ACTS – Power
This message is from Lead Pastor Dan Painter in week one of the sermon series “Acts – Power”.
Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us.
Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 am
Grace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 am.
Overcome fear and learn how to boldly share your faith with confidence. This powerful message addresses the common struggle many Christians face when it comes to evangelism and gospel sharing. Discover why fear keeps us silent and how to break through those barriers to become effective witnesses for Christ. Even introverts can be bold witnesses, and boldness isn’t the absence of fear but acting despite it. Learn from the apostle Paul’s example of requesting prayer for evangelistic boldness. Uncover four foundational biblical truths from Acts chapter 1 that transform fear into courage for gospel sharing. First, understand how Jesus’ death and resurrection secures your eternal relationship with God, making rejection from others less threatening. Second, discover how the Holy Spirit provides everything needed for effective witnessing, including the right words and supernatural strength.Third, learn how Jesus’ ascension and promised return puts temporary sacrifices in eternal perspective, making boldness worthwhile. Fourth, understand that Jesus builds His church through ordinary people sharing the gospel, removing pressure to be perfect evangelists. Get practical steps for moving from fear to faithfulness in evangelism. Learn why waiting for feelings of boldness is counterproductive and how God provides courage through faithful action. Discover how to identify specific fears holding you back and apply biblical truths to overcome them.This message includes actionable steps for identifying five people in your life who need to hear about Jesus and overcoming specific fears through prayer and faith. Perfect for Christians struggling with evangelism anxiety, fear of rejection, or feeling inadequate to share their faith effectively.
Important Verses
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 1:8
1 John 4:19
2 Corinthians 5:14
Matthew 16:18
Romans 5:8
John 1:12
1 John 3:1
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Philippians 4:19
Think about it!
The pastor shared about being terrified to ask for permission to marry despite having ‘good news.’ How does this relate to our fear of sharing the gospel with others?
What do you think is the root cause of why many Christians struggle to share their faith boldly? Do you agree that it often comes down to not loving others the way God does?
Acts 1:8 promises we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. How should this truth change our perspective on our ability to be witnesses?
The pastor mentioned four fears that keep us from being bold witnesses. Which of these resonates most with you: fear of rejection, feeling insufficient, fear of missing out, or fear of being ineffective?
How does knowing that Jesus lived, died, and rose again ‘just as He said’ give us confidence in sharing the gospel even when we might face rejection?
What does it mean practically that ‘it’s not up to you’ when it comes to changing people’s lives and building the church? How should this truth affect our approach to evangelism?
The pastor emphasized not waiting for the ‘feeling’ of boldness before acting. What are some practical first steps we can take to move beyond our fears?
Looking at your ‘My Five’ list of people to pray for, what specific fears do you have about sharing the gospel with them, and how do the truths from Acts 1 address those fears?
Apply it!
This week, identify one specific fear that has been holding you back from sharing the gospel. Choose one person from your ‘My Five’ prayer list and take one concrete step toward building a relationship or creating an opportunity to share your faith with them. This could be as simple as starting a spiritual conversation, inviting them to church, or sharing your testimony. Don’t wait for the feeling of boldness – trust that God will provide what you need as you step out in faith.
Key Takeaways
We need both love for others and boldness to be effective witnesses for Christ
Jesus’ faithfulness to His word in four areas gives us confidence to be bold: His resurrection, giving us His Spirit, His ascension and promised return, and His commitment to building His church
Being bold doesn’t mean having no fear – it means acting in defiance of fear
We don’t need to wait for feelings of boldness before acting; God provides courage as we step out in faith
Our job is to be faithful witnesses; God is responsible for changing hearts and building His church
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