Why people reject something valuable that’s FREE•Maybe I don’t believe it’s a true offer/ It’s

a scam•Maybe there are strings attached•Maybe it’s humbling to take it •Maybe I think I deserve it, earned it•Maybe I refuse to admit I need it •Maybe I don’t like who is giving it

DOUBT /FEARFEAR

PRIDEPRIDE

PRIDE

ANGER/JEALOUSY/PRIDE

Don’t worry about persecution!• (Luke 12:11-12) JESUS: "When you are

brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, {12} for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

Abraham

Abraham

Egypt

Joseph

Egypt

Moses

Who is the coming “Prophet” who Israel must “listen to?”• MOSES (Deuteronomy 18:15) The LORD your God will raise

up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.• GOD (Luke 9:35) A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This

is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."• PETER (Acts 3:22-23) For Moses said, 'The Lord your God

will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. {23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.‘• STEPHEN (Acts 7:37) "This is that Moses who told the

Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.'

Responding to God’s grace

• GUILTY OF SIN (Acts 2:23) … you put him (Jesus) to death by nailing him to the cross…. • INVITATION OF GRACE (Acts 2:39-40) “The promise

is for you and your children”…. and he pleaded with them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation”• HUMBLE RESPONSE to GOD’S GRACE (Acts 2:41)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and 3000 were added...

Sermon on the Day

of Pentecost

Responding to God’s grace

• GUILTY OF SIN (Acts 3:15) You killed the author of life... • INVITATION OF GRACE (Acts 3:26) When God raised

up His servant He sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."• MIXED RESPONSE to GOD’S GRACE (Acts 4:3-4) They

seized Peter and John, and put them in jail. {4} But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about 5000.

Sermon after lame

man healed

Responding to God’s grace

• GUILTY OF SIN (Acts 7:52) … the Righteous One (Jesus). And now you have betrayed and murdered him—• INVITATION OF GRACE – (Interrupted… never had a

chance to offer God’s grace)• FURIOUS REJECTION OF GOD’S GRACE (Acts 7:54)

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him…

Sermon to the

Sanhedrin

Responding to God’s grace

• GUILTY OF SIN (Romans 3:23) “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,• INVITATION OF GRACE (Acts 16:31) "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and

you will be saved…” (Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.• MY PERSONAL RESPONSE TO GOD’s GRACE

HUMILITY – I am placing my faith in Christ alone today – that He died for my sin and rose again.

PRIDE – I don’t think I need to because I think my own goodness qualifies me for heaven.

The Good News in

God’s Word