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Redeemer Community Church is located in the historic Avondale neighborhood of Birmingham, AL. Our church family exists to celebrate and declare the gospel of God as we grow in knowing and following Jesus Christ.
For more information on who we are, what we believe, or how to join us, please visit our website at rccbirmingham.org.
We're gonna continue our journey into Peter's life today. We'll be in Acts chapter four. We'll be in one verses one through 22. We'll camp out in verses one through 12. The college students and I are studying Leviticus this semester.
Caleb Chancey:Joel said no. I don't this is a bummer. So we'll but we'll be in Acts chapter four, one through 22. I'll read verses one through 12, and we'll study it together. So Redeemer, this is God's word for you this morning.
Caleb Chancey:Acts chapter four says this, and as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, And the number of the men came to about 5,000. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander, and all who were in the high priestly family. And when they had set them in their midst, they inquired, by what power or what name did you do this?
Caleb Chancey:Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, and for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks to God.
Caleb Chancey:Would you pray with me? Our Father, we thank you for sacred moments like this where your people are gathered around your word. And we plead with you now, spirit of God, would you speak through the word of God to the people of God for the glory of
Jeffrey Heine:God. And if
Caleb Chancey:you would, in your seat, would you pray and ask that God would speak to you this morning? And if you would be so kind, would you pray for me that I would be helpful and clear? And so, father, I pray now that my words would fall to the ground and blow away and not be remembered longer, but your words would remain and they would change us. And, Father, we pray these things for your glory's sake through the Son and by the Spirit. Amen.
Caleb Chancey:In Acts chapter four verses one through 22, we see Peter and John make a bold defense for the gospel, that they witness boldly that Jesus alone saves sinners. And so I just have a confession upfront that as I have studied this passage, as I've as I read this passage, that it is really easy for me to admire their boldness. It's really easy for me to admire this passage, but it's really hard for me to obey this passage. That if I'm really honest, this is really easy for me to appreciate and really hard for me to imitate. That when I look back over my Christian journey, one of my primary, if not the primary regret, is my seeking of the applause of men rather than the approval of God.
Caleb Chancey:That after becoming a Christian and as I left those high school years, my primary regret is that I did not witness boldly in the name of Jesus. And then as I left the University of Georgia, one of my primary regrets was that I did not always witness boldly in the name of Jesus. And so I just say upfront that as we look at this passage that it is so easy for us to admire it, for us to appreciate it, but this book is not meant to be admired, it's meant to be obeyed. And then if you're anything like me, is that there is a temptation for us to silence our witness in order to preserve comfort, in order for us to preserve status, in order for us to preserve our reputations that we hold so dear. That the fear of man, the the fear of the approval of others, that it tempts us to instead of speak the name of Jesus, to mute the name of Jesus.
Caleb Chancey:You see, in Acts chapter four, this looked like going to a courtroom. This looked like prison. It looked like death. But if we were to think about our Birmingham life today, this fear, it doesn't happen in a courtroom. It happens in a cold sack.
Caleb Chancey:The the the thing we're mostly concerned about, it's not prison, but we certainly feel the social pressure of not speaking the name of Jesus. That Peter and John, their life and death is on the table. But for us, it's more so just a social discomfort. And so I want us to look together at these 22 verses of Peter and John witnessing boldly in the name of Jesus. And I I'm gonna nerd out a little bit.
Caleb Chancey:The text makes this so clear, of we're gonna look at what they do in hopes that we as a church would witness boldly because Jesus alone saves sinners. We're gonna look first verses one through four of what to expect when we witness boldly. What to expect when we witness boldly. And then in verses five through eight, we'll see who we are to rely on when we witness boldly. And then in verses nine through 12, we'll look at what we are to say when we witness boldly.
Caleb Chancey:And then lastly, in verses 17 through 21, we'll see who to obey, what to expect, who to rely on, what to say, and who to obey. And so let's study Acts chapter four, together. Let's look at let's look together at the text verses one through four. It says that as they were speaking to the people that the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came among them. Essentially, you've got, some of the political brokers, the power players of the day have made their way as Peter and John are proclaiming the gospel.
Caleb Chancey:And then what is the response of these social elites? Verse two tells us, that they are greatly annoyed. Now, this isn't annoyed like your younger brother stab poking you in the ribs. This is to be deeply disturbed, to be troubled even. In fact, this Greek word is only used one other time in the entire New Testament.
