Acts 2:22-47 God’s All-Star Plan For Me

You know those shows where they have competitions to find out who the “All-Star” champion is. They bring people together to find out who is the best. We watch “Cutthroat Kitchen” on Sunday nights. Four contestants use $25,000 to spend in auctions to hurt their competitors. At the same time, they complete by cooking three dishes (an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert.) On Wednesday nights during the summer, there is the “All-Star” edition. Champions from previous seasons of the Sunday night show compete for four weeks. This year, Cutthroat Kitchen’s “All-Star” edition is “time-warp” theme. The dishes and challenges use themes from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Here in Acts 2, Peter is describing the “All-Star” Gospel. Jesus is the “All-Star.” I want to show you a way to share the Good News, the Gospel, by drawing a star using these verses. You can take a napkin, draw out a star and share the Gospel. Let’s begin. There are five points to the “All-Star Gospel”.

FIVE POINTS TO THE ALL-STAR GOSPEL

1. Jesus was pointed out to you by God (Acts 2:22)

First, God pointed out Jesus to me.

““Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22, HCSB)

God singled out Jesus. He said to the people of Israel and to us that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is God’s Son, and He is the way to God. The Bible is unique in pointing out this fact. Many other people may say that there are different ways to God. God says in His Word that Jesus is the way to God. God pointed it out to us.

2. Though Jesus followed God’s plan, we killed Him (Acts 2:23)

“Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.” (Acts 2:23, HCSB)

The Jews killed Jesus. God knew that ahead of time. It was part of God’s plan. Why? Because God used His Son Jesus to make a way for us to be with God. Sin prevents us from coming to God. Sin is the idea that I will live my life without God. I want to be my own star. I won’t submit to another authority I won’t listen to God and what He has for me, even though He created me.

God knew this would happen to Jesus. The Jews rejected Him. You and I have rejected Him. We killed Him on the cross.

3. God raised Him up (Acts 2:24, 32)

“God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:24, HCSB)

““God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this.” (Acts 2:32, HCSB)

Despite this, God raised Him up. The “All-Star” has risen from the grave. Even David saw this coming (Acts 2:25-31). This is the reason that Peter quotes from David’s writings. The Old Testament predicted that an “All-Star” would go to Hell and then come back from the dead.

Now, we go from the tip of the star down.

4. The Holy Spirit has been poured out to you and me (Acts 2:33)

“Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.” (Acts 2:33, HCSB)

Jesus was brought down to Earth and eventually Hell to give you eternal salvation. Then He was raised to God’s right hand. Immediately following that, the Holy Spirit has been poured out to you and me. God has poured the Holy Spirit into you. You can be used by God if you follow Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Again, David predicted this:

“For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Acts 2:34–35, HCSB)

5. The promises and power of God are only possible if we change direction and become baptized (Acts 2:36-40)

Jesus died on the cross and then was raised to new life. He has the power to lead my life. Remember that He is the one who can point others to God. I can’t point others to God. Jesus is the only one who can do that. The neat thing is that He wants to use me to point others to God. The first step is for Jesus to lead my life. How do I do that? I change direction. The Bible calls this act “repentance.” I repent by changing from being selfish and doing just my thing. I turn to follow Jesus and do His thing. I show that commitment by being baptized.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM

Someone might say: Why should I be baptized? Because if God has convicted you of your sin (Acts 2:37), showed You that you can’t live without Him and then pointed you to a way to live a better life, wouldn’t you want to show people?

Baptism does two things. First, it is the last point of the Gospel all-star plan. When I am baptized it says that I believe that Jesus will change my life. I am going to show you my commitment. I will be baptized to show you that the Gospel has changed me. So baptism is the last point in the All-star Gospel.

But baptism is also the first in the journey as a new Christian. God has developed you to fulfill His purpose.

Now we turn from the trusting the “All-Star” to living the “All-Star” life. If you are going to follow the “All-Star” Jesus, then you need to follow Him completely. You need to trust Him completely. You need to do what He expects you to do. Again, we can use a star as a way to describe the five points to God’s purpose for me.

FIVE POINTS TO GOD’S PURPOSE FOR ME

1. Discipleship – Grow (Acts 2:42)

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, HCSB)

Baptism along with devotion to teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer are disciplines which we learn as we start our journey. These five disciplines are important for spiritual growth:

FIVE PRACTICES I NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Baptism is a one-time commitment
Reading the Bible is the beginning of growth. This is the reason we have a discipleship process.
Fellowship with God essential for spiritual growth.
The Lord’s Supper (which is what the breaking of bread is about) is a continual personal and corporate exercise to remind us of our community and our need for Jesus.
Prayer is essential for spiritual growth

A result of spiritual growth is more wonder in the work of God.

“Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43, HCSB)

2. Ministry – Serve (Acts 2:44-45)

“Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.” (Acts 2:44–45, HCSB)

Jesus expects us to grow. Jesus also expects me to serve. Here, the early church gave of what they had and shared it with others. They served others who had a need. This does not mean that we have the same amount of stuff. The early church was united. When someone had a need, others sold stuff that they had to help out. They served one another.

3. Fellowship – Connect (Acts 2:46)

“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,” (Acts 2:46, HCSB)

The early church met together in the temple (the church location) and from house to house. Here at this church, fellowship happens in Sunday School, and in small groups. We can also meet as a church. In addition, fellowship can also happen when we hang out. Whether it is in my home, at the restaurant, or some other location, we spend time with other Christians.

Some may say that you can actually build and maintain relationships online. Actually, I think social media is a tool and a crutch. It is a tool for communication. It a crutch that prevents true fellowship.

If I want to share with you something about my life, social media does a great job. If want to get to know you well, social media becomes a barrier.

4. Worship – Praise (Acts 2:47)

“praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47, HCSB)

Praise is a form of worship. I praise God when I engage in worship. Hence, when we come together as a church, we engage in worship. Worship relates to missions. Worship fuels missions. The praise I share with God should invigorate me to share the Gospel. Which brings me to my next question:
How many of you in this room have shared the Gospel with someone this week?

How many of you in this room have shared the Gospel with someone this month? This year?

Don’t mistake paying a pastor as a fulfillment of sharing the Gospel. My role is to equip you and lead you. Every person in this church needs to be sharing the Gospel. Now we like sharing it with kids. However, we don’t share the Gospel with adults. I asked you to come together to go on FAITH visits. The people who came were successful for a short time. It takes time and it takes commitment. Some of you may say: it’s not my role. My answer is that you are wrong. Everyone should be sharing with others about Jesus.

5. Missions – Share (Acts 2:47-48)

“praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47, HCSB)

“Having favor with God and men”

Missions is very everyone. You don’t see here in these verses that the apostles are out there sharing the Gospel. The apostles only taught the people. The people go out and share the Gospel.

Consequently, when I share the Gospel, I have to ask favor from God. This is why the early church prayed for God’s favor to help the apostles while they were in prison for the Gospel. What did they pray for? Did they pray for protection? Did they pray for blessing? Did they pray for a comfortable life? No. They prayed for the Gospel to spread.

Finally, when we do this, we also need to pray for favor with people. We don’t want to be hateful when we share the Gospel. We also want to see the Gospel purposefully and successfully planted. We share, but it is God who changes people. So the question is: What does God when we share the Gospel? He will add to our number more saved people. You share the Gospel with someone, and God adds.

God’s All-Star plan is to make you an all-star partner in life. It starts by placing your trust in Him. It continues by balancing His purposes for you.