Empowered to Share: Confidence in Jesus
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the theme of confidence in Jesus and the importance of sharing our faith with others. We began by reflecting on the life of Peter, a man who experienced both great triumphs and significant failures. Despite his shortcomings, Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and preached to thousands, leading many to Christ. This transformation in Peter's life serves as a powerful reminder that our past failures do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, the Holy Spirit can empower us to share the message of Jesus with confidence.
We then debunked some common myths about sharing our faith. You don't need a title, a pulpit, or to be an extrovert. You don't need to be perfect or have all the answers. God wants to use you just as you are, with your unique personality and experiences. We often sell ourselves short because we fear offending others or because past attempts to share our faith didn't go well. However, Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to offer our everyday lives to God and to be transformed by focusing on Him rather than conforming to the world.
We discussed the importance of knowing God's Word to build our confidence in Jesus. Our confidence grows as we commit to reading and understanding the Bible. In moments of tragedy or challenge, knowing who Jesus is through His Word helps us remain steadfast. Paul’s words in Romans 8:31-39 remind us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that Jesus is interceding for us. This assurance should give us the confidence to face life's trials.
We also heard a powerful testimony from a man named Lippy, who experienced a life transformation after attending church. Despite his struggles with alcohol, he found hope and purpose in Jesus. Lippy's story illustrates that sharing our faith doesn't have to be complicated. Simple acts, like writing scriptures on shipping containers, can have a profound impact on others.
Finally, we emphasized the ongoing influence of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit's empowerment is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. The Holy Spirit helps us to be more relatable and effective in sharing our faith. We concluded with a prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead us and build our confidence in Jesus.
### Key Takeaways
1. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: Peter's transformation from a man who denied Jesus to a bold preacher on the day of Pentecost illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit. Despite our past failures, the Holy Spirit can empower us to share the message of Jesus with confidence. This empowerment is available to all believers, enabling us to rise above our fears and insecurities. [53:06]
2. Debunking Myths About Sharing Faith: You don't need to be perfect, have a title, or be an extrovert to share your faith. God wants to use you just as you are, with your unique personality and experiences. By offering our everyday lives to God and focusing on Him, we can be transformed and become effective witnesses for Christ. [01:10:15]
3. The Importance of Knowing God's Word: Our confidence in Jesus grows as we commit to reading and understanding the Bible. In moments of tragedy or challenge, knowing who Jesus is through His Word helps us remain steadfast. Paul’s words in Romans 8:31-39 remind us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that Jesus is interceding for us. [01:02:49]
4. Simple Acts of Faith Can Have a Profound Impact: Lippy's story illustrates that sharing our faith doesn't have to be complicated. Simple acts, like writing scriptures on shipping containers, can have a profound impact on others. We should not overcomplicate sharing our faith but trust that God can use our ordinary actions to reach others. [01:14:11]
5. The Ongoing Influence of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit's empowerment is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. The Holy Spirit helps us to be more relatable and effective in sharing our faith. We should seek the Holy Spirit's guidance daily, allowing Him to lead us and build our confidence in Jesus. [49:46]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[46:56] - Life's Significant Moments
[50:45] - Prayer for Holy Spirit's Guidance
[51:34] - Peter's Journey of Confidence
[53:06] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
[58:33] - Living a Life Prompted by the Holy Spirit
[59:13] - Growing Confidence in Jesus
[01:02:49] - Assurance in God's Love
[01:10:15] - Debunking Myths About Sharing Faith
[01:12:42] - Simplifying the Act of Sharing Faith
[01:14:11] - Lippy's Testimony
[01:19:10] - Prayer for Confidence in Jesus
[01:21:36] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 2:1-4 - The Day of Pentecost
2. Romans 8:31-39 - Assurance in God's Love
3. Romans 12:1-2 - Living Sacrifices
### Observation Questions
1. What significant transformation did Peter undergo from before to after the Day of Pentecost? ([53:06])
2. According to Romans 8:31-39, what are some of the assurances Paul gives about God's love for us?
3. What does Romans 12:1-2 suggest about how we should live our everyday lives?
4. How did Lippy's simple act of writing scriptures on shipping containers impact his coworker? ([01:14:11])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Peter's transformation illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit in overcoming personal failures? ([53:06])
2. In Romans 8:31-39, Paul states that nothing can separate us from the love of God. How might this assurance affect a believer's confidence in facing life's challenges?