Caleb Chancey:We actually find it in the book of Acts in Acts 16 as Paul is proclaiming the gospel, and a demon possessed woman is just absolutely wearing Paul out. And it says that Paul was greatly annoyed, that this deep distress, this frustration leads it into such a way that they eventually put them into custody, that they arrest them. The other translations will say that they laid hands on them, and they threw them into prison. That we see that as they proclaiming the name of Jesus, what to expect. The one thing that we can always expect is rejection.
Caleb Chancey:We can expect rejection. We can express expect friction. But not only rejection and friction, but look at what verse four says. But many of those who heard the word believed, that they heard the word and believed, that they heard the message, they heard the gospel, and what was brought forth from their hearing of the proclamation of the gospel was belief, That they trusted in Christ, that they're they were added to the number, that they joined in with the church, that we are still a part of this day. So so what can we expect as believers when we witness boldly the name of Jesus?
Caleb Chancey:It's friction and its fruit, its rejection and reception. That having these expectations clearly placed before us gives us confidence to step into these situations. And and I love in verse four specifically that they heard the word, that there is power in the proclamation of the gospel. That's why Paul would say in Romans chapter one verse 16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel. Why?
Caleb Chancey:For it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. That when we proclaim the word, when the word is preached, there is a power there. They heard the word. There was friction. There was fruit.
Caleb Chancey:There was reception, and there was rejection. Maybe think about it this way. The same sun that melts wax is the same sun that hardens clay. It's the same power with different results. And so when we proclaim, we need to know that there are gonna be some hearts of wax, and there's also gonna be some hearts of clay.
Caleb Chancey:I've also heard that there's a few young professionals in our church. Have you all heard this? They also all want premarital counseling and all wanna get married in this building, in case you didn't know. And they're also all going to overpay for wedding invitations. Hot take.
Caleb Chancey:And and they're going to to mail these, like, wedding invitations made of gold to all of you. And you know what? It's the same invitation. And they are going to receive some no's, and they are going to receive some yes's. And so for us as followers of Jesus, when we witness boldly, we need to also anticipate some yeses and some noes.
Caleb Chancey:And so then, I think it's important here, if I've lost you so far, great moment to come back to me, is that our role is not to save. Our role is to share. That what is successful evangelism, it isn't conversion. It's actually doing the thing. That your job, you can take the pressure off this morning, is not to save souls.
Caleb Chancey:Your job is to share the gospel of the one who does save souls. That, this past week, I don't know if you knew this, we actually brought 60 students to the Dominican Republic to do this thing, to share the gospel, to proclaim the name of Jesus as we installed water filters in communities in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata. And and a few phrases that kept coming up amongst our group is, hey, your job is not to save women and men. Your job is to plant seeds, pluck weeds, and pray it grows. Plant seeds, pluck weeds, and pray it grows.
Caleb Chancey:That our job is faithfulness. God's job is fruit. And so what would it look like for us to expect this when it comes to evangelism, when it comes to us witnessing boldly because Jesus alone saves sinners. And I I think I would be remiss if I if we didn't go here for a moment, is that, church, this is our role. Matthew chapter four verse 19.
Caleb Chancey:Jesus calls his first disciples. What does he say? Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. That we have been we we do have a responsibility to share the gospel. Or first Peter chapter three verse 15.
Caleb Chancey:Always be prepared to give a defense for the hope by which you have, and that this gospel proclamation is a part of the Christian journey. It is not a, you know, the great commission is not a suggestion. It is a commandment, that we are to go. So in this journey, we are to expect rejection and reception, friction and fruit, wax and clay, yeses and noes. So maybe a few diagnostic questions to to to offer to you this morning is when was the last time you experienced friction because of the gospel?
Caleb Chancey:When was the last time you experienced rejection because of the gospel? And then same question on the other hand. When was the last time you experienced fruit because of the gospel? When was the last time you experienced, reception because of the gospel? And I would just venture to say not to step on toes at the 09:40 service.
Caleb Chancey:If you don't have an answer to either of those questions, you're probably not in the game. That if you don't have a dirty uniform, you're probably not playing. Because Peter and John, they have got a dirty uniform. There are like holes in the knees, like scabs on the elbows because they are in the fight. And so maybe just something to consider today is what would it look like for us to get in the fight, for us to participate participate in in this this in this life of living for Jesus, of witnessing boldly because Jesus alone saves sinners, and for us to get our uniform a little dirty.
Caleb Chancey:What to expect? Rejection and reception. Then in verses five through eight, we're gonna see who to rely on. Let's look at the text together. We see that it's on the next day, they've been imprisoned for a night, that the rulers, the elders, the scribes, the high priest, the whole high priestly family makes their way in.
