Sermons

Better Together

OUR PASSION

The followers of Christ displayed an unusual passion for His work.

1. They Preached Jesus

(Acts 4:1-3) Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus the resurrection from the dead. So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.

A. They were all in this together.

B. Preaching Jesus often invites persecution.

(2-3) Because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus the resurrection from the dead. So they seized them and put them in custody…

C. Persecution for Christ leads to passion for Christ.

2. They Named Jesus

(5-7) The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”

(8-12) Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man – by what means he was healed – let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead – by Him this man is standing here before you healthy. This Jesus is ‘The stone despised by you builders, who has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

A. Healing comes only from Jesus.

B. Salvation comes only from Jesus.

3. They Exalted Jesus

(15-20) After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it! But so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

A. “Don’t preach!”

B. “Can’t stop!”