The Ingredients Of A Meeting

The Ingredients of a

Gospel Meeting

Acts 2

The Ingredients of a Gospel Meeting


WHY WOULD THE COCA-

COLA COMPANY GO TO

GREAT LENGTHS TO

PROTECT THEIR RECIPE?


WHY WOULD THE COCA-

COLA COMPANY GO TO

GREAT LENGTHS TO

PROTECT THEIR RECIPE?

They understood the value of it!


ACTS 2 PRESENTS AN

INVALUABLE RECIPE FOR

A GOSPEL MEETING.


THERE IS MUCH WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS RECIPE WORK.


We have prayers that need prayed.


We have prayers that need prayed.◦ We need to pray for the lost.


We have prayers that need prayed.◦ We need to pray for the lost. “Brothers, my heart‟s desire and prayer to God for them is that

they may be saved” (Rom 10:1, ESV).


We have prayers that need prayed.◦ We need to pray for the lost. “Brothers, my heart„s desire and prayer to God for them is that

they may be saved” (Rom 10:1, ESV). For whom shall you pray this week?


We have prayers that need prayed.◦ We need to pray for the lost.◦ We need to pray for the speaker.


We have prayers that need prayed.◦ We need to pray for the lost.◦ We need to pray for the speaker. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with

thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (Col 4:2-4, ESV).


We have prayers that need prayed.◦ We need to pray for the lost.◦ We need to pray for the speaker. Col 4:2-4. “Brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed

ahead and be honored, as happened among you” (2 Thess 3:1, ESV).


We need to invite our friends & family to come with us.


We need to invite our friends & family to come with us.◦ “How are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom

10:14, ESV).


We need to invite our friends & family to come with us.◦ “How are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom

10:14, ESV). ◦ “How are they to hear without someone inviting them?”


We have schedules that need to be cleared.


“I am an Empty Pew. I vote for the world as against God. I deny the Bible. I mock at the preached Word of God. I rail at Christian brotherhood. I laugh at prayer. I am a witness to solemn vows broken. I advise men to eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow they die. I join my voice with every atheist and rebel against human and divine law. I am an Empty Pew. I am a grave in the midst of the congregation. Read my epitaph and be wise.”


ARE WE PREPARED FOR THE WORK AHEAD OF US?


If we work diligently, the recipe in Acts 2 will cause a great Gospel Meeting.


If we work diligently, the recipe in Acts 2 will cause a great Gospel Meeting.◦ What is that recipe?


If we work diligently, the recipe in Acts 2 will cause a great Gospel Meeting.◦ What is that recipe?◦ AN ASSEMBLY◦ AN ADDRESS◦ AN ANXIETY◦ AN ASSURANCE


AN ASSEMBLY

vv 5-13


“Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, „Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.‟ And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, „What does this mean?‟ But others mocking said, „They are filled with new wine‟” (vv 50-13, ESV).


When the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles, extraordinary events took place.



These extraordinary events caused a great crowd to assemble.



These extraordinary events caused a great crowd to assemble.◦ Luke mentions numerous nationalities that were present.



These extraordinary events caused a great crowd to assemble.◦ Luke mentions numerous nationalities that were present.◦ Because of this great assembly, Peter was able to proclaim

the Word of God.


If we are to have a good meeting, a crowd must assemble.


If we are to have a good meeting, a crowd must assemble. The Holy Spirit will not send a great wind & tongues of

fire.


THEREFORE, WEMUST WORK.


“Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled” (Lk. 14:23, ESV).


Lk. 14:23. Much evangelism took place in the beginning of John‟s

Gospel.



Gospel. ◦ When Andrew had encountered Jesus, “he first found his

own brother Simon and said to him, „We have found the Messiah‟” (Jn. 1:41, ESV).



Gospel. ◦ Jn. 1:41. ◦ “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, „We have found

him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph‟” (Jn. 1:45, ESV).


WHY NOT DO THE SAME WITH OUR FRIENDS & FAMILY?


EVERY DAY WE STEP OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING & GOING TO HELL!


EVERY DAY WE STEP OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING & GOING TO HELL!

How can we simply step over the

dying?


AN ADDRESS

vv 14-36


“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: „Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: „And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.‟


“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,


“„I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.‟


“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,


“„The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.‟ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (vv 14-36, ESV).