Caleb Chancey:And when they had set Peter and John in their midst, he says, by what power, what name do you do this? Verse eight, then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them That that in this moment, cowardly Peter stands before the official guard and begins to make his defense, not according to Peter's temperament or Peter's training or Peter's self confidence. No. How does he do this? Who does he rely on?
Caleb Chancey:The Holy Spirit. Did you notice here in verses five and six how the details drip with power imagery. That we just in this passage, we've got the priests, the captain of the temple, the Sadducees, the rulers, the elders, the scribes, the high priest, Caiaphas, the high priestly family. All of these details. Like, Luke is painting a picture for us that we have got the official, the weighty, the intimidating power structures of the day standing before Peter and John.
Caleb Chancey:These are the same people who arranged the murder of Jesus, and they are standing before Peter and John. And Peter doesn't try harder, but instead, Peter relies on the Holy Spirit. That when it comes to our making a defense for our witnessing boldly, it is not for us to try harder to get more training. It's about us having a right relationship with the Holy Spirit, that we are empowered by the triune God. We are uplifted by him, and we have courage to stand, but regardless of the odds, to proclaim the gospel.
Caleb Chancey:I I mean, we we can't miss this here. I mean, y'all, this is the same Peter who sat before a servant girl and denied Jesus, is now standing before the most powerful people in the land and is witnessing witnessing boldly to the gospel. This is the same Peter that folded like a lawn chair around a charcoal fire, is now standing in an official Jewish courtroom declaring the gospel. This is the same Peter who is following Jesus at a distance as not to get too close, who is now saying, I am united with him in life, death, and resurrection before the power players of the day. What has changed for Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them?
Caleb Chancey:That boldness, witnessing boldly, is not a personality trait. Boldness is not reserved for extroverts. It's not reserved for pastors or priests. Boldness is the result of someone who's been filled with the Holy Spirit. That the book of Acts it's one of the primary themes.
Caleb Chancey:If we had time, we would go. The one of the primary themes of Acts is this Greek word, which is boldness, that it's one of the defining markers of the church. And I would venture to say it's the defining marker of any Christian or any church that witnesses boldly to the gospel, that they have a boldness. They're fearless. So who do we rely on?
Caleb Chancey:We rely on the Holy Spirit. And maybe you would say, Cole, I do not feel up to this task of evangelism, up to this task of proclamation. Proclamation. Another, Doctor mission trip line that got used a lot this past week was that if dependence is the goal, then weakness is an advantage. If dependence on God, if relying on the Holy Spirit is the goal, then your weakness is not a weakness.
Caleb Chancey:Your weakness is an advantage. Because every moment you feel that weakness, you do not look towards self, you look towards the spirit. And as you look towards the spirit, you are empowered to proclaim the gospel. What do we expect? Friction fruit.
Caleb Chancey:Rejection reception. Who do we rely on? The Holy Spirit. And then thirdly, what do we say? Verses nine through 12.
Caleb Chancey:What do we say? I love this. We say the gospel. Let's read these verses. Let's look at verse 10.
Caleb Chancey:It says, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under with under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Now I I can imagine the high priestly family, Caiaphas is standing there and they are expecting a defense of why they shouldn't kill Peter and John.
Caleb Chancey:But they don't get a defense, they get the gospel. That that Peter proclaims not ancient opinion, not a Christian TED talk, not five tips to your best life now, like five reasons why you shouldn't kill us. Instead, he proclaims the thing that has been proclaimed by all Christians in all places at all times. And what has been proclaimed in all places at all times by all Christians is that Jesus alone saves. The text emphasizes it again and again that there is no one else, no other name.
Caleb Chancey:This Jesus, the name of Jesus, the name of Jesus. Even it says that he is the cornerstone. I could spend the next like three hours talking about the cornerstone. Thankfully, first Peter chapter two is gonna talk about the cornerstone, so we will preach that in like two months. So have fun there.
Caleb Chancey:But what what what emphasizes in this text is the name of Jesus, the exclusivity of the saving name of Jesus. Now, I know that, when we start talking about the exclusivity of a faith or of a religion religion, that can begin to maybe rub us wrong or or rub our culture wrong. But this text is unbending. There is salvation in no one else and in no other name. Maybe think about it this way.
Caleb Chancey:I want you to imagine you're at a child's birthday party, a bunch of kids running around, there's lots of snacks and cake, And one of a small little boy begins to, go into anaphylactic shock. His airways are beginning to close. He's highly allergic to let's call it peanut butter. And, it was peanut butter cake. It was Jimmy's favorite.