3. Romans 12:1-2 talks about offering our everyday lives to God. What might this look like in practical terms for a modern-day believer?
4. Lippy's story shows that simple acts of faith can have a profound impact. Why do you think simple acts can be so effective in sharing faith? ([01:14:11])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like Peter, experiencing both confidence and failure in your faith journey. How did you overcome that failure, and what role did the Holy Spirit play? ([53:06])
2. Romans 8:31-39 assures us that nothing can separate us from God's love. How can this assurance help you face a current challenge in your life?
3. Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to offer our everyday lives to God. What is one specific area of your life where you can be more intentional about living for God this week?
4. Lippy's simple act of writing scriptures on shipping containers had a significant impact. What is one simple act of faith you can do this week to share your faith with someone? ([01:14:11])
5. The sermon emphasized the ongoing influence of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's empowerment. How can you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance daily to build your confidence in Jesus? ([49:46])
6. Think about a past attempt to share your faith that didn't go well. What did you learn from that experience, and how can you approach sharing your faith differently in the future? ([01:10:15])
7. Identify one promise from the Bible that you can hold onto this week. How can this promise help you grow in your confidence in Jesus? ([01:03:37])
Devotional
Day 1: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Description: Peter's transformation from a man who denied Jesus to a bold preacher on the day of Pentecost illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit. Despite our past failures, the Holy Spirit can empower us to share the message of Jesus with confidence. This empowerment is available to all believers, enabling us to rise above our fears and insecurities. The Holy Spirit's work in our lives is not limited by our past mistakes or current weaknesses. Instead, it is through our reliance on the Holy Spirit that we find the strength and courage to be effective witnesses for Christ. [53:06]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: Think of a past failure that has made you hesitant to share your faith. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to overcome this fear today?
Day 2: Debunking Myths About Sharing Faith
Description: You don't need to be perfect, have a title, or be an extrovert to share your faith. God wants to use you just as you are, with your unique personality and experiences. By offering our everyday lives to God and focusing on Him, we can be transformed and become effective witnesses for Christ. Many people believe that only pastors or extroverted individuals are equipped to share the gospel, but this is a myth. God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways, and He can use your unique story to reach others. [01:10:15]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Reflect on your unique personality and experiences. How can you use these to share your faith in a way that feels authentic to you?
Day 3: The Importance of Knowing God's Word
Description: Our confidence in Jesus grows as we commit to reading and understanding the Bible. In moments of tragedy or challenge, knowing who Jesus is through His Word helps us remain steadfast. Paul’s words in Romans 8:31-39 remind us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that Jesus is interceding for us. This assurance should give us the confidence to face life's trials. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we build a solid foundation that strengthens our faith and equips us to share the gospel with others. [01:02:49]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more time in God's Word into your daily routine this week? What specific steps will you take to deepen your understanding of Scripture?
Day 4: Simple Acts of Faith Can Have a Profound Impact
Description: Lippy's story illustrates that sharing our faith doesn't have to be complicated. Simple acts, like writing scriptures on shipping containers, can have a profound impact on others. We should not overcomplicate sharing our faith but trust that God can use our ordinary actions to reach others. Sometimes, the most impactful gestures are the simplest ones, and God can use these small acts of faith to touch the hearts of those around us. [01:14:11]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "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: What simple act of faith can you do today to share the love of Jesus with someone in your life? How can you make this a regular practice?
