“People
(including yourself) will be more interested in spiritual things when they have
more information. The more they know,
the more they will do.”
Do you believe that?
Interestingly, Peter’s sermon does not give his audience any new information. He starts by quoting the prophet “Joel”, but his audience knew the words of the prophets. Next he talks about King David. His audience would have grown up with the stories about this great man of God. Then he mentions Jesus, his death and the empty tomb. They knew this part too. In fact, only fifty days had passed since Jesus’ crucifixion and most of these people would have been in Jerusalem when it happened. It is likely that part of the cross was still standing just outside of town. The empty tomb would have only been a short walk from where Peter was speaking. Peter did not give them anything new.
What Peter gave them was a personal application. “This Jesus whom YOU crucified” (Acts 2:36). Suddenly it was no longer a story about God, or a bunch of random facts. Instead, it became their story! After that, they were “cut to the heart” and asked, “What shall we do?” (Verse 37) They went from being uninterested spectators to being participants and the result was that three thousand people repented and were baptized that day (verses 38-41).
Facts are not the issue. Most people know the story of Jesus. The real problem is that they do not see how those facts have anything to do with the life that they are living today.
We need to focus on the application of the information.
Do you believe that?
Obviously,
teaching is important. Romans 10:17
says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. However, I do not think that “lack of
instruction” is always the issue. I
think that if you want people to be interested, you have to give them what
Peter gives his audience in Acts 2.
Interestingly, Peter’s sermon does not give his audience any new information. He starts by quoting the prophet “Joel”, but his audience knew the words of the prophets. Next he talks about King David. His audience would have grown up with the stories about this great man of God. Then he mentions Jesus, his death and the empty tomb. They knew this part too. In fact, only fifty days had passed since Jesus’ crucifixion and most of these people would have been in Jerusalem when it happened. It is likely that part of the cross was still standing just outside of town. The empty tomb would have only been a short walk from where Peter was speaking. Peter did not give them anything new.
What Peter gave them was a personal application. “This Jesus whom YOU crucified” (Acts 2:36). Suddenly it was no longer a story about God, or a bunch of random facts. Instead, it became their story! After that, they were “cut to the heart” and asked, “What shall we do?” (Verse 37) They went from being uninterested spectators to being participants and the result was that three thousand people repented and were baptized that day (verses 38-41).
Facts are not the issue. Most people know the story of Jesus. The real problem is that they do not see how those facts have anything to do with the life that they are living today.
We need to focus on the application of the information.
Everything
comes to life when the story becomes my story.
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