gospel, but if we do that, we rob the gospel of its power. We have to remain courageous in preaching the full good news of the gospel. Nothing else will help. Main Passage Acts 2:37-40 Session Outline 1. The Whole Gospel Brings Conviction (Acts 2:37) 2. The Whole Gospel Points to Repentance (Acts 2:38-39) 3. The Whole Gospel Illumines the Hope of Salvation (Acts 2:40) Theological Theme We rob the gospel of its power when we fail to preach the message of conviction and repentance of sin. Christ Connection Since the entire Bible points to Christ, communicating the whole gospel gives a fuller understanding of what Christ did, is doing, and will do for us. Missional Application Preaching the whole gospel confronts the false claims of the world with the hope and salvation found only in Christ. 1 Leader Guide
Historical Context of Acts Purpose To give an accurate account of the birth and growth of the Christian church Author Luke (a Gentile physician) To Whom Written Theophilus and all lovers of God Date Written Between A.D. 63 and 70 Setting Acts is the connecting link between Christ s life and the life of the church, between the Gospels and the Letters. Key Verse But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 Key People Peter, John, James, Stephen, Philip, Paul, Barnabas, Cornelius, James (Jesus brother), Timothy, Lydia, Silas, Titus, Apollos, Agabus, Ananias, Felix, Festus, Agrippa, Luke Key Places Jerusalem, Samaria, Lydda, Joppa, Antioch, Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Caesarea, Malta, Rome Special Features Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Because Acts ends so abruptly, Luke may have planned to write a third book, continuing the story. Excerpted from the Life Application Study Bible (NIV). Tyndale House Publishes, 2003. November 5, 2017 2
3 Session Plan Engage: The Whole Gospel For Further Discussion On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your comfort level in talking about the Bible s contents with others, with 10 being extremely comfortable? How would you like for that to change or grow? How do you practically sharpen your skills in discussing the Bible with others? Introduction What passages or parts of the Bible are you the most drawn to? Why are you drawn to those particular passages? What parts of the Bible are you less familiar with, or read less frequently? Why is that the case? This week s session will examine how Peter utilized the totality of Scripture to explain that Jesus is the Messiah. It is important to notice that the entire interchange was predicated on Peter s presenting the whole gospel as a testimony and validation of Jesus as the Messiah. 1. The Whole Gospel Brings Conviction (Acts 2:37) Prior to the passage for this week, Peter masterfully wove together a host of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah into a concise proof that Jesus of Nazareth was precisely the One to whom those prophecies pointed. This was the very first time such a defense was offered after the giving of the Holy Spirit. Peter s defense took place at Pentecost, in the midst of thousands of Jews who had traveled from around the region to celebrate the sacred festival. Describe a time when you were unexpectedly pulled into a conversation about your faith with someone with different beliefs. How did you respond? What do you wish you had been able to articulate more clearly? What passages can you remember having a deep, convicting impact on you? Describe what you remember about that experience. Peter s ability to weave in various passages in order to provide a robust defense of Jesus as Messiah resulted in what Luke described as deep conviction among the people. With anguish of heart over their sin, the people cried out to the only One who could point them to the way of salvation. 3 Leader Guide
2. The Whole Gospel Points to Repentance (Acts 2:38-39) The preceding sermon by Peter did not contain a call to repentance initially. It claimed Jesus as Messiah and pointed out that the Jews blindly executed Him. The resulting cry of desperation, Brothers, what must we do? had no guarantee of a favorable answer. Amazingly and miraculously, Peter s answer was not one of justified judgment, but of hope! The call to repentance had in mind nothing less than a complete and absolute change of heart, recognizing their sin and turning from it. How would you explain what repentance means to someone? What are the absolutely key ingredients in a biblical definition of repentance? 