Biblical Text Used: Acts 2:37-38 – “When they heard this, they were troubled in their hearts and asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’”
Purpose of Outline: This outline is intended to provide impactful preaching that challenges listeners to make a personal decision to repent and surrender to Jesus Christ, leading to forgiveness of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Introduction:
Impactful preaching is one that has the power to touch the hearts and minds of listeners, leading them to a personal response to the gospel message. In this outline, we’ll explore how to develop impactful preaching that awakens people’s awareness of the need to repent, surrender to Jesus, and receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit.
Central Theme: Repentance, Baptism and Receiving the Holy Spirit – The Response to the Gospel
I. The Consciousness of Sin
- The conviction of the Holy Spirit.
- The work of the Holy Spirit in the human heart (John 16:8).
- The role of conviction in seeking repentance (Acts 24:25).
Recognition of the sinful condition
- The consciousness of separation from God due to sin (Isaiah 59:2).
- The need to recognize one’s own fallibility (Romans 3:23).
II. The Call to Repentance
- The urgency of the decision.
- The brevity of life and the uncertainty of the future (James 4:14).
- The importance of making an immediate decision (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Repentance as Life Transformation
- The meaning of repentance in the Bible (Luke 5:32).
- The call to forsake sin and turn to God (Acts 3:19).
III. Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ
- Identification with the death and resurrection of Christ.
- The symbolism of water baptism (Romans 6:4).
- The importance of baptism as a public witness (Matthew 28:19-20).
The promise of forgiveness of sins
- The role of baptism in the forgiveness and cleansing of sins (Acts 22:16).
- The promise of new life in Christ (Colossians 2:12).
IV. The Receiving of the Holy Spirit
- The promise of the Holy Spirit.
- The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (John 14:16-17).
- The importance of the Holy Spirit for the Christian walk (Acts 1:8).
The Experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- The enabling power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
- The manifestation of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Conclusion:
Impactful preaching can transform lives and spark a personal response to the gospel. By addressing the themes of repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the Holy Spirit, we are calling listeners to make a decision of faith that will result in forgiveness of sins, life transformation, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. May each person be challenged to respond to God’s call on their life.
Additional Verse: Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me.”
Cult Type To Use This Outline:
This outline is appropriate for an evangelistic service or any occasion where the primary objective is to get people to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It can be used at evangelism events, conferences, spiritual retreats or specific meetings designed for impactful preaching. It is important to keep the target audience in mind and adapt the outline according to the needs and context of the occasion.