Because they heard the apostles speaking in tongues, the assembly believed that they were drunk.



Peter defends the apostles.



Peter defends the apostles.◦ Peter goes on to proclaim Jesus‟ death & resurrection.



Peter defends the apostles.◦ Peter goes on to proclaim Jesus‟ death & resurrection.◦ Peter uses Scripture to establish what he proclaimed.


Modern preachers must point people to Scripture.


Modern preachers must point people to Scripture.◦ “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will

speak” (1 Ki. 22:14, ESV).


Modern preachers must point people to Scripture.◦ “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will

speak” (1 Ki. 22:14, ESV). ◦ “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2, ESV).


Peter then convinces the assembly of their guilt.


Peter then convinces the assembly of their guilt.◦ “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that

God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (v. 36, ESV).




◦ Peter wasn‟t shy about pointing out people‟s sins.




◦ Peter wasn‟t shy about pointing out people‟s sins. John the Baptist to Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have her”

(Mt. 14:4, ESV).




◦ Peter wasn‟t shy about pointing out people‟s sins. John the Baptist to Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have her”

(Mt. 14:4, ESV). “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;

reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2, ESV).


Charles Spurgeon: “I cannot help feeling that the man who preaches the Word of God is standing, not on a mere platform, but on a throne. We cannot play at preaching. We preach for eternity. Life, death, hell and worlds unknown hang on the preaching and hearing of a sermon.”


AN ANXIETY

v 37


“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, „Brothers, what shall we do?‟” (v 37, ESV).


The assembled crowd was cut to the heart.


The assembled crowd was cut to the heart.◦ The Greek term refers to strong, strong emotion.


The assembled crowd was cut to the heart.◦ The Greek term refers to strong, strong emotion.◦ For true repentance, there must be a conviction of sin.


The assembled crowd was cut to the heart.◦ The Greek term refers to strong, strong emotion.◦ For true repentance, there must be a conviction of sin. The Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin and

righteousness and judgment” (Jn. 16:8, ESV).


The assembled crowd was cut to the heart.◦ The Greek term refers to strong, strong emotion.◦ For true repentance, there must be a conviction of sin. The Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin and

righteousness and judgment” (Jn. 16:8, ESV). “My iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden,

they are too heavy for me” (Ps. 38:4, ESV).


IF WE WISH TO BRING

PEOPLE TO JESUS, THEY

MUST BE CONVICTED OF

THEIR SIN.


AN ASSURANCE

vv 38-41


“And Peter said to them, „Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.‟ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, „Save yourselves from this crooked generation.‟ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (vv 38-41, ESV).


The crowd‟s dismay quickly turns to an assurance.


The crowd‟s dismay quickly turns to an assurance. Peter gives an assurance that the crowd‟s sins can be

forgiven.


Repentance is absolutely essential to salvation.


Repentance is absolutely essential to salvation.◦ It‟s far more than simply being sorry for sin—this crowd was

sorry for their sins.



sorry for their sins.◦ True repentance is changing our minds about sin & then

changing our actions.




changing our actions.◦ If you want to be saved, you must repent.




changing our actions.◦ If you want to be saved, you must repent. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3, 5,

ESV).




changing our actions.◦ If you want to be saved, you must repent. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3, 5,

ESV). “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands

all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30, ESV).


Repentance is absolutely essential to salvation. Baptism is also absolutely essential to salvation.



◦ “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk. 16:16, ESV).



◦ “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk. 16:16, ESV).

◦ “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21, ESV).


The crowd gladly received Peter‟s word.


The crowd gladly received Peter‟s word. What word?


The crowd gladly received Peter‟s word. What word?◦ It couldn‟t have been the word that they had killed the

Messiah!



Messiah!◦ It had to be the message that there was salvation from sin &

hell.



Messiah!◦ It had to be the message that there was salvation from sin &

hell.

The crowd was joyful to hear a message of hope & they obeyed that message of hope.


DO YOU HAVE THE SAME ASSURANCE THIS MORNING?


DO YOU HAVE THE SAME ASSURANCE THIS MORNING?

Do you need to respond to the

message of hope?

Spiritual

The Ingredients Of A Meeting