The Essential Question (Part 2): The Church Begins to GrowSample

The Hard Sayings of Peter

Prepare: Pray for some people you know who are resistant to the good news about Jesus Christ.

Read: Acts 3:11-26

Reflect: I wonder if any church today would appoint Peter as its denominational leader. First of all, he was a fisherman, not a seminary graduate (Matthew 4:18-20). Second, Peter had recently been part of a violent altercation involving weapons (John 18:10). Finally, there were legitimate questions about his commitment to Christ (Matthew 26:69-75). Maybe we should look at other candidates. But Jesus saw in Peter someone he could build on (Matthew 16:18), and in this passage we begin to see why.

What's interesting is that Peter wasn't afraid of the limelight, nor was he tempted by it (Acts 3:11-12). Either of those two tendencies can undercut our ability to communicate the gospel. In addition, in the midst of dramatic ministry results Peter stayed on message. He knew that it wasn't about him; it was all about Jesus (3:16).

Even so, Peter was able to say some hard things when necessary. Modern psychologists encourage us to use "I statements" when having a difficult conversation: I was perplexed; I can't understand; I felt offended. That wasn't Peter's way. He preferred "you statements" to convict his audience: you handed him over; you disowned him; you killed him (3:13-15). Maybe Peter had earned the right to be so direct about the failings of others because he had confronted the same issues in his own life (John 18:15-18).

Yet the deeper motivation for Peter's tough message was not just judgment; it was a genuine concern for the eternal destiny of his listeners. He started by connecting Jesus to Jewish history, identifying him as the servant of "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (3:13). People are more likely to listen if we take time to understand their context first. Next, Peter gave them some moral wiggle room, suggesting that they had "acted in ignorance" when they crucified Jesus (3:17). Being gracious never hurts. And finally, Peter suggested clear action steps to faith in Jesus and pointed to a positive benefit (3:19). These principles can help us more effectively share our faith today.

There's one more thing that made Peter an effective spokesman for the early church: he believed Jesus was coming back (3:21). He even addressed the doubts some had, then and now, about the second coming by pointing to Scripture. Abraham, Moses, and "all the prophets" (3:18) have been telling the same story for generations: God has a plan of salvation that culminates in the birth, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. Knowing that big story of the Bible is how you too can become an effective spokesperson for Christ.

Apply: Sometime today, read Luke 24:13-35. How does this passage affect your understanding of the big story of the Bible and your understanding of Jesus?