The sermons found in Scripture
are a great study. Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost deserves our special
attention (Acts 2:14-41). As I have been preaching through this portion of the
Bible, I have come to appreciate his message as an excellent prototype for all
true biblical preaching. Consider its essential elements:
1.
It is
Christ-centered. Throughout the sermon, Jesus the Messiah is
foremost. Peter repeatedly focuses on the person and work of Christ. Jesus'
death, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement are all predominant (vv.
22-24, 29-36).
2.
It is
full of Scripture. Peter quotes from Joel's
prophecy (v. 17; Joel 2:28), and from David words in Psalm 16 (vv. 25-28), and
Psalm 110 (v. 34).
3.
It is
expository. Peter goes beyond just quoting Scripture to opening it up by incisive
explanation. He expounds his citations. For example, concerning Psalm 16, he says
that David spoke not of himself, but "concerning the resurrection of the
Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption"
(v. 31).
4.
It is
serious. Sullen it is not, but it has a weighty solemnity. The apostle preaches
as a dying man to dying men, earnestly "testifying and exhorting" his hearers
(v. 40).
5.
It is
personal. This is no general homily to faceless folks in pews. No, Peter is very
direct and tells them what they must do with the gospel truth they are hearing.
He pulls no punches. Surely, there is much eye contact, and the listeners know
he is speaking with love right to them. He says, "Men of Israel, hear these
words" (v. 22). "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you" (v. 29).
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this
Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (v. 36).
6.
It is
Spirit-empowered. Peter does not trust in his own
human ability; he preaches "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven" (1 Pet. 1:12).
Peter's sermon is a demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Cor. 2:4), that
same Spirit who came so momentously in redemptive history on the Day of
Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
7.
It is
gospel-saturated. Peter heralds the good news of
forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ our Lord. Proclaiming Christ, Peter
boldly announces, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (v.
21).
8.
It
exposes sin and calls people to repentance. The stakes
are too high to flatter his hearers and leave them lost in their rebellion
against God and His Son. Heaven and hell are hanging in the balance. Peter
sincerely and strongly calls the eternal souls before him to be done with their
sinful ways (v. 38).
9.
It is
evangelistic. It is most impressive that this flagship Christian
sermon explicitly appeals to the lost. Peter addresses the greatest need, namely, our relationship with God and our
eternal destiny. Like Paul, Peter makes sure his hands are clean from the blood
of all men (Acts 20:26).
10.
It
presses for a response. The inventions of modern
revivalism are conspicuously absent here. There is no altar call, raising
hands, repeating a prayer, or signing a card, (I hope none of us have fallen
into any of that). But clearly Peter is in dead earnest for his hearers to
embrace Christ. He craves their deliverance from the coming wrath, and so, with
much feeling, he pleads with them saying, "Be saved from this perverse
generation" (v. 40).
What a sermon! And what was the
response to Peter's preaching on this particular day? Thankfully, we needn't
guess: "And that day about 3,000 souls were added to them" (v. 41).
Now while this address certainly should
not be interpreted as a formula for guaranteed results, still the historic
account exhibits God's stamp of approval upon Peter's exemplary message. So let us imitate the Spirit-filled
apostle and look for great blessings from the Lord through our preaching
ministries. And let us seek, above all, the honor and
glory of Jesus Christ our wonderful Lord in whose Name and calling we preach.
