Boldness in Faith: Living Out the Ekklesia

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the concept of "Ekklesia," the Greek term used to describe the early Jesus movement, which we now know as the church. This movement was not just a gathering but an assembly of people called to live out the teachings of Jesus, fueled by His death and resurrection. The early church, as described in the Book of Acts, was a vibrant, outward-facing, multicultural, and multiplying movement. It was a community that understood firsthand the mission Jesus had set forth, and they were committed to living it out despite the challenges they faced.

We delved into the story of Peter and John, who, after healing a lame man in the name of Jesus, were arrested and brought before the religious leaders. Despite the threat to their lives, they boldly proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus, which was the cornerstone of their faith. Their courage was not rooted in their own strength but in the reality of the resurrection, which they had witnessed. This event was the catalyst for the movement that would eventually bring us the Bible.

The early church's response to persecution was not to pray for safety but for boldness. They understood that their mission was to represent Jesus and His teachings to the world, and they prayed for the courage to speak up even when it was dangerous. This boldness was not about being rude or confrontational but about having the courage to speak the truth in love, even when fear whispered to stay silent.

As we reflect on this, we are challenged to examine our own prayers and concerns. Are we praying for boldness to share our faith and live out the teachings of Jesus in our communities? Are we concerned about what God is concerned about? The early church's example calls us to align our prayers and actions with the mission of Jesus, to be His representatives in our generation, and to pray for the courage to speak up when fear tells us to keep quiet.

Key Takeaways:

- Preaching from Weakness: Embracing our weaknesses allows us to connect more authentically with others and rely on God's strength. When we acknowledge our shortcomings, we open ourselves to God's transformative power, which can work through us to impact others. [00:10]

- Ekklesia's Mission: The early church was a movement called to live out Jesus' teachings and invite others to join. This mission remains unchanged, and we are called to be the representation of Jesus' assembly in our generation. [01:12]

- Foundation of Faith: The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. It was this event that launched the early church and continues to be the foundation upon which we build our lives as followers of Christ. [19:32]

- Praying for Boldness: The early church prayed for boldness, not safety, in the face of persecution. This challenges us to pray for the courage to speak up and live out our faith, even when it is uncomfortable or risky. [24:24]

- Living Boldly: Boldness is the courage to speak up when fear tells us to stay silent. It is about living in a way that gains the respect of others and reflects the love and truth of Jesus in our communities. [30:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Preaching from Weakness
- [00:47] - Importance of Staying on Track
- [01:12] - Understanding Ekklesia
- [02:17] - Learning from the First Century Church
- [03:18] - The Stakes of Getting It Right
- [04:16] - Our Role as the Church Today
- [05:07] - Studying the Book of Acts
- [06:02] - Peter and John's Bold Proclamation
- [07:34] - The Birth of the Ekklesia
- [09:13] - Confrontation at the Temple
- [12:29] - Peter's Bold Sermon
- [15:03] - Imprisonment and Trial
- [18:31] - The Courage of Peter and John
- [24:24] - Praying for Boldness
- [30:05] - Living Boldly in Our Communities
- [38:59] - Conclusion and Next Steps

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 4:1-31 - The story of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin and their prayer for boldness.
2. Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission, Jesus' call to make disciples of all nations.
3. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God choosing the weak to shame the strong, highlighting the theme of preaching from weakness.

---

Observation Questions:

1. What was the reaction of the religious leaders to Peter and John's healing of the lame man, and how did Peter and John respond to their threats? [15:40]

2. How did the early church respond to persecution, and what did they specifically pray for after Peter and John's release? [24:24]

3. What was the significance of the resurrection in the early church's message, and how did it serve as the foundation of their faith? [19:32]

4. How did the early church's understanding of "Ekklesia" differ from the modern concept of church? [01:12]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. Why did the early church choose to pray for boldness instead of safety in the face of persecution, and what does this reveal about their priorities? [24:24]

2. How does the concept of "preaching from weakness" allow believers to connect more authentically with others and rely on God's strength? [00:10]

3. In what ways does the resurrection of Jesus serve as the cornerstone of faith for the early church, and how does this impact the way they lived out their mission? [19:32]

4. How does the early church's example challenge modern believers to align their prayers and actions with the mission of Jesus? [27:41]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own prayer life. Are your prayers more focused on personal safety and comfort, or do they include requests for boldness to share your faith? How can you adjust your prayers to align more with the early church's example? [24:24]

2. Consider a situation where you felt prompted to speak up about your faith but hesitated. What fears held you back, and how can you overcome them in the future? [30:05]

3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel weak or inadequate. How can you embrace this weakness to rely more on God's strength and connect authentically with others? [00:10]

4. The early church was a multicultural and outward-facing movement. How can you contribute to making your church community more inclusive and welcoming to people from different backgrounds? [08:00]

5. Think of a person in your life who might benefit from hearing about the hope found in Jesus. What steps can you take this week to engage them in a spiritual conversation? [33:33]

6. Reflect on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. How can you actively participate in making disciples in your community, and what specific actions can you take to fulfill this mission? [01:12]

7. How can you cultivate a lifestyle that reflects the love and truth of Jesus in your community, gaining the respect of others while living boldly? [29:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Weakness for God's Strength
In the early church, believers understood the power of embracing their weaknesses to allow God's strength to shine through. This concept is rooted in the idea that acknowledging our limitations opens us to God's transformative power, enabling us to connect more authentically with others. The early followers of Jesus, like Peter and John, demonstrated this by relying not on their own abilities but on the reality of the resurrection, which they had witnessed. Their courage and boldness were not self-derived but were a testament to the power of God working through them. This approach invites us to consider how we can allow our vulnerabilities to become conduits for God's strength in our lives. [00:10]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: What is one area of weakness in your life that you can invite God to work through today, allowing His strength to be made perfect in your vulnerability?


