Bold Faith: Standing Firm in Persecution

In a world where faith is increasingly tested, it’s essential to cultivate a bold, resilient trust in Jesus. Looking at the life and death of Stephen in Acts, we see a powerful example of what it means to stand firm for Christ, even in the face of fierce opposition. Stephen wasn’t an apostle or a famous preacher—he was simply a man full of the Holy Spirit, grace, and power. When challenged, he didn’t rely on clever arguments or personal strength, but on the Spirit of God and a deep grounding in Scripture. His boldness was not self-generated; it was Spirit-born, flowing from a life surrendered to God and anchored in His Word.

Persecution is not just a distant reality or a story from the early church; it’s something that is becoming more tangible in our own context. The recent loss of a public Christian figure, Charlie Kirk, reminds us that standing for Christ can come at a great cost. Yet, the call remains: to be unshaken, to be ready for the “squeeze” that comes when our faith is put under pressure. Like a sponge, what we have soaked in will spill out when we are pressed. For Stephen, what came out was forgiveness, courage, and unwavering faith.

Boldness in the Christian life is not about personality or natural courage. It is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit and letting God’s Word dwell richly within us. This means daily surrender, asking God to fill us, and intentionally setting our minds on things that please Him. It also means letting Scripture shape our responses, so that when storms come, our lives are built on the solid rock of Christ’s teachings.

Perhaps the most radical aspect of Stephen’s example is his response to those who were killing him: he chose forgiveness over revenge. This echoes the heart of Jesus on the cross and challenges us to reflect Christ not just in our words, but in our reactions to conflict and opposition. The loudest testimony of our faith may not be what we say, but how we respond when we are wronged.

Today, the invitation is to examine the condition of our faith. Are we filled with the Spirit? Are we grounded in God’s Word? When we are squeezed by life’s pressures, does Christlikeness flow out? If not, it’s time to surrender afresh, seek God’s filling, and anchor ourselves in His truth, so that we can stand bold for the One who stood bold for us.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Boldness Flows from the Holy Spirit, Not Personality True spiritual courage is not a product of natural temperament or argumentative skill, but the overflow of a life surrendered to God and filled with His Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fills us, He empowers us to stand for truth and witness to Christ, even when it’s costly. This boldness is available to anyone who asks with a surrendered heart, not just to spiritual “giants.” [23:03]
• 2. Grounding in God’s Word is Essential for Resilience A faith that endures under pressure is one that is deeply rooted in Scripture. Stephen’s ability to respond with wisdom and clarity came from knowing God’s Word intimately, not just superficially. In times of trial, it is the Word dwelling richly within us that keeps us anchored and unshaken, enabling us to discern truth from error and respond with wisdom. [27:58]
• 3. Forgiveness is the Mark of Christlike Boldness When Stephen was being killed, he prayed for his persecutors, echoing Jesus’ own words on the cross. This kind of forgiveness is not natural; it is supernatural, born of the Spirit and rooted in a deep understanding of God’s grace toward us. Choosing pardon over payback is not weakness, but the greatest evidence of Christ at work in us, and it is a command, not a suggestion, for every believer. [31:45]
• 4. Our Greatest Witness May Be Our Response to Opposition The most powerful testimony of faith is often not what we say, but how we respond when we are wronged, slandered, or persecuted. Like Stephen, our reactions under pressure reveal what is truly inside us. When we respond with grace, forgiveness, and steadfastness, we preach the gospel louder than any words could. [35:36]
• 5. Preparation for Persecution Begins Now, in the Everyday Squeeze The “squeeze” of persecution or pressure is inevitable for every follower of Jesus, but readiness is cultivated in daily life. How we respond to everyday frustrations, conflicts, and pressures reveals the true condition of our faith. If what comes out is not Christlike, it’s an invitation to seek God’s transformation, to be filled afresh with His Spirit, and to anchor ourselves more deeply in His Word. [37:38]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Introduction and Setting the Stage
• [03:45] - The Need for Bold Faith Today
• [07:20] - Stephen’s Story: A Model of Courage
• [12:17] - The Cost of Standing for Christ
• [14:10] - Responding to Persecution in Our Time
• [15:44] - “Get Ready for the Squeeze”
• [17:41] - Stephen’s Character and Opposition
• [18:34] - Understanding the Root of Persecution
• [20:17] - The Sinful Nature and Its Struggle for Control
• [21:30] - God’s Approval in the Midst of Accusation
• [23:03] - How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
• [27:00] - The Importance of Being Grounded in God’s Word
• [27:58] - Letting the Word Dwell Richly
• [30:54] - Choosing Forgiveness Over Revenge
• [31:45] - Forgiveness: The Heart of Christ
• [33:32] - The Command to Forgive
• [35:36] - The Loudest Sermon: Our Response to Pressure
• [37:38] - Examining the Condition of Our Faith
• [38:47] - Responding to God’s Invitation
• [40:09] - Standing Bold for Christ
• [41:06] - Closing Prayer and Commitment

Bible Reading

Acts 6:8–15; 7:54–60 (ESV) —
> 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ...
> 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

> 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Observation Questions

1. What qualities are highlighted about Stephen in Acts 6:8 and 6:10? How did these qualities affect the way he responded to opposition?
2. According to Acts 7:55–56, what did Stephen see as he was being persecuted, and how did he respond to his accusers?
3. In the sermon, what was said to be the source of Stephen’s boldness—was it his personality, his arguments, or something else? ([23:03])
4. When Stephen was being killed, what did he pray for his persecutors? How does this echo the example of Jesus? ([31:45])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the Bible emphasizes that Stephen was “full of the Holy Spirit” and “full of grace and power”? What difference did this make in his life and witness? ([23:03])
2. The sermon compared the “squeeze” of persecution to squeezing a sponge—what comes out is what’s inside. What does this analogy suggest about the importance of what we are “soaking in” daily? ([21:30])
3. The pastor said that boldness is not about natural courage or personality, but about being filled with the Spirit and grounded in God’s Word. How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to be “bold” for Christ? ([27:00])
4. Stephen’s final words were words of forgiveness. Why is forgiveness in the face of opposition described as “supernatural” and “the mark of Christlike boldness”? ([31:45])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “When you’re squeezed, what comes out is what’s inside.” Think about a recent time you were under pressure or criticized. What came out of you—was it Christlike? If not, what do you think you’ve been “soaking in”? ([21:30])
2. The pastor challenged us to examine if we are “filled with the Spirit” and “grounded in God’s Word.” What is one practical step you can take this week to intentionally seek God’s filling or to let Scripture dwell more richly in you? ([27:58])
3. Forgiveness was described as the loudest testimony of our faith. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive, even if they haven’t asked for it? What would it look like to pray for them as Stephen did? ([31:45])
4. The sermon mentioned that boldness is available to anyone who asks with a surrendered heart—not just to spiritual “giants.” What holds you back from asking God for boldness? How can you surrender more fully to Him this week? ([23:03])
5. The “squeeze” of persecution or pressure is inevitable, but preparation begins now, in the everyday moments. What is one area of daily life (work, family, online interactions, etc.) where you feel the “squeeze” most? How can you prepare to respond more like Stephen? ([37:38])
6. The pastor said, “Our greatest witness may be our response to opposition.” Can you think of a time when someone’s Christlike response to being wronged impacted you? How might your own responses be a witness to others? ([35:36])
7. The sermon invited us to “stand bold for the One who stood bold for us.” What does standing bold for Christ look like in your current season of life? Is there a specific situation where you sense God calling you to take a stand? ([40:09])