WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:04.480 One of the most important lines of all scripture happens today. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:08.320 It's not Peter preaching, it's the crowd responding. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:17.519 After Peter proclaims that Jesus is risen, that he is Lord, that he is the Christ, people say, What are we to do? 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:23.199 That's the whole turning point because up until now they've been listening. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:25.760 Now they're ready to respond. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:28.879 And notice what happened just before that. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:39.759 The reading says they were cut to the heart, not impressed, not entertained, not mildly, mildly interested, they were cut to the heart. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:44.560 Something pierced through, something got past their defenses. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.439 That's every homilist's dream. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:49.840 How do I reach the heart? 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:55.119 And you see that for the first time they weren't asking, is this interesting? 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.000 They were asking, is this true? 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.479 What does it mean for my life? 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:07.280 That's the difference between hearing the gospel, hearing a homily, and being changed by it. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:16.719 Because you can listen to the resurrection story, you can understand it, you can even agree with it, and still remain untouched. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:21.519 But when it hits the heart, everything changes. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:25.280 And the proof is the question: what are we to do now? 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.400 Now here's where Peter is so direct, not fluff, not softening. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.000 He says, repent and be baptized. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:36.959 The word repent, we don't always like it. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:38.480 It sounds heavy. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:43.280 But simply means this change direction. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:45.680 Stop going one way. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:48.000 Start going another way. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.319 And here's the joyful part. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:54.079 Repentance is not punishment, it's freedom. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:58.959 It's not God saying you failed, you're miserable, you're a disaster. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:02.079 It's God saying you don't have to stay there. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:15.280 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. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:18.960 Certain reactions that offend God. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.360 And over time we make peace with it. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.280 Well, that's just how I am. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:25.759 We stop fighting it. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.919 And then Easter comes and says, No, it's not. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:32.319 You're not your worst habit. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:34.080 You're not your worst mistake. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.759 You are not your past. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:38.800 You are not the things you struggle with. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.960 You are someone who Christ died for and rose from. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:44.800 Rose for. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.080 And then Peter says something incredible. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:50.800 You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.520 Not maybe, not if you earn it. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.280 You will receive, which means this. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:02.240 God doesn't just tell you to change your life, He gives you the power to do it. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:04.000 That's the difference. 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:05.599 This is not self-help. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.000 This is this is transformation. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.199 And then Peter says one more thing that I love. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:16.639 He says, the promise is made to you and to all of those far off. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:21.039 That means that this is not just for the people who have it all together. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:22.319 This is for everyone. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:27.039 This is available to every single one who feels far. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:33.919 Even the ones who have drifted, even the ones who walked into in today, not sure what they're here for. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:38.639 So let me bring this down to one simple question for you today. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:44.319 If the resurrection is real, and it is, what are you going to do about it? 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:48.479 Not in general, not someday, but today, here in the now. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:53.039 What is the one thing in your life that needs to change direction? 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:58.879 Because if this is true and the teachings of Jesus are true, what's the one habit? 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.240 What's the one relationship? 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:04.719 What's the one area you know God is asking you to change? 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:07.120 Don't overthink this. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:09.120 You already know what you need to do. 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:11.039 You know what's right from what's wrong. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.199 You know those things that offend God. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.480 The people didn't walk away with a 10-year plan. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:20.000 They took one baby step in front of another step. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:24.240 And 3,000 lives changed that day. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:26.480 That's how God works. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:30.240 Not all at once, one real step at a time. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.519 It's that decision to say, enough. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:36.000 I want to live differently. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:40.560 So don't just hear this, let it reach your heart. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:43.839 So when it does, don't be afraid of the question. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:45.759 What am I to do with this? 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:52.319 Because that question is the beginning of a brand new life in Christ. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:53.600 Amen.