The WaySample

Exploring the Way

Cut to the Heart

Like you, many have heard and had the chance to respond to the story of Jesus from His followers. It’s interesting to see what responding looked like in Scripture. In Acts 2:37, after hearing the gospel shared by Peter, the crowd was “cut to the heart” and asked, “what must we do?” They experienced what we call “conviction” (cut to the heart) and were humble enough to ask other believers “what must we do” instead of explaining it away or processing it on their own.

Maybe that is something you are feeling or maybe that hasn’t happened yet. It would be good for you to see what it looks like and how people were guided in their response by the early disciples. Here’s how the early disciples answered the question “what should we do?” in Acts 2:38:

• Repent
• Be baptized
• Receive forgiveness
• Receive the Holy Spirit

They also taught those who were responding that the promise of the gospel—reconciliation with God—was not only for them and their children but for all who were far off (Acts 2:39).

The sharing of the good news with others was an immediate expectation. The early disciples also shared with them how to live in a broken world as a follower of Jesus (Acts 2:40). The early responders to the gospel then showed a key trait of those who follow Jesus. They put into practice what had been taught to them (Acts 2:41).

The hearer-doer mindset was critical for those early followers. It required faith and courage.

Repenting, or turning away from something that you have grown used to and following something new, takes courage.

Identifying with Jesus, a controversial figure, through a public baptism had consequences.

Believing that your sins had been forgiven required much faith as did the idea of God’s Spirit living inside of followers of Christ. The picture here is that the gospel stirred up something in people in such a way to allow them to respond in a radical way. If you’ve felt “cut to the heart” at some point during this journey, reach out to faithful followers of Jesus and seek guidance in how to respond to Jesus.

In the second half of this plan, you will learn how to Respond to The Way.