3. The Whole Gospel Illumines the Hope of Salvation (Acts 2:40) One of the critical components of Peter s sermon was his testimony. Peter was passionately presenting Christ, with whom he had an extremely personal, transformative experience. Peter knew how it felt to be forgiven by Christ, though Christ knew Peter s every failure. Even more, Peter knew firsthand that, if the people would only repent of their sin with a contrite heart, Christ was faithful to forgive. Peter was marked forever by the grace he experienced in the presence of Jesus this was his testimony and the fuel for his preaching the whole gospel. Peter s plea to be saved from this corrupt generation made it clear to his hearers that there was an alternative option a better option than what had characterized their lives up until that point. How does this plea still shape our lives as believers today? For Further Discussion If the whole gospel points to repentance (and it does), what are some passages in the Old Testament that you are aware of in which repentance is highlighted? How does the way repentance is depicted in those passages align with your own definition from the previous question? For Further Discussion Why is a knowledge of the gospel s content important for missionally engaging our culture? How do you see that on display in Peter s address in Acts 2? Conclusion When you speak with people about your faith, how do you balance truth and confrontation of sin with a compassion for the lost? Which side of that balance do you naturally gravitate toward? What practices or spiritual disciplines do you regularly engage in to fill your heart and mind with the whole gospel? When was the last time you experienced the Holy Spirit calling to mind something you had meditated on in your time with God? What was noteworthy about that experience? Session 3 4
Expanded Session Content 3 Engage: The Whole Gospel Introduction This fall, CBS introduced a new sitcom called By the Book. Based on the best-selling book The Year of Living Biblically, the show focuses on a man who faces multiple life-defining moments, like discovering that he will be a father and dealing with the loss of a close friend. Awash in the current of life s rapidly changing seasons and desperate for an anchor, he decides to live as biblically as he can. His desire is not simply to do the commonly accepted acts (giving to the poor, speaking truth, etc.), but also the more obscure guidelines he discovers (eating locusts, playing a harp, and so on). Predictably, the comedy of the show stems off of the dissonance between modern culture and what the Bible points to as biblical behavior with a special emphasis on the more obscure, bizarre examples. While the show certainly has met mixed reviews from believers, it does shine a light on an important truth: having a firm grasp on how to understand and communicate the whole gospel is critical to living missionally in today s world. There are customs that seem odd, passages we rarely study in favor of favorite texts, and apologetic issues that will increasingly be used as fodder for arguments against Christianity. The truth is that a wealth of transformative power is wielded when we preach and teach the whole gospel. What passages or parts of the Bible are you the most drawn to? Why are you drawn to those particular passages? What parts of the Bible are you less familiar with, or read less frequently? Why is that the case? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your comfort level in talking about the Bible s contents with others, with 10 being extremely comfortable? How would you like for that to change or grow? How do you practically sharpen your skills in discussing the Bible with others? 5 Leader Guide
Session Summary This week s session will examine how Peter utilized the totality of Scripture to explain that Jesus is the Messiah. After his wonderful, Spirit-inspired explanation, Peter had the opportunity to engage his hearers with actionable next steps toward accepting the forgiveness of Christ. It is important to notice that the entire interchange, though, was predicated on Peter s presenting the whole gospel as a testimony and validation of Jesus as the Messiah. 1. The Whole Gospel Brings Conviction (Acts 2:37) Prior to the passage for this week, Peter masterfully wove together a host of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah into a concise proof that Jesus of Nazareth was precisely the One to whom those prophecies pointed. This was the very first time such a defense was offered after the giving of the Holy Spirit. Peter s defense took place at Pentecost, in the midst of thousands of Jews who had traveled from around the region to celebrate the sacred festival. Peter s defense initially began as an answer to the mocking accusation that those who spoke in various languages under the guidance of the Holy Spirit were drunk. As he dispelled the notion that the believers were drunk, Peter launched into his testimony of Jesus as Messiah, using a passage from Joel and multiple passages from Psalms. The corroborating evidence from the breadth of Scripture moved even the mocking crowd to a place of contrition. Describe a time when you were unexpectedly pulled into a conversation about your faith with someone with different beliefs. How did you respond? What do you wish you had been able to articulate more clearly? What passages can you remember having a deep, convicting impact on you? Describe what you remember about that experience. Peter s ability to weave in various passages in order to provide a robust defense of Jesus as Messiah resulted in what Luke described as deep conviction among the people. Bear in mind, in his defense, Peter was confrontational enough to close his address with, God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah! Even in light of such a strong rebuke and confrontation, pointing out the grievousness of their sin, the people responded with repentance and acknowledged their desperation. With anguish of heart over their sin, the people cried out to the only One who could point them to the way of salvation. Session 3 6
