Pastor read from the word of God and welcomed the congregation.
Praise and worship: Worship team
Offertory Prayer: Elder T. Songzalian
Sermon- Sunday school by Pastor Biakson (Lesson no: 5)
Benediction: Elder B. Langkham
Topic: “Peter’s Sermon on Pentecost Day” (Acts 2:14-41)
A. CLARIFYING THE DOUBTS OF THE PEOPLE (Acts 2:13-15)
In verse Acts 2:13 people made fun of those who started to talk in different tongues accusing them of drinking too much wine. To which Peter stood up with the 11 and clarified the crowd on their behaviour. In verses 14-15 he explains the crowd that they were not drunk and that it was too early to be drunk as it was only nine in the morning.
B. EXPLANATION OF THE THINGS OCCURRING (Acts 2:16-21)
Peter explains the prophesy about the coming of the Messiah and establishing of his kingdom and even quotes the exact words spoken by Joel. (Hebrews 1:2, 1Peter 1:20) (Joel 2:28-32)
C. THE MESSAGE HE PROCLAIMED (Acts 2:22-36)
- Peter did not preach religion, a religious system or even a creed, but he preached a living Person, the Person of God’s own Son and the work which He accomplished for guilty men and women. He preached the mighty acts of God; what God had done in His Son for the salvation of men and women.
- He preached His incarnation (Acts 2:22) in the words “Jesus of Nazareth was a man…” He was the God-man, the man who was”accredited by God”, a phrase which indicates His deity.
- He preached His crucifixion (Acts 2:23), which declares divine sovereignty and human responsibility, and which tells us that the Lord was born to die for a purpose (1 Peter 3:18).
- He preached His resurrection (Acts 2:24-32). Peter showed that this was predicted in the Old Testament (verses 25-28), and this was always the great emphasis of apostolic teaching and preaching (Psalm 16:8-11).
- He preached His ascension (implied in Acts 2:33).
- He preached His exaltation (Acts 2:33-36).
D. THE CALL TO ACCEPT THE GOOD NEWS/ GOSPEL (Acts 2:37-39)
- In Acts 2:37-39, we find that when the people heard Peter’s message about the Gospel, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles what to do next? To which Peter replied by saying that in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit they had to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
- The word Repent is interpreted in different ways but the following is found in 2Corinthians 7:8-10): a) Regret b) sorrow c) repentance/ repent
- On Baptism- the connection between repentance and baptism. One should not be baptized in order to repent rather one should be baptized once repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness. First the repentance then comes the baptism and not the other way round.
- The phrase ‘baptized in the name of Jesus Christ’ shows the authority of Christ.
- The gift of the Holy Spirit- here the phrase shows clearly that it is a singular thing.
- The promise spoken here is the gift of the holy spirit that each and everyone whom the Lord calls for.
E. THE IMPACT OF PENTECOST DAY (Acts 2:40-42)
- Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles that day. In Acts 2:40 Peter warns and pleads with them to save themselves from the corrupt generation of their time.
- Then the people, who accepted the message, were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
- They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
From the above Sunday school lesson we need to be able to answer the following questions:
- What is the Gospel?
The answer to this is that the Gospel/ good news is Jesus Christ and his doings/teachings are known as the Gospel. This is accredited by God and his purpose was also pre-planned by God himself.
- How can we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour?
We simply have to repent from our sins and turn our backs to them and accept Jesus’ salvation and accept his authority by being baptized in his name. Once baptized in his name we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and which will be a saving grace for us and for many generations to come.
