Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Apostolic Preaching in Acts

Intro.

1. Jesus sent apostles to world to preach His gospel, Jno. 20:21; Mk. 16:15.

2. We must receive them to receive Jesus and the Father, Jno. 13:20.

a. “Our gospel” is Christ’s gospel, 1 Thess. 1:5 (Rom. 16:25).

b. Early Christians diligently devoted to apostles’ teaching, Acts 2:42.

3. Acts records apostles’ preaching (message, its nature, its content).

4. Renew our faith and devotion to Christ and His gospel by reviewing the apostles’ preaching in Acts – By knowing what they preached and by continually dedicating ourselves to the truth they preached (2:42).

I. THEIR PREACHING: A COMMANDMENT OBEYED.

A. The Command, 10:42; 5:20 (29).

B. The Message, 13:5-12.

-Gospel (Mk. 16:15, 20); Word of the Lord (gospel, 8:25; 14:7, 21, 25; 15:35, 36; 16:10); Word of God (13:5; 17:13); The word (8:4; 11:19; 16:6); Gospel of the grace of God (20:24, 32).

II. THE REMEDY FOR SIN.

A. Repentance and Remission of Sins, Lk. 24:47-49 (Acts 20:21).

B. Teach, Baptize, and Teach, Matt. 28:19-20.

1. Forgiveness of sins through Jesus, 13:38.

2. Peace through Jesus Christ, 10:36, 37, 42.

III. JESUS IS CHRIST (Acts 2:22, 36).

A. Identified Jesus as the Christ, 3:20; 8:5, 35; 9:20.

1. Christ (God’s anointed, Messiah, Psa. 2:2; In OT, “a descriptive title of an expected deliverer of the Jewish nation,” etymonline.com), 5:42; 17:3.

2. The Son of God, 13:33 (Psa. 2:6-7).

B. The Name of Jesus Christ, 8:12; 9:27 (Ruling authority of the king), 11:20 (Lord Jesus).

IV. THE MESSIAH’S KINGDOM.

A. Preached the Kingdom of God, 8:12; 20:25; 28:23, 31.

B. Identified it as the Church of Christ, Acts 2:33, 36, 47; 20:25, 28 (Heb. 10:22-23, 28).

1. Its king, Acts 2:33, 36.

2. Its citizens, Acts 2:47 (Col. 1:13).

3. Grace is in the kingdom, Acts 20:24-25; In the churches, 11:19-21, 23.

V. WATER BAPTISM, 8:12; 10:47-48.

A. Its Prerequisites: Acts 8:35 (H), 8:36-37 (B and C); 2:38 (R).

B. Its Nature:

1. Immersion in water, 8:38.

2. Sinner saved by faith when command obeyed (10:48; 16:30-34).

3. By the authority of Jesus Christ, Acts 19:3-5.

C. Its Accomplishment: R of S / Salvation, 2:38, 41 (11:14; 10:48); Wash sins away, 22:16.

VI. THE TRUE GOD.

A. A Living, Creative, Ruling, Self-Evident God, Acts 14:15-18.

B. A Knowable, Self-Sustaining, Purposeful, Merciful, and Authoritative God, Acts 17:22-31.

VII. LIFE AFTER DEATH.

A. Resurrection of the Dead, 2:31-32; 17:18 (32).

B. Our Hope in God is Resurrection, 23:6; 24:15 (1 Cor. 15:19).

VIII. PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY BEFORE GOD.

A. Gospel Call and Responsibilities are Universal, Acts 10:34-35; 17:30-31.

B. All Held Personally Accountable, 20:21 (cf. Agrippa, 26:28-29).

IX. THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD, 20:27.

A. In Response to their Audience’s Need, 20:20 (Acts 2 & 3, 14, 17…).

B. In the Face of Opposition, 5:18-20.

C. In the Face of Persecution, 5:40-42.

Conclusion

1. Apostles faithfully preached “all the words of this life,” 5:20.

2. These words are not only recorded in Acts, but in all their writings (1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:1-2, 16). Form the basis, the reason, and the direction of our faith.

3. Like the Pentecost audience, we must “hear these words,” believe, and obey them (2:22); Jno. 13:20.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted December 17, 2019