28/05/2026
"A preaching that cuts to the heart"
Acts 2:37
[37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
The Pentecost was the only event in history that can never be replicated today by any Christian movement or gathering. It was the time when the Holy Spirit, as prophesied in the OT, came and indwelt permanently in the lives of His people. As a result of this, the early believers spoke in tongues, and many signs and wonders were performed. Although this event can never be reproduced today, there's a certain kind of preaching that can certainly be mimicked; "a preaching that cuts to the heart."
The Apostle Peter boldy stood in front of a multitude and began preaching about the true gospel of Christ. There's so much that we can learn from his preaching that can be applied in today's evangelism. Modern evangelicalism has invented a lot of methods and materials on how to preach the gospel effectively. Some denominations have even argued that "there's no need to mention sin when we evangelize because people already know their sinfulness, they've had enough." Yet, knowledge does not always lead to acknowledgement and a lack of the latter will not end up to repentance. So, we're then left with the question: "how then should a Christian preach the gospel?"
Peter gives us a model on how to effectively share the gospel, one that cuts to the heart:
1. Begin with the character of God
Acts 2:22
[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, . ."
The starting point of the gospel is not Man and how he has fallen into sin. God (His holy nature) is the foundation of the gospel. Notice that Peter begins with Christ, and that He, by His power, performed works and wonders and signs. The gospel is all about the power and the work of God, and unless we begin from here, people will not realize how high is the holy standard of God and how far have we fallen from it.
2. Never hesitate to confront sin
Acts 2:23
"[23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men."
Acts 2:36
[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
You see, Peter did not hold back from saying (not just once but twice) the words "you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." If we are to follow today's standard, then Peter was wrong in doing so. But we're not the standard, God's Word is. There's a reason this preaching has been recorded because it is a standard that we need to follow today. A kind of gospel preaching that does not point out sin is not a kind of preaching that God approves, thus, it does not cut to the heart. People will not feel the need for repentance if they won't feel the depth of their sinfulness.
3. Being doctrinal is non-negotiable
Acts 2:24
[24] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Acts 2:32-34
[32] This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. [34] For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,"
Acts 2:36
[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The gospel must not be reduced to just "God loves you and has a beautiful plan for your life". This is an abridged version and can be very misleading. We need to be doctrinal in our approach. Peter didn't preach a shortcut version of the gospel, he explained its entirety. He talked about the death of Christ, the resurrection, the ascension, His authority, His Lordship, His victory over sin and death and His everlasting throne; all of these doctrines in one preaching. In our case, we should familiarize and be knowledeable enough of our doctrines so we can be eloquent when we preach them.
4. Always end with the call for repentance
Acts 2:37-39
[37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “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 Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
When asked, "what shall we do?", after being convicted by the preaching, Peter replied "Repent!". The Apostle was not toying with the emotions of his listeners contrary to what we hear today. He did not appeal to their emotions so as to stir them to be emotional in their decision without being genuinely convicted. His preaching crushed their souls by making them realize the weight of their sin. The problem with modern day Christianity is that we have muddied the gospel message by sugarcoating it to the sinner's preference in order to play with their feelings. This is why there are so many false conversions today because Pastors and Preachers have made a synthetic version of the gospel, one that only appeals to the heart and not with the mind and soul.
In closing, we don't need to be artistic when we share the gospel, we just need to be accurate. We don't need to modify the message because this message is timeless and will fit to whatever kind of culture we are in. Sin will always be sin regardless of what era one is in. After all, the message of the cross will always be foolishness to the perishing but to those whom God had chosen and whose hearts have been opened, it is the power of God.
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