Day 2: Living Out the Mission of Ekklesia
The early church, or "Ekklesia," was a movement called to live out the teachings of Jesus and invite others to join. This mission was characterized by a vibrant, outward-facing, multicultural, and multiplying community. The early believers understood their role as representatives of Jesus, committed to living out His teachings despite the challenges they faced. This mission remains unchanged today, calling us to be the representation of Jesus' assembly in our generation. We are invited to reflect on how we can embody this mission in our own lives, being a light in our communities and inviting others to experience the transformative power of Jesus. [01:12]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the mission of the Ekklesia today, being a light in your community and inviting others to join in the journey of faith?


Day 3: The Resurrection as the Cornerstone of Faith
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, serving as the foundation upon which the early church was built. This pivotal event not only launched the early church but continues to be the bedrock of our faith as followers of Christ. The resurrection is a testament to the power and victory of Jesus over death, providing hope and assurance for believers. As we reflect on this foundational truth, we are reminded of the significance of the resurrection in our own lives and how it shapes our understanding of faith, hope, and eternal life. [19:32]

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Reflection: How does the reality of the resurrection influence your daily life and perspective on challenges you face today?


Day 4: Praying for Boldness in the Face of Persecution
The early church's response to persecution was not to pray for safety but for boldness. This boldness was characterized by the courage to speak the truth in love, even when it was dangerous or uncomfortable. The early believers understood that their mission was to represent Jesus and His teachings to the world, and they prayed for the courage to speak up despite the risks. This challenges us to examine our own prayers and concerns, asking ourselves if we are praying for the courage to live out our faith boldly in our communities. [24:24]

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV): "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.' And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to pray for boldness today, asking God for the courage to speak the truth in love despite fear or discomfort?


Day 5: Living Boldly in Our Communities
Living boldly is about having the courage to speak up when fear tells us to stay silent. It involves living in a way that gains the respect of others and reflects the love and truth of Jesus in our communities. The early church exemplified this boldness, demonstrating a commitment to living out their faith authentically and courageously. As we seek to live boldly in our own lives, we are invited to consider how we can reflect the love and truth of Jesus in our interactions with others, being His representatives in our generation. [30:05]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: How can you live boldly in your community today, reflecting the love and truth of Jesus in your interactions with others?

Quotes



"And honestly, when we hold up what we pray for and who we pray for, beside the first century Christians from whom we're supposed to take our cue, it's a little bit embarrassing. Here's what the first century church, here's what the first century persecuted church prayed for. If we're gonna go back and get in sync with how this whole thing started, this is a bit instructional as well as it is convicting." [22:35]

"The foundation of their faith, the foundation of the faith of the first followers of Jesus, as we're looking back in order to stay on track, the foundation of their faith was an event, the resurrection of Jesus. And it was the resurrection that launched the movement, the Ekklesia. And it's the Ekklesia that years later would produce our 'Bible'." [19:28]

"Boldness is simply, 'The courage to speak up when fear whispers, Keep your mouth shut.' It's simply the courage to speak up because you know you need to say something or you should say something 'cause you're concerned about this person or that you sort of feel an internal nudge, say something." [30:05]

"The early church, they were bold. They were confident and they were courageous, not because of their temperament and not because of their personalities, because of their faith in Jesus. So, let's be like them. Let's be the Ekklesia of Jesus. Let's be the assembly of our King, and let's pray for boldness." [38:20]

"Peter and John still smell like the hole they spent the night in. Peter and John still smell like jail and they're asking for boldness, to which we'd say, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Boldness, look, boldness almost got you killed.' Us Americans, let us help you guys, men and women and what you should pray for." [24:44]

"The Ekklesia opened as an outward-facing multicultural, because the men who had come to Jerusalem for this festival came from all over the empire, multicultural, multiplying movement. Because Jesus' final admonition was, 'I want you to go and make disciples of Me in every single nation.'" [07:54]

"When the church loses its way, people pay. When the church loses its way, culture pays, because the foundation for human dignity and human rights slips away. I mean, to put it simply, we could spend a lot of time on this, and you know this, if there is no God, if there is no God then there is no absolute standard for right and wrong." [03:04]

"The reason they decided to follow Jesus for the rest of their life was because God raised Him from the dead. The foundation of their faith, the foundation of the faith of the first followers of Jesus, as we're looking back in order to stay on track, the foundation of their faith was an event, the resurrection of Jesus." [19:59]

"Peter and John, who are the leaders of the Jesus movement, go to the temple to meet with other Christians to pray. And as they're going through these particular stairs, through this particular gate, there is a man who has been lame from birth. If you grew up in church, you've heard this story, lame from birth, begging." [09:34]

"Here's what they prayed for. They said, 'Sovereign Lord, You made the heavens and the Earth and the sea and everything in them.' It's like, what does it have to do with anything? Everything, they're like, 'God, before we ask you for anything, we just wanna proclaim, You are large and You are in charge.'" [23:07]

"Peter and John should've been on their knees begging for mercy. They'd seen crucifixion. They'd seen the aftermath of crucifixion. There was no guarantee that anybody was gonna raise them from the dead. When they died, they would stay dead. They were risking their lives not for what they believed. They were risking their lives for what they had seen, their resurrected Rabbi." [17:38]

"The foundation of their faith in Jesus, the reason they chose to follow Jesus the rest of their life was not what Jesus taught. They'd heard everything Jesus taught, but when Jesus was arrested, they ran. The reason they decided to follow Jesus for the rest of their life was because God raised Him from the dead." [19:05]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Mar 11, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?