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Peter often relies on testimony when preaching sermons. He asserts that God has blessed this lame man in particular and offers this blessing to everyone else as well.
Peter’s boldness
God equips those He calls to something significant with boldness, as was true with Peter. Luke 5:10 describes Peter’s bold response when called by Jesus to leave his nets and follow Him (Matthew 14:22-33) despite fearing he might drown while walking on water (Matthew 15:29). Peter was even arrested by jealous authorities who wanted nothing of what his healing power could bring them.
As they witnessed Peter and John stand before them to preach with such confidence and boldness, the leaders were amazed. Later they realized it was due to being with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
Discuss this subject with your children if any have experienced trouble because of their faith, asking what caused the most serious repercussions or any boldness they’ve displayed – either good or bad!
As you proceed through this lesson, be sure to show your children all of the ways that the Holy Spirit enabled Peter and John to be courageous by showing a video such as “The Boldness of the Early Church”. Next, ask your children to list ways they have seen how the Holy Spirit has helped them become brave witnesses – this could include anything heard from other Christians or reading in Scripture that shows just how effective the Holy Spirit works at making people bold in witnessing. Additionally, share stories about how the Spirit has worked in your own life so your kids see there’s nothing to fear when standing with Jesus!
The promise of the Holy Spirit
Peter seizes this miracle as an opportunity to discuss Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He begins by alluding to Joel’s prophecy before going on to explain that God has sent his Holy Spirit upon all believers – which indicates the New Covenant has begun and represents an international blessing encompassing not just Jewish people but all nations as well.
He discusses Jesus’ promise that he would send the Holy Spirit to his followers as another powerful message; it implies that all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ can access his presence. This promise remains relevant today and an essential component of Christianity.
Peter’s sermons included another key point – his condemnation of Jews. This theme ran throughout his first three sermons, though was less explicit during his fourth and fifth. Peter reminded them that many miracles had taken place while Jesus had still been crucified, calling on them to repent and be baptized to receive God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.
In his second sermon, he used the healing of a lame man as an illustration of the Holy Spirit’s promise for all time. This miracle wasn’t just evidence that His Spirit had come upon their apostles but it also fulfilled Joel and Isaiah’s prophecies; making for an engaging message that struck a chord among audiences everywhere and caused many of them to reflect upon themselves and consider what lessons could be applied directly in their lives. This powerful sermon struck a cord within its audience members while sparking reflection within themselves about themselves and made them take action within themselves in their lives!
Peter began addressing Gentiles instead of Jews for his third and fourth sermons, providing him with more leeway to condemn Jews directly for killing Jesus even though it wasn’t God’s will; making an extremely bold statement then since Jewish leaders often denied their sins by exchanging one man for another.
The healing of the lame man
Peter can be seen here holding out his hand to an injured lame man and encouraging them to rise and walk – this miraculous scene symbolizing the spiritual healing of Israel through Christ is displayed prominently at the Sistine Chapel.
This miracle took place at a temple gate known as “the Beautiful Gate” (porta speciosa), through which devout Jews entered to worship. Lame people would sit daily outside this gate to beg money from those entering temple courts. Peter and John passed by just at the right moment, and when one such beggar saw them he quickly gave attention!
As opposed to simply telling him his great experience, as might have been expected of Peter, Peter asserts that Jesus is responsible for healing him: he tells him in Jesus’s name of Nazareth to get up and walk! This statement emphasizes how healing comes not through Peter himself but through faith in Jesus Christ himself. This was an amazing statement because it signified that one’s healing power came not from Peter himself but from faith in Jesus.
He went on to tell the crowd that when they repent and trust in Jesus, their sins will be washed away like an eraser wipes out an ink stain. This alludes to Isaiah 25:7 which describes God wiping away our record of sin as easily as wiping an eraser erases a stain on paper.
People were amazed and confused at Peter’s bold proclamation, yet still confused as the beggar hadn’t yet been healed. Peter quickly assured them that this healing was an indicator of a greater promise to come; that of God’s kingdom being established through Jesus Christ who will bring peace and restore all things into harmony.
The promise of the kingdom
The Kingdom of God refers to a community dedicated to liberation and dignity for all individuals. It serves as a social and political space where God’s goodness can enter our lives by healing illness, driving away demons, feeding hunger relief organizations, forgiving sinners, preaching gospel sermons, preaching the good news message, etc. Additionally, it brings spiritual transformation that allows us to live righteously before Him and Mother Nature while living abundant lives – an abundance that comes naturally with liberation and dignity for all involved – making all welcome, and needed by providing for all needs in a community where freedom and abundance will all come.
The promise of the kingdom was central to Jesus’s message, and it remains central today. Yet its meaning can become perplexing when used differently: for instance, some Christians refer to it as the “Kingdom of Heaven,” meaning his rule over our world will bring peace and justice to all peoples.
Another way of looking at the Kingdom is as a future event that will occur upon Jesus Christ’s return. Though it won’t exist physically, after His return it will include all believers as members of His Body glorified.
At its core, using “Kingdom” as a sociopolitical metaphor is problematic today in an age when its symbolism has come to symbolize those who control Church institutions. Talk of patriarchy within the context of “Kingdom” can give legitimacy to oppressive family and church structures.
Peter learned through Cornelius that God’s Kingdom is open and inclusive for everyone, regardless of background. Though raised as a Jew, Peter saw in his vision how Gentiles were included. This revelation helped overcome any prejudice or fear regarding engaging with Gentiles that may have existed within himself; and eventually led him to become one of the key leaders in early church – traveling around preaching Jesus’ good news while writing letters that remain part of today’s Bible; eventually imprisoned and ultimately dying in Rome himself as well. His bold preaching brought many others closer to faith – something many others had difficulty doing themselves!