Day 5: The Ongoing Influence of Pentecost
Description: The Holy Spirit's empowerment is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. The Holy Spirit helps us to be more relatable and effective in sharing our faith. We should seek the Holy Spirit's guidance daily, allowing Him to lead us and build our confidence in Jesus. The influence of Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit is always at work in our lives, equipping us to be bold witnesses for Christ. By staying attuned to the Holy Spirit, we can navigate the challenges of life with confidence and grace. [49:46]
Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you be more intentional about seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? What steps will you take to stay in step with the Spirit this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I think we've overcomplicated this sharing the one thing. I think we've made it about a program and we've got to have these conversations and here's the steps. The Bible says, just take your everyday life and say, God, would you use it to shine your light through me? Would you create opportunity? God, when I go and be a teacher at school, let your light shine. When I drop the kids off, let your light shine. When I go to work, let your light shine. When I'm having dinner with friends, let your light shine. God, I'm gonna take every part of my life and I'm gonna have confidence that through it, you can share the one." [01:12:42]
2. "This guy had been saved five weeks, was drinking himself to sleep four nights a week. And within a month, God's using his story to tell his mates that there's a God who sees you and a God who loves you. I bet you, if you interview Lippy, he wouldn't know the books of the Bible. He wouldn't know the theology of eternity. He wouldn't know the church history. He just knows that Jesus found him at his worst point and Jesus bought life and light and hope and the Holy Spirit is now encouraging him." [01:15:29]
3. "It isn't always the thoughts that are the problem to begin with. It's the feelings that threaten to sweep me away, making me unsteady and unsure of the very ground I walk on. When trying to explain it to people, I've often likened it to a swarm of bees that swarm and overtake me before I can tell that it's not wind or rain. But when I listen to worship music, when I listen to the word of God, I feel a calm, flood my spirit. The wind dies down, the storm ceases." [01:07:46]
4. "God has a way. God is with me. He is for me. Why? Because I have confidence. I have confidence in the one. Isaiah 55, 10 and 11 says this, as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for food. So is my word that goes from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which it was sent." [01:04:49]
### Quotes for Members
1. "His journey hasn't changed. He still had those failures in his backpack and in his background, but he stood up and he declared the one he knew because Holy Spirit gave him confidence, to share the one. I want to debunk some myths today about sharing the one. You don't need a title. You don't need a pulpit. You don't need to be an extrovert. You don't need to be perfect. You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to have the perfect moment, but God wants to use you and your personality. He wants to use me and my personality and the reality of my journey to share the one who are desperate for an answer and an anchor point in their lives." [01:09:43]
2. "When I think about who God wants me to be in sharing Jesus with others, listen to Romans chapter 12, verse one to two. So here's what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday ordinary life. You're sleeping, you're eating, you're going to work, you're walking around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing that you and I can do for him. Do not become so well adjusted to our culture that we fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix our attention on God. We'll be quickly changed from the inside out." [01:11:30]
3. "What would it be like if we remembered in life's greatest trials, Jesus is in heaven, interceding, praying, petitioning on our behalf? Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or the sword as it is written, for your sake we face death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels or demons, neither present nor future nor any powers, height nor depth, anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [01:02:49]
4. "And today when we get to know the one, we can have confidence in the one. And when life's challenges come, we can draw from His Word. Have I hidden in my heart that I might not be detoured from you? In the moment of tragedy, I can rely on who you are because I've got confidence in the one. Did you know that there are 8,810 promises? 8,810. 8,810 promises in this Word for you and I to hold on to. Promises that speak to eternal life, to forgiveness, to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Promises around finances, our need, healing, wisdom, family, marriage, peace. Promises around overcoming temptation, protection, fear. Promises around Him being with us in all types of suffering." [01:03:37]
5. "One of the most prominent figures in the story of Pentecost was a guy by the name of Peter. And I love Peter. Because Peter in one moment was called the rock on which Jesus would build his church. And in the next. In the next moment, Jesus is saying, get behind me, Satan. In one moment, he steps out of the boat to walk on water. And then the next moment, he starts sinking with Jesus right in front of him. In one moment, he's sitting at a dinner telling all of his mates that all you may fail him, but I'm going to be strong. Like, you may let him down, but I'm the guy who's going to go all the way to the end. And then the Bible says, a little Jewish girl by the fire said, do you know Jesus? And Peter swore to convince her that he didn't know Jesus." [51:34]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?