2. The Whole Gospel Points to Repentance (Acts 2:38-39) The preceding sermon by Peter did not contain a call to repentance initially. It claimed Jesus as Messiah and pointed out that the Jews blindly executed Him. The resulting cry of desperation, Brothers, what must we do? had no guarantee of a favorable answer. Amazingly and miraculously, Peter s answer was not one of justified judgment, but of hope! The call to repentance had in mind nothing less than a complete and absolute change of heart, recognizing their sin and turning from it. In this passage, baptism was linked with the gift of the Holy Spirit as well as the authority of Christ over the one being baptized. The order of Peter s wording is important. Repentance must precede baptism in order for baptism not to be merely an empty ritual. Likewise, the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit are also preceded by repentance. Baptism & Repentance The connection between baptism and repentance was not a foreign idea. The Jews had widely participated in it under the ministry of John the Baptist. It also had precedent in the ceremonial washings of the priests during their sacrificial work as intermediaries between God and His people. How would you explain what repentance means to someone? What are the absolutely key ingredients in a biblical definition of repentance? If the whole gospel points to repentance (and it does), what are some passages in the Old Testament that you are aware of in which repentance is highlighted? How does the way repentance is depicted in those passages align with your own definition from the previous question? Once again referencing the Old Testament prophets as a way of demonstrating Jesus as the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, Peter announced that the promise for salvation extended beyond just his immediate audience. Referencing Isaiah 57:19 and Joel 2:32, Peter proclaimed the spread of Christ s forgiveness through the generations and throughout the lands. 3. The Whole Gospel Illumines the Hope of Salvation (Acts 2:40) What Luke recorded in Acts 2 was but the beginning of Peter s gospel engagement. Luke described the subsequent encounter with many other words. Peter s appeal, using the whole of Scripture (what modern readers refer to as the Old Testament), continued to urge those who heard to turn from this corrupt generation to the forgiveness and redemption that had been promised for centuries, and was now available. One of the critical components of Peter s appeal, though, was his testimony. Peter was not making a factual, well-reasoned argument for the sake of persuading those who listened. Such a sterile idea of Peter s address impoverishes what it means to preach the whole gospel. Rather, Peter was passionately presenting Christ, with whom he had an extremely 7 Leader Guide
personal, transformative experience. Peter knew how it felt to be forgiven by Christ, though Christ knew Peter s every failure. Peter lived both parts of his life before Christ and after knowing Christ and his pleas for repentance were informed by that. Even more, Peter knew firsthand that, if the people would only repent of their sin with a contrite heart, Christ was faithful to forgive. Peter was marked forever by the grace he experienced in the presence of Jesus this was his testimony and the fuel for his preaching the whole gospel. Peter s plea to be saved from this corrupt generation made it clear to his hearers that there was an alternative option a better option than what had characterized their lives up until that point. How does this plea still shape our lives as believers today? Why is a knowledge of the gospel s content important for missionally engaging our culture? How do you see that on display in Peter s address in Acts 2? There is an indispensable role for preaching and teaching in sharing the gospel with others. St. Francis of Assisi is often mistakenly quoted as saying some variation of, Preach the gospel. When necessary, use words. This phrase is erroneously batted around from time to time to create an unbiblical dichotomy between speaking the gospel and living the gospel. No such separation exists in the New Testament especially for Peter in Acts 2. The truth is that when the whole gospel is shared, the Holy Spirit empowers the word He also inspired. However, there is a caveat to be noted. In John 14:26, speaking of how the Holy Spirit will work in His followers, Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit will, in part, remind you of everything I have told you. In other words, the Holy Spirit calls to memory the treasures of the gospel that believers have stored in their hearts and minds. Evangelism and the Old Testament In describing the evangelistic message of Peter in light of the Old Testament, F. F. Bruce notes, Peter urged his hearers to make