The critical element to a thing being a “tiramisu” is the layered nature of the thing in question. A tiramisu is an Italian dessert made by interweaving layers of coffee-soaked cookies, whipped cream, and mascarpone cheese (a kind of creamed cheese), topped with cocoa powder. It is distinctive for its many layers and while it can conceivably be made with only three stacks of ingredients, you could also theoretically continuing stacking cookies, cream, and cheese over and over and over until it reaches to the moon.

In much the same way, whenever we evangelize the lost, it’s important to say the things of the Gospel in the right way. Obviously, the words of Jesus are always right, but right things can be said in the wrong way or at the wrong time, and the words which ought to save a soul instead become a stumblingblock for the non-believer.

Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 is a great template for the way to say the right things in the right way. In it, the Apostle layers his message with a handful of key ingredients, keeping them distinct so that the audience has the means to follow his teaching…

Peter begins his sermon by establishing the need to obey the Gospel: In Acts 2:16-21, he quotes from the prophesy of Joel and draws their attention to the fulfilment of the prophet’s words, ending with the promise that any who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).

From there, he adds a new layer, one that convicts the audience of sin and convinces them of their need to call on the name of the Lord: In Acts 2:22-23, he points out that Jesus came to be the agent of their salvation but they, with wickedness in their hearts, crucified and killed Him. In other words, Peter first tells them of the need for salvation, then he holds them down to the edge of hellfire, by telling them that they killed their only hope of salvation.

But that’s not the end of the sermon: The next layer establishes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection: In Acts 2:24-35, he gives the good news that Jesus rose from the dead, a feat which was predicted by King David long ago, and which proves Jesus to be the Messiah long-awaited.

But still he’s not done; there’s another layer to add, because at this point the audience is probably relieved to hear that the person they killed rose from the dead; such news might make them think they were off the hook, no harm/no foul. On the contrary, Peter’s final layer is a repeat, in which he convicts the audience of sin once more: In Acts 2:36 he reminds them that the same Jesus whom God raised up and made Lord and Christ is the same Jesus whom they crucified and killed.

With that, the people break, and begin pleading for help, which is offered through “repentance and baptism by the authority of Jesus.” In other words, the same Jesus they killed now commands them to repent and be baptized in order to obtain remission of sins (Acts 2:37-38). Naturally, moved by a desire to be freed from the guilt of their sins, and equally moved by the love of the one they killed that He would even offer them salvation in the first place, the audience responds and three-thousand people are saved (Acts 2:41).

Do you see how expertly Peter laid out (and layered-out) his sermon? He first established the truth of Jesus’ Christhood, then convicted the sinners of their crimes, offered good news in the form of Jesus resurrection, then reminded them of their continued guilt, before letting them ask the key question: “What shall we do?” At that point the sermon is done and its effectiveness is apparent: All that’s left is to invite the pleading sinner to salvation and watch as he runs to be redeemed.

An effective Gospel conversation is not a stew with a bunch of spiritual ideas all floating around with each other, where you randomly toss out spiritual ideas and hope the audience can keep up. Save that for the many Bible studies that come later. No, an effective Gospel conversation is a tiramisu, layered with conviction of sin, good news of salvation’s possibility to the whole world, and promise of salvation’s certainty to those who obey, leading the hearer to come to the realization that they need salvation and that they can attain it today.

~ Matthew