Acts - Chapter TwoSample

Sharing Christ 

“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. Acts 2:38

Notice the sequence of events here in Acts 2, which can be a model to help us spread the good news of Christ naturally, without any external pressure or compulsion. These steps could be done over a time frame as we relate to people of other faiths.

Prayer-(Acts 1:14) The disciples were in an attitude of prayer. May we do the same; without prayer we will be powerless. A oneness of spirit with God’s heart is essential.

Supernatural Event- (Acts 2:2-4) At the opportune time a supernatural event took place which got the attention of one and all. Similarly, God can demonstrate his supernatural power, maybe through answered prayer or possibly a miracle which will get the attention of people.

Declare the Wonders of God-(Acts 2:11) The 120 declared the wonders of God in different tongues. They could have shared what they had experienced, or maybe, it was about God’s deliverance in history. No one can object or deny when we share experiences of how God worked in and through us.

Validate Message-(Acts 2:16,25) Peter quoted Joel and David to back up his message to a Jewish audience. Likewise, Paul quoted Athenian poets when speaking at Athens (Acts 17:28). We have got to validate our message by focusing on points of agreement rather than argue about differences, of other faiths. 

Share Christ-(Acts 2: 22-25) Peter very clearly shares the story of Jesus and boldly asserts that they were witnesses of it (Acts 2:32).He briefly shares the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus which constitutes the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-3). He repeatedly asserts the fact that it was God’s initiative, to further connect with a Jewish audience (Read Acts 2:22-25 and note the number of times Peter refers to God) However, he draws their attention to Christ’s work which is the focal point of the gospel message.

Offer Hope- (Acts 2:38-39) When the people realized their need, Peter pleaded with them, to repent and find forgiveness. Similarly, when we see a yearning for help, we need to guide people to respond to Christ in humility and repentance so they could experience salvation and declare their allegiance to Him. Our responsibility is to share the good news, and when there is a yearning for change, we need to then lovingly offer the hope and joy of forgiveness, in Christ.