Preaching the Good News (Matthew 21:33-46, Acts 3:11-26)
Listen.October 5th, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
Last week as I watched the news broadcasts on television, I marveled at the ability of the anchor people to keep a calm and unemotional appearance as they relayed information about the economic crisis in our country and around the world. They reported the initial vote of the House of Representatives without betraying their biases, and so with the Senate’s vote.
The only emotion I saw was when our local anchor displayed a sense of great joy when the Sox clinched their division in the one-game playoff. There was some joy and gladness in his voice and demeanor. The same was true of anchor Charles Gibson on ABC World News when at the end of the broadcast he said, “Go Cubs!”
How interesting and ironic that sports should elicit more excitement than our failing economy and even generate more highs and joyful exuberance that does our faith and our speech about Jesus Christ. This morning we want to zero in on an aspect of discipleship that is scary for some and inhibiting for others. This is the basic fact that as the people of God, disciples of Jesus, we are responsible to share the story through our speech. Our speech needs to reflect the joy that is ours and the urgency of the message of life and salvation in Christ Jesus. Does it? Or are we like the anchors on the nightly news who feel compelled not to allow emotions or joy into their presentations?
Peter’s sermon #2
The text for this morning is Peter’s second sermon that is recorded in the book of Acts. His first sermon produced tremendous results; three thousand people repented, were baptized and believed in Jesus as the Messiah. His second sermon produces different results, as we shall see.
The context that precipitates his sermon begins after the Pentecost experience when Peter and John were going to the Temple for prayer. It was 3:00 in the afternoon and as they came to the Gate called Beautiful, they were encountered by a lame person. This man, according to the text, had been lame from his birth and was carried to that gate of the Temple each day in order to beg for financial help. He looked to Peter and John expecting some money. Peter exclaimed, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give to you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” The man did so. The man then clung to Peter and John as they made their way into the Temple.
The people marveled and were astonished at what had taken place. Peter used this opportunity to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah; the one God had raised from the dead. In his sermon, Peter remarked that it was not he who healed this man, it was God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He connects Jesus with the story of the Hebrew people and continues to drive his argument forward that Jesus is the Christ. He speaks of Moses and Samuel and Abraham as he argues for Jesus as the Messiah.
He zeroes in on the people and holds them responsible for the crucifixion and the death of Jesus and for the necessity of their personal faith. They can not expect life and salvation based upon the faith of their ancestors. They needed to repent and turn from their wicked ways. They needed to have their sins forgiven; their sins wiped clean.
The results of his message; one that was forthright and stern, but also hopeful was very interesting. The leaders of the Temple; the priests, the Captain of the Temple and the Sadducees (the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection) were much annoyed at Peter’s preaching. They arrested Peter and John and took them into custody.
The other result was that through Peter’s courage to preach the truth, 5,000 came to faith! Another amazing result worked by the power of the Spirit through the words and courage of Peter. Peter felt deeply about his faith in Jesus and that faith made it possible to preach in a heartfelt and courageous way the gospel message; no matter the risks that were at hand.
Our messages
Now, it is true that none of us are as eloquent, or courageous as Peter, but we are challenged to speak the word of life in Christ when it people need to hear it. This is a challenge to speak the word of comfort and hope, but also to speak a word that challenges people to change their attitudes, their lifestyle, and their behavior!
Today when we hear the word “sermon” what comes to mind? It could be many hear think about what I’m doing right now. Some think of a long boring speech; others think of a speech that espouses things that are irrelevant or immaterial to modern life. We even make fun of people who are “preachy.” Well, we may not all be called to preach a sermon, or even to do the research required for one, but we are all called and challenged to know our faith well enough to be able to share our convictions and belief in Jesus. We are to be able to speak with joy and from the heart about the amazing works of God. Are we doing that?
To be able to do that we first must know what Scripture says concerning Jesus. Notice in Peter’s sermon, he related Jesus to the scripture of the Hebrews. He had to know what it said. Knowledge and belief worked together. Ben Campbell Johnson wrote Speaking of God. In that book he writes about the difference between “God talk” and “God speech.” God talk is what a person does when they make reference to God in every conversation. This becomes boring and repetitive and mechanical. No one really wants to hear God talk!
But “God speech” is different. It is candid, spontaneous and natural as people converse with one another. This type of sharing our faith is winsome and believable because it comes from the heart. It is not phony. It is not a fake smile attached to a heart that is hurting! Rather this type of speech is from the heart and represents a deep faith in Jesus. We can tell phonies from the true believer.
As disciples, we are called, not to be preachy, or to force others to hear a long detailed argument about our faith, nor are we called to witness in ways that alienate perspective believers, but we are called to talk about that in which we believe and in which we find great joy. Have we developed a pattern of God speech in our lives so that when the opportunity presents itself we are able to speak the word of hope and joy and even repentance to those around us? Do we know our scriptures well enough and believe strongly enough in Christ. If not, I pray that the Spirit would convict us and turn us to repent and be renewed and strengthened in our faith.
Grace filled messages
In Peter’s sermon, he gave the glory of God. He used scripture and he pointed in his message to Jesus. It is in Christ that there is hope, joy and true and abundant life. This is a message that many people need to hear. This was true when Peter proclaimed Christ and this is true today even when people think Jesus is irrelevant and his people are irrelevant. People do not understand that without Christ there is no hope and there certainly is no abundant life.
Today with the failing economy; with wars around the globe; with global warming and the depleting of our natural resources; with businesses failing and credit hard to obtain, where is our help to come? It comes from God in Jesus Christ. So many need to find meaning in life and hope for the future – and we have the words of eternal life – and we have the words of abundant and meaningful life now. When friends and neighbors are hurting and struggling; when people experience the death of a loved one; when things go wrong in life; when illness happens, are we ready to share the hope and the good news of Jesus Christ?
This the challenge; the call this morning is not for everyone to go home and write a sermon; but it is to know scripture well enough so that the word of God can touch our hearts in such a way that we are ready to tell the story and touch lives around us. Our stories and our sharing Jesus’ story may not provoke the response from the officials as did Peter’s; nor will our sharing produce 5,000 more believers; but to share the story of Jesus with conviction and joy is something we all can do.
We share the story with the help of the Spirit not in burdensome and overpowering ways, but with empathy and love for others and then we step back and allow the Holy Spirit to work.
Conclusion
In 1529 Martin Luther saw a German people that did not know what their faith was about. He encountered priests who didn’t even know the Lord’s Prayer and entire families that were ignorant of scripture. He proposed a catechism that would be fairly easy to learn and that would encompass the faith. No one wrote it for him, so he did it himself. Originally it was designed to be printed in chart-like form so that the head of the house could teach it to the children and others in the family.
In order to develop “God speech” as part of our life, we need to know the basics and we need the Spirit to convince of the truth so that when we hear other people’s stories, we can share our own stories and at the same time share God’s story of life in Christ. Power to you! May God be glorified! Amen.