sure, by a repentant calling on the Lord, that they belonged to the remnant and saved themselves from this perverse generation. The new community is viewed, in fact, as the believing remnant of the old Israel and the nucleus of the new. Conclusion Just as Peter did not shy away from confronting the sin of the Jews in crucifying the Messiah (in spite of the clear fulfillment of biblical prophecy demonstrated in Jesus life and ministry), neither are modern-day believers to shy away from the Bible s hard truths. A knowledge of the whole gospel, accompanied with a Spirit-driven presentation of its truths, can lead to powerful moments of repentance and restoration. Simply plucking a verse or two out of context does not have this same power. Furthermore, preaching, teaching, speaking, and living the whole gospel allows the believer to have conversations that reflect the character of Jesus. Notice that Peter demonstrated both forthright confrontation of sin Session 3 8
with deep compassion and concern for those far from God. Such a delicate balance reflects the character of Jesus. When you speak with people about your faith, how do you balance truth and confrontation of sin with a compassion for the lost? Which side of that balance do you naturally gravitate toward? What practices or spiritual disciplines do you regularly engage in to fill your heart and mind with the whole gospel? When was the last time you experienced the Holy Spirit calling to mind something you had meditated on in your time with God? What was noteworthy about that experience? Peter could not have had a more culturally confrontational message than telling the assembled Jews at Pentecost that the Messiah they were waiting on was Jesus, whom they recently crucified. What particular aspects of your faith do you find to be volatile topics today? How do you speak truthfully about them in light of the gospel? Why is this important? Prayer of Response Pray that God will create a yearning in our hearts for the whole gospel. Pray that your group will experience, even in this coming week, how the Holy Spirit calls to mind what Christ has taught them in perfect timing. Praise God for the way He has already impacted the lives of those in your group with the gospel. 9 Leader Guide
Extended Commentary Acts 2:37-40 2:37. The combination of God s Scripture and God s Spirit working through God s servant had the intended effect. From their initial question What does this mean? (2:12), the people now progressed to specific response Brothers, what shall we do? The phrase cut to the heart translates katenugesan meaning stung or stunned. Had some people listening to Peter that day also screamed for blood in Pilate s hall? While the word conviction does not appear in our verse, this clearly reflects that heart attitude. The New Testament uses this word to describe the work of the Holy Spirit by which we see ourselves as we are in God s sight. 2:38-39. Peter hesitated not a moment for the answer to their question, calling for repentance and baptism and offering forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repentance is not a new theme in the New Testament, having appeared in the ministry of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3) and in the preaching of Jesus (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3). The context shows baptism here refers to water, not the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, water baptism became the uniform of the Lord s people. Today we call it believers baptism, the conscious identification with Jesus on the part of those who have trusted him for salvation. The gift of the Holy Spirit then became the seal of salvation. To whom is this available? For all whom the Lord our God will call. 2:40-41. Luke hastens to tell us we do not have the entire sermon recorded in his book. Peter spoke many other words and pleaded with his hearers who responded. That day God added three thousand people to the small number of believers already serving as Christ s witnesses. But wait. Don t miss the importance of what Luke does not say. This time there was no sound, no flame, and no foreign language. These people received the Holy Spirit because that s what Peter promised in Jesus name. Pentecost was a one-time event, with only a mild echo or two appearing elsewhere during the first century. Are we to believe that Peter baptized three thousand people on that one day? Of course not. The Bible knows no hierarchical system whereby people must be baptized at the hand of some official or titled clergy. We should probably assume all 120 believers assisted in this magnificent demonstration. In the space of just a few verses, we see what happens when people trust Christ for salvation. First, they must recognize their need; then, they must receive God s gift; and finally, they must obey the message. Session 3 10
For Next Week Engage: Anywhere, Anytime Main Passages --Acts 8:26-36 Session Outline 1. Divine Interruptions (Acts 8:26-28) 2. Divine Situation (Acts 8:29-33) 3. Divine Appointment (Acts 8:34-36) Memorize 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. Acts 2:38 11 Leader Guide