JESUS’ COURAGE: Acts 3:11-26

Jesus' Courage Sermon Page

BIG IDEA

Peter stands up in front of his adversaries and proclaims that the Jesus whom they killed has risen from the dead and is indeed the ultimate Hero. Jesus is the suffering servant, the Holy and Righteous One, the resurrected Author of life, and the Christ—the long-awaited Messiah, come to save them. Jesus is the prophet like Moses and the offspring that will bless all the nations. Christians, we, like Peter, can be courageous because Jesus is the Hero, not us. Jesus is the Savior, not us. Jesus is the life-giver, not us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be courageous in him.

SCRIPTURE

Acts 3:11-26 ¹¹While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. ¹²And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
¹⁷“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.²²Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. ²³And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ ²⁴And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. ²⁵You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ²⁶God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

DISCUSSION

1. Was there anything from Sunday’s Sermon or the Big Idea that had an affect on you or was new? Did you hear anything that raised more questions in your mind?

2. What stands out to you in Acts 3:11-26 and why?

3. Why do you think our culture has such a different view of humanity than the Biblical view we see in Romans 3:10-18? In light of Romans 3, why is it important to understand that Jesus is the Suffering Servant, Holy and Righteous One, and resurrected Author of life?

4. Whether it’s a Presidential Election or a Comic book hero, our world reveals that they’re longing for a Messiah- one that is like us but better; one that will put everything right. What does this reveal about humanity in general?

5. How is knowing that Jesus is the Hero (not you) freeing you from being cowardly and making you more courageous?

6. Spend some time praying with and for one another.

GOOD WORD

God’s demand is “be righteous.” God’s diagnosis is “no one is righteous.” God’s deliverance is “Jesus is your righteousness.” The good news is not that you can do something for Jesus, the good news is that Jesus has already done everything for you. “It is finished!”