SPEAKER_00: One of the most important lines of all scripture happens today.
SPEAKER_00: It's not Peter preaching, it's the crowd responding.
SPEAKER_00: After Peter proclaims that Jesus is risen, that he is Lord, that he is the Christ, people say, What are we to do?
SPEAKER_00: That's the whole turning point because up until now they've been listening.
SPEAKER_00: Now they're ready to respond.
SPEAKER_00: And notice what happened just before that.
SPEAKER_00: The reading says they were cut to the heart, not impressed, not entertained, not mildly, mildly interested, they were cut to the heart.
SPEAKER_00: Something pierced through, something got past their defenses.
SPEAKER_00: That's every homilist's dream.
SPEAKER_00: How do I reach the heart?
SPEAKER_00: And you see that for the first time they weren't asking, is this interesting?
SPEAKER_00: They were asking, is this true?
SPEAKER_00: What does it mean for my life?
SPEAKER_00: That's the difference between hearing the gospel, hearing a homily, and being changed by it.
SPEAKER_00: Because you can listen to the resurrection story, you can understand it, you can even agree with it, and still remain untouched.
SPEAKER_00: But when it hits the heart, everything changes.
SPEAKER_00: And the proof is the question: what are we to do now?
SPEAKER_00: Now here's where Peter is so direct, not fluff, not softening.
SPEAKER_00: He says, repent and be baptized.
SPEAKER_00: The word repent, we don't always like it.
SPEAKER_00: It sounds heavy.
SPEAKER_00: But simply means this change direction.
SPEAKER_00: Stop going one way.
SPEAKER_00: Start going another way.
SPEAKER_00: And here's the joyful part.
SPEAKER_00: Repentance is not punishment, it's freedom.
SPEAKER_00: It's not God saying you failed, you're miserable, you're a disaster.
SPEAKER_00: It's God saying you don't have to stay there.
SPEAKER_00: Because every one of us has something we've gotten used to: a pattern, a habit, sinful behavior, a way of living that we know deep down is not what we're called to be.
SPEAKER_00: Certain reactions that offend God.
SPEAKER_00: And over time we make peace with it.
SPEAKER_00: Well, that's just how I am.
SPEAKER_00: We stop fighting it.
SPEAKER_00: And then Easter comes and says, No, it's not.
SPEAKER_00: You're not your worst habit.
SPEAKER_00: You're not your worst mistake.
SPEAKER_00: You are not your past.
SPEAKER_00: You are not the things you struggle with.
SPEAKER_00: You are someone who Christ died for and rose from.
SPEAKER_00: Rose for.
SPEAKER_00: And then Peter says something incredible.
SPEAKER_00: You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_00: Not maybe, not if you earn it.
SPEAKER_00: You will receive, which means this.
SPEAKER_00: God doesn't just tell you to change your life, He gives you the power to do it.
SPEAKER_00: That's the difference.
SPEAKER_00: This is not self-help.
SPEAKER_00: This is this is transformation.
SPEAKER_00: And then Peter says one more thing that I love.
SPEAKER_00: He says, the promise is made to you and to all of those far off.
SPEAKER_00: That means that this is not just for the people who have it all together.
SPEAKER_00: This is for everyone.
SPEAKER_00: This is available to every single one who feels far.
SPEAKER_00: Even the ones who have drifted, even the ones who walked into in today, not sure what they're here for.
SPEAKER_00: So let me bring this down to one simple question for you today.
SPEAKER_00: If the resurrection is real, and it is, what are you going to do about it?
SPEAKER_00: Not in general, not someday, but today, here in the now.
SPEAKER_00: What is the one thing in your life that needs to change direction?
SPEAKER_00: Because if this is true and the teachings of Jesus are true, what's the one habit?
SPEAKER_00: What's the one relationship?
SPEAKER_00: What's the one area you know God is asking you to change?
SPEAKER_00: Don't overthink this.
SPEAKER_00: You already know what you need to do.
SPEAKER_00: You know what's right from what's wrong.
SPEAKER_00: You know those things that offend God.
SPEAKER_00: The people didn't walk away with a 10-year plan.
SPEAKER_00: They took one baby step in front of another step.
SPEAKER_00: And 3,000 lives changed that day.
SPEAKER_00: That's how God works.
SPEAKER_00: Not all at once, one real step at a time.
SPEAKER_00: It's that decision to say, enough.
SPEAKER_00: I want to live differently.
SPEAKER_00: So don't just hear this, let it reach your heart.
SPEAKER_00: So when it does, don't be afraid of the question.
SPEAKER_00: What am I to do with this?
SPEAKER_00: Because that question is the beginning of a brand new life in Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.