Aric Stickfort - my grandpa often asked me “When are you going to get saved”. I never answered his question in all the years he asked me. Then he passed away. God used this to loudly speak to me. I knew for sure he was at peace, home in Heaven with his Savior. I never stopped thinking about that...
Memroy Verse: Acts 17:30 Memory Verse Text: God. now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
Point 1: The Lord has gone back to Heaven. Matthias is chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. Now in Acts 2 - we are presented with a wonderful picture. They were all in one place with perfect agreement and accord amongst themselves. Point 2: Tongues of Fire sat upon them and the Spirit of God for the first time "dwelled"* in created men. In Jerusalem at that feast there were many devoted Jews who had come from many countries. Note Acts 2:11. A miracle** was witnessed uestions were raised! Point 3: Peter rises - how precious to see that all the rest stood 'with him'. They were not the speaker but in full agreement & fellowship with him. There to encourage and strengthent the hands of the man who would speak for God. Point 4: He preaches the claims of God and the need for Christ the Lord weaving the OT scriptures into the message. Pricked in their heart they cry out "What shall we do?" The only suitable response for sinners is REPENT and BELIEVE the gospel and follow it with evidence of their faith - Baptism. They gladly received the Word and 3000 were saved. The secret to such a work is still to gladly receive the WORD.
Notes: * You should briefly differentiate between OT believers who had the Spirit of God "come upon" them for specific purposes. **It is also important to show that this miracle meant that they understood clearly what the men spoke. These were not unintelligible sounds or words.
This Sunday School Curriculum guide is part of a 254 Sunday School Lesson Book available at www.gospelhall.org. See the Downloads Section of the site for a complete copy.
Aric Stickfort