Caleb Chancey:And his airways are beginning to close. Parents begin to, get, like, really nervous and scared. They start running around. And there is only one thing that this little child needs, and it's an EpiPen. It is something that's gonna open his airways, it's gonna allow him to breathe again.
Caleb Chancey:There is only one thing. There is only one cure to this certain ailment. And what the parents aren't doing is like, hey, well, let's give him some Advil, maybe that will help. Or or I've got some like ant itch cream, let's throw that on his leg, or or maybe can we just like give him a big hug, like like maybe that'll make it better. No.
Caleb Chancey:No. No. There's only one cure. There's only one thing. He needs the EpiPen.
Caleb Chancey:In church, in the same way, our illness, our curse of sin only has one cure, and it's Christ. It's his perfect life. It's his sacrificial death. It's his victorious resurrection. You see, what won't cure our curse isn't being a good person.
Caleb Chancey:It's not even being like an amazing mom or dad. It's not, making sure you pray more. It's not the eightfold path of Buddhism. It's not the five pillars of Islam. You you there's nothing there's not enough good deeds and good works we can heap onto this curse.
Caleb Chancey:We don't we don't there's nothing we can rub on our souls to make it come alive again. The only thing that saves is the gospel. It's Jesus. And it would be the most unloving thing possible, would be for us to try to broaden the scope of healing when there's only one thing that heals. It'd be like giving a kid Advil for anaphylactic shock.
Caleb Chancey:It does not work. So a question for us to consider this morning when we talk about what to say is, do you know the gospel? Not does your roommate or your mom, like, you know the gospel? And are you prepared to speak it? We say this a ton around Redeemer College.
Caleb Chancey:Whenever we cease to state the obvious, it ceases to be obvious. And so I want us to look for just a few minutes, at what the gospel is. If I was to to kind of paraphrase first Corinthians chapter 15 verses one through three, here is the gospel in 10 words. Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. It's the gospel.
Caleb Chancey:Or maybe think about it this way. The gospel is that God created it all. But each of us in our own way, we lost it all. But then Christ did it all. And that if we repent of our sin and trust in him, we get it all.
Caleb Chancey:Or maybe to think about it, it's God, creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. Man, sinful enemies of God. Christ lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, rose again victorious. In response, we turn from our sin and we trust in Christ. It's the gospel that our job in moments of witnessing boldly to Jesus is not to dress Jesus up to make him cool, but to break the gospel down to make it clear that the power is in the gospel, not in the gospel giver.
Caleb Chancey:And so what would it look like for us to witness boldly because Jesus alone saves sinners? For us to center it all on Jesus, not on us, not on a church, Jesus. What do we expect? Friction and fruit, Rejection and reception. Who do we rely on?
Caleb Chancey:The Holy Spirit. And then what do we say? We say the gospel. And then lastly, who to obey? Let's look at verses 17 through 21.
Caleb Chancey:After they hear Peter and John's sermon, the power brokers of the day have an idea. It says this, but in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and dragged them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.
Caleb Chancey:We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. As I studied this passage, this past week, these four words, like absolutely got in the way of everything I did. And the four words are the sight of God. Was it right in the sight of God? And so a question to ask you right upfront, when it comes to who to obey, are you living your life in sight of God or in sight of man?
Caleb Chancey:Are you seeking what is right in the sight of God or are you seeking what is right in the sight of man? When you think about what you fear most, do you fear God or do you fear man? Are you seeking the approval of man, the applause of man, or the approval of God? And again, I I come this morning as someone who like is confessing that I have failed at this. But I'm even praying that as I've studied this passage, that that we as a church that that me as a as an individual wouldn't admire this passage, we would obey this passage.
Caleb Chancey:That we wouldn't just like appreciate a bold defense, but we would actually live out witnessing boldly because Jesus alone saves sinners. And my prayer for me, and I think I could extend this invitation as like a prayer to you, is that what has been the primary regret of my Christian journey would turn into the greatest joy of my Christian future. That making a defense, witnessing boldly because of Jesus wouldn't be something that I fear, but would be something that I rejoice in. So may we Can I call us together as a church to witness boldly because Jesus alone saves sinners, where we expect rejection and reception, where we rely on the spirit of God, where we say the gospel, and where we obey God and not men? Let's pray together.
Caleb Chancey:Father, I pray this day that we would be marked not by human strength, but by a spirit filled boldness. And I pray that as we go from this place today, that we would not just be hearers of the word, but that we would be doers of the word. We pray this in the strong and present name of Jesus. Amen.