The E-Word: Abiding Leads to Boldness

Today’s focus is on the profound connection between abiding in Jesus and the boldness required to share His good news with others. The call to evangelism is not reserved for a select few with a special gift, but is a responsibility entrusted to every follower of Christ. Yet, many of us find ourselves hesitant, making excuses rooted in fear, inadequacy, or discomfort. At the heart of these excuses is often a preoccupation with ourselves—how sharing our faith might affect us—rather than a Christlike concern for the spiritual well-being of others.

Looking to Acts 4, we see Peter and John, described as ordinary men with no special training, yet recognized by the religious leaders as those who had “been with Jesus.” Their courage and effectiveness did not stem from their own abilities, but from their deep, abiding relationship with Christ. This abiding is not about striving or performing, but about remaining connected to the true vine, as Jesus teaches in John 15. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains attached to the vine, so too our witness and boldness flow naturally from our ongoing communion with Christ.

Evangelism, then, is not a performance or a duty to be anxiously fulfilled, but an overflow of the life of Christ within us. When we are full of His presence, sharing about Him becomes as natural as telling a friend about a favorite restaurant or a grandchild’s accomplishment. The authenticity of our relationship with Jesus is what makes our witness compelling; people may debate our beliefs, but they cannot deny the reality of a life transformed by time spent with Him.

Practical steps to abiding include daily time in the Word, prayer, worship, and intentional moments of silence to listen for God’s voice. Before speaking to others about Jesus, we are encouraged to first speak to God about them, letting prayer be the bridge between our abiding and our witness. Ultimately, the fruitfulness of our evangelism is not about perfect words or strategies, but about the presence of Jesus flowing through us. As we stay connected to Him, boldness and compassion will naturally follow, and our lives will bear witness to the hope we have found.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Abiding in Jesus is the source of true boldness. The courage to share our faith does not come from self-effort or personality, but from a deep, ongoing relationship with Christ. When we spend time with Him, His character and confidence become our own, enabling us to speak and act with authenticity and love. [49:32]
• 2. Evangelism is an overflow, not an obligation. When our hearts are full of the life and love of Jesus, sharing about Him becomes a natural response rather than a burdensome task. The most compelling witness comes from those who are so captivated by Christ that they cannot help but speak of what they have seen and experienced. [62:17]
• 3. Fruitfulness in witness is a byproduct of connection, not striving. Just as a branch bears fruit by remaining attached to the vine, our effectiveness in sharing the gospel comes from staying connected to Jesus. Attempts to evangelize in our own strength lead to exhaustion and ineffectiveness, but abiding produces lasting fruit. [55:10]
• 4. Authenticity in our faith is undeniable. People may challenge our theology or question our motives, but they cannot ignore the genuine transformation that comes from time spent with Jesus. Our tone, peace, and compassion reveal the reality of our relationship with Him, making our witness both credible and attractive. [66:25]
• 5. Prayerful dependence precedes powerful witness. Before we speak to others about Jesus, we are called to first speak to God about them, allowing prayer to align our hearts with His and to empower our words. This posture of dependence ensures that our evangelism is rooted in God’s presence and not in our own abilities. [68:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:18] - Introduction to Local Ministry: Fierce Love for Good
• [22:00] - Praying for Compassion and Support
• [42:52] - The Blessing of Investing in Others
• [43:41] - What is Evangelism?
• [44:48] - Common Excuses and the Heart of Evangelism
• [46:31] - Turning to Acts 4: The Power of Being with Jesus
• [47:17] - Ordinary People, Extraordinary Witness
• [49:32] - Abiding and Boldness: The Vine and the Branches
• [53:27] - The Harvest Table: Fruit as a Metaphor
• [55:10] - Abiding Produces Fruit, Not Striving
• [57:46] - The Danger of Disconnection
• [59:16] - Peter and John: Courage from Communion
• [61:31] - Boldness as a Byproduct of Presence
• [66:02] - Keeping the Message Personal and Fresh
• [67:22] - Practical Steps to Abide
• [70:09] - Responding in Worship and Connection
• [78:19] - Overflow, Not Obligation
• [81:08] - Closing and Announcements

Bible Reading

Acts 4:12-13 (ESV) — > 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
> 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

John 15:1-5 (ESV) — > 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
> 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
> 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
> 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
> 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Observation Questions

1. In Acts 4:13, what was it about Peter and John that amazed the religious leaders, and how did the leaders describe them? ([47:17])
2. According to John 15:4-5, what is the only way a branch (or a believer) can bear fruit? What does Jesus say happens if we try to bear fruit apart from Him?
3. The sermon mentioned that Peter had previously denied Jesus but now spoke with boldness. What changed in Peter’s life between those two moments? ([49:16])
4. What are some of the common excuses people give for not sharing their faith, as mentioned in the sermon? ([44:48])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the religious leaders were able to recognize that Peter and John “had been with Jesus”? What does this suggest about the impact of spending time with Jesus on a person’s life? ([47:17])
2. The sermon says that boldness in sharing our faith is not about personality or training, but about abiding in Jesus. How does this challenge the way people usually think about evangelism? ([49:32])
3. Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” What are some ways Christians might try to “bear fruit” or share their faith in their own strength, and why does this often lead to exhaustion or discouragement? ([55:10])
4. The sermon describes evangelism as an “overflow” rather than an “obligation.” What does it look like when sharing about Jesus comes from overflow? ([01:02:17])

Application Questions

1. The sermon pointed out that our excuses for not sharing our faith are often rooted in self-focus—worrying about how we’ll be perceived or what might happen to us. Can you identify a recent time when fear or discomfort kept you from sharing your faith? What was at the heart of that hesitation? ([44:48])
2. Peter and John were described as “ordinary men” who had been with Jesus. In what ways do you feel “ordinary” or unqualified to share your faith? How might abiding in Jesus change your perspective on your own ability to witness? ([47:17])
3. The sermon gave practical steps for abiding: daily time in the Word, prayer, worship, and silence. Which of these practices is most challenging for you right now, and what is one small step you could take this week to grow in that area? ([01:07:22])
4. Before talking to others about Jesus, the sermon encouraged us to first talk to God about them. Is there someone in your life you feel prompted to pray for this week? How can you make prayer for them a regular part of your routine? ([01:08:29])
5. The message said that people may argue with your beliefs, but they can’t deny the authenticity of a life changed by Jesus. What are some ways your life has been changed by spending time with Jesus? How could you share that story with someone this month? ([01:06:25])
6. The sermon compared abiding in Jesus to staying “plugged in” to a power source. Are there any habits or distractions in your life that are “unplugging” you from Jesus? What would it look like to reconnect this week? ([57:46])
7. Evangelism is described as an overflow of the life of Christ within us. What is one practical way you can let the love and hope of Jesus “overflow” to someone in your life this week? ([01:18:19])