You Said Yes | Pastor Andy Burt | Resonate Church

Today, we gathered to exalt the powerful and beautiful name of Jesus, recognizing that He is greater and stronger than anything we face. As we worshipped, I sensed that God was breaking chains and bringing deliverance, shifting the atmosphere and lifting burdens from those weighed down by fear or darkness. We are not here to simply go through the motions of church, but to encounter the living presence of God and experience transformation in our lives.

Reflecting on Acts 2, we see the foundational steps of the Christian journey: repentance, belief, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit. Repentance is more than feeling sorry or regretful; it is a deep recognition that our sin is ultimately against God, and it calls us to turn away from our old ways and toward Him. This is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, often requiring honest confession and accountability within community.

Belief in Jesus is both personal and practical. It is not enough to know about Him; we must trust Him with our lives, allowing our faith to be seen in our actions and obedience. True faith is not passive—it leads to a changed lifestyle, marked by love, service, and surrender. Jesus is not only our Savior but also our Lord, and following Him means yielding our plans, desires, and decisions to His will, even when it costs us comfort or understanding.

Baptism is the outward sign of our inward transformation—a public declaration that we have died to our old life and been raised to new life in Christ. It is a powerful moment of identification with Jesus, marking a point of no return and a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Finally, we are called to receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers and guides us in our new life. The Spirit is not an optional extra but a foundational gift, enabling us to live out our faith with boldness, obedience, and intimacy with God. As we respond to these truths, may we continually surrender, trust, and walk in step with Jesus, making Him both Savior and Lord of every area of our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Repentance is a Deep Turning, Not Just Remorse True repentance goes beyond feeling bad about our actions; it is a recognition that our sin is ultimately against God Himself. This realization leads us to actively turn away from our old ways and toward God, embracing confession and accountability as ongoing practices. Repentance is not a one-time event but a continual posture of the heart, drawing us closer to God’s mercy and grace. [47:01]
• 2. Belief Must Be Personal and Practical Faith in Jesus is not inherited or cultural; it is a personal decision to trust Him with our lives. This belief is demonstrated through practical obedience—our actions, choices, and willingness to step out in faith. True belief transforms us from the inside out, compelling us to live differently and to act on what we profess. [53:24]
• 3. Jesus as Lord Requires Costly Surrender It is easy to accept Jesus as Savior, but following Him as Lord means yielding our rights, plans, and preferences to His authority. Lordship is costly; it demands obedience even when we do not fully understand or when it leads us out of comfort. Only through surrender do we experience the depth, molding, and power that come from truly following Christ. [58:52]
• 4. Baptism is a Public Declaration of a New Life Baptism is not merely symbolic; it is a spiritual act that marks the burial of our old life and the beginning of new life in Christ. It is a public statement of allegiance to Jesus, often representing a point of no return. This step of obedience is a powerful witness to others and a significant milestone in our journey of faith. [61:36]
• 5. Receiving the Holy Spirit is Foundational, Not Optional The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to empower, guide, and sustain us in the Christian life. Receiving the Spirit is not about striving or emotional experience, but about humble surrender and expectancy. The Spirit enables us to live out our faith with boldness, discernment, and intimacy, equipping us for every step of the journey ahead.
  
  ** [64:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:25] - Exalting the Name of Jesus
• [34:54] - Trusting God in Fear
• [36:25] - Community and Gratitude
• [37:15] - Purpose and Making a Difference
• [39:34] - Acts 2: The First Gospel Call
• [40:50] - Repentance: Turning to God
• [43:15] - What Repentance Really Means
• [50:41] - Belief: Personal and Practical Faith
• [55:49] - Jesus as Lord, Not Just Savior
• [59:49] - Baptism: Outward Sign of New Life
• [63:42] - Receiving the Holy Spirit
• [66:22] - Responding in Obedience
• [75:05] - Surrender and Following Jesus
• [76:19] - Invitation to Salvation and Prayer

Bible Reading

Acts 2:36-38 (ESV) — > 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.”
> 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.

Romans 6:3-4 (ESV) — > 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
> 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

James 5:16 (ESV) — > Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Observation Questions

1. In Acts 2:37-38, what was the crowd’s response to Peter’s message, and what specific steps did Peter tell them to take?
2. According to Romans 6:3-4, what does baptism symbolize for a believer?
3. In James 5:16, what are believers encouraged to do with their sins, and what is the promised result?
4. The sermon described repentance as more than just feeling sorry. What deeper understanding of repentance was shared? [[47:01]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Peter’s call to “repent and be baptized” was so urgent and direct for the early believers? How might this urgency apply to us today? [[39:34]]
2. The sermon said that repentance is “not a one-time event but a continual posture of the heart.” What does it look like to live with ongoing repentance in daily life? [[50:24]]
3. The message emphasized that belief in Jesus must be both personal and practical. What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly trusting Him with your life? [[53:24]]
4. The pastor said, “It is easy to accept Jesus as Savior, but following Him as Lord means yielding our rights, plans, and preferences to His authority.” Why is this distinction important, and what might it cost someone to make Jesus Lord? [[58:52]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon described repentance as recognizing that our sin is ultimately against God, not just others or ourselves. Is there an area in your life where you’ve only felt regret or remorse, but not true repentance? What would it look like to turn away from that and toward God this week? [[47:01]]
2. Confession and accountability were highlighted as ongoing practices for repentance. Is there a trusted person in your life you can confess to and pray with? If not, what steps could you take to build that kind of relationship? [[49:47]]
3. The message said that true belief leads to action and obedience. Can you think of a recent time when your faith in Jesus led you to make a practical decision or take a step that was uncomfortable or costly? What happened? [[53:24]]
4. The pastor challenged us to make Jesus not just Savior, but Lord. Is there a specific area of your life (relationships, career, finances, plans) where you are struggling to surrender to Jesus’ authority? What is holding you back? [[58:52]]
5. Baptism was described as a “public declaration of a new life” and a “point of no return.” If you have been baptized, what did that moment mean to you? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about taking that step? [[01:01:36]]
6. The Holy Spirit was described as foundational, not optional, for living the Christian life. In what ways do you sense the Holy Spirit empowering or guiding you right now? Are there areas where you need to invite His help more intentionally? [[01:04:19]]
7. The sermon ended with an invitation to respond in obedience, even when it’s hard or doesn’t make sense. Is there a step of obedience God is prompting you to take right now? What would it look like to say “yes” to Him this week? [[01:06:22]]