Real Church Part 6 “Truth and Consequences”
Real Church – Part 6
Truth and Consequences
A challenge for any church is to keep the __________ thing the ___________ thing.
As we enter Acts chapter 3 we see the church begin to _______________ its __________ a little.
After healing a lame man, Peter and John begin to deal with the _________________.
Acts 4:1-22
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’[a]
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The religious leaders want this _______________ to stop.
They can’t _______________ the truth they’ve seen but they can ______________ the truth behind what they’ve seen.
The followers of Jesus now have a new ______________ and _____________ for their lives.
Here’s the question: “What keeps me from speaking about Jesus?”
There are two words that come out of this chapter which can help us to speak about Jesus:
______________ and ____________________
Two key words that have to do with truth are ________________ the truth and ___________________ the truth.
The disciples fully ________________ the truth about Jesus.
Acts 4:12
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Do I believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation and eternal life?
The Bible is ____________ and clear but if I’m not clear I’m probably going to be _______________.
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
Don’t __________________the amount of truth you need to know.
1Peter 3:15
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
The fact that you don’t have all the ______________ is likely to lead someone to ask more _________________.
The ___________________ of the truth can inhibit us from _______________ the truth.
Acts 4:19-20
19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Your view of who controls your _________________ will shape your view of your ________________.
Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Both fear of ___________________ and fear of _________________ can be crippling.
Again, what is keeping you from speaking the truth about Jesus?