Cornered by the questions of a suspicious officer at an American airport, a Polish traveller finally blurts out that he is a Christian, one of the proper ones, in fact. That anecdote opens the question this sermon answers from the third chapter of Acts (Acts 3): what actually makes someone a Christian? Peter speaks to the most devout people in Jerusalem and shows that neither background, nor tradition, nor knowledge of the Bible is enough, and church history sounds a sharp warning here. Listen if you want to know what the real foundation is.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In Acts 3:12-16 Peter insists that it was not the apostles' own power or godliness that healed the lame man, but faith in the name of Jesus. Why do you think he stresses this so strongly to the astonished crowd?
- Peter calls Jesus God's servant, the Holy and Righteous One, the Author of life, and a prophet like Moses. What would these titles have told the devout Jews in the temple about who Jesus is?
- Peter's listeners knew the Scriptures, prayed in the temple, and waited for the Messiah, yet they did not recognize Him. What does this teach you about the limits of religious knowledge and a good upbringing?
- The sermon mentions how in England people who knew the Bible used it to justify persecuting Jews. How can knowing God's Word go hand in hand with unchristian behavior?
- The speaker notes that today we prefer to hear about grace rather than sin, even though forgiveness assumes we have guilt. What does Peter's call to repent and turn back to God mean for you?
- If the foundation of being a true Christian is a relationship with Jesus and faithfulness to Him, not tradition or background, how specifically do you want to obey Him this week?
