Empowered Witness: Living Out Our Faith Boldly

Sep 14, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, Our Passover Lamb: Remembering His Sacrifice

The Last Supper reveals Jesus as the true Passover Lamb, whose body was broken and blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins. As believers, we are called to remember and reflect on this central act of our faith, celebrating His death and resurrection until He comes again. In taking the bread and the cup, we participate in a sacred remembrance, allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to us and renew our gratitude for the complete forgiveness offered through Christ. [17:07]

Mark 14:12-24 (ESV)
And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Reflection: As you take communion this week, how can you intentionally pause to remember Christ’s sacrifice and let the reality of His forgiveness shape your gratitude and actions today?

Day 2: Empowered to Be Witnesses

God calls every believer to be a witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel in every place and circumstance. This mission is not reserved for a select few but is the central command for all followers of Christ, as seen in the early church’s expansion from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit equips and emboldens us to testify to Jesus, making disciples wherever we are placed, whether in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or beyond. [39:40]

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: Where has God placed you right now to be His witness, and what is one step you can take today to share the hope of Jesus with someone in your sphere?

Day 3: The Call to Make Disciples

Jesus’ command to make disciples is the heartbeat of the Christian life, inviting us to move beyond comfort and intentionally invest in others for the sake of the gospel. This calling is not limited to pastors or missionaries but is given to every believer, urging us to pray for opportunities, develop the eyes of evangelism, and courageously share our faith in word and deed. As we seek to obey this command, we discover that God opens doors, provides support, and brings fruit through our faithful witness. [59:41]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection: Who is one person God has placed in your life that you can intentionally encourage or disciple this week, and what practical step will you take to invest in their spiritual journey?

Day 4: God’s Presence and Guidance in Mission

When we face opposition or fear in living out our faith, God reassures us of His presence, guidance, and protection, just as He did for Paul in Corinth. Even when doors close or circumstances change, God remains faithful to His mission and provides new opportunities for us to serve and witness. We are reminded that we are never alone; the Lord is with us, strengthening and directing us as we seek to make disciples in a challenging world. [01:09:28]

Acts 18:9-10 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel hesitant or fearful to share your faith, and how can you trust God’s presence and guidance to help you take a bold step forward this week?

Day 5: Every Believer’s Role in Everyday Evangelism

The work of making disciples is not just for professional pastors but for every follower of Jesus, lived out in the ordinary rhythms of daily life and work. Whether through a kind word, a prayer, or sharing your story, God uses each of us as His witnesses in our unique contexts. By praying for the eyes of evangelism and being attentive to the Spirit’s prompting, we can see and seize opportunities to share Christ’s love and truth with those around us. [58:35]

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: What is one ordinary setting—at work, home, or in your community—where you can look for and act on an opportunity to share Christ’s love or message today?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered in the grace and peace of our Lord, remembering the heart of our faith: Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, whose body was broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. As we took the bread and the cup, we reflected on the depth of Christ’s sacrifice and the hope of his resurrection, celebrating together until he comes again. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual, but a call to let the Spirit minister to us, grounding us in gratitude and awe for God’s goodness.

Turning to Acts 18, we journeyed with Paul to Corinth—a city renowned for its wealth, diversity, and moral corruption. Corinth was a cosmopolitan hub, much like the great cities of our own day, but also a place where idolatry and immorality were woven into the fabric of daily life. Paul entered this challenging environment not as a detached religious figure, but as a tentmaker, working alongside Aquila and Priscilla. This grounded him in the realities of everyday people and opened doors for authentic witness.

Paul’s example reminds us that the mission to make disciples is not reserved for a select few, but is the calling of every believer. Whether through professional ministry, tentmaking, or simply living out faith in the workplace, each of us is called to be a witness to the risen Christ. The temptation is strong to leave this work to “the professionals,” but the true fruit of the gospel is borne when the whole body of Christ is mobilized—when we pray for the eyes of evangelism and seek opportunities to share our faith in word and deed.

Paul faced opposition, discouragement, and even fear, but God met him with a vision: “Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you.” God’s strategies often involve closed doors and new beginnings, but the mission remains unchanged. We are to make disciples, trusting that God is with us, guiding and empowering us, just as he was with Paul. The challenge is to make this mission central in our lives, to pray for courage and skill, and to look for God’s open doors in our own contexts.

Key Takeaways

1. The Lord’s Supper is not merely a ritual, but a profound act of remembrance that centers us on Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. In this act, we are invited to reflect deeply, allowing the Spirit to minister to us and renew our gratitude for the complete forgiveness we have received. This remembrance shapes our identity and mission as followers of Jesus. [17:07]
2. Paul’s ministry in Corinth demonstrates the power of incarnational witness—living and working among people, sharing in their daily realities. By engaging in tentmaking, Paul broke down barriers and modeled a faith that is integrated with everyday life, showing that authentic witness often happens outside the walls of the church. [54:06]
3. The mission to make disciples is not the exclusive domain of pastors or missionaries; it is the calling of every believer. When we rely solely on professionals, we miss the greater impact that comes when the whole body is equipped and mobilized. Each of us is called to pray for the eyes of evangelism and to seek opportunities to share Christ in our unique spheres of influence. [57:40]
4. God’s guidance often comes through both open and closed doors. Paul’s experience in Corinth shows that opposition and change are not signs of failure, but opportunities for God to redirect and expand the mission. We are called to be attentive to God’s leading, trusting that he will provide new strategies and opportunities for witness, even in the face of resistance. [68:23]
5. The promise of God’s presence is the foundation for courageous witness. When Paul was afraid, God assured him, “I am with you.” This same promise is given to us: as we step out in faith to make disciples, we do so not in our own strength, but with the assurance that Christ is with us always, empowering and sustaining us in the work he has called us to. [69:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:34] - Introduction to the Last Supper
[15:54] - Jesus Institutes Communion
[17:07] - Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[18:07] - Communion and Prayer
[23:09] - Thanksgiving and Dismissal of Children
[38:21] - Introduction to Acts 18
[39:40] - The Missionary Expansion in Acts
[41:09] - Paul Arrives in Corinth
[42:10] - Paul’s Ministry and Opposition
[43:57] - Corinth: Geography and Culture
[47:00] - Corinth’s Moral Climate
[51:05] - Historical Context: Priscilla, Aquila, and Claudius
[54:06] - Tentmaking and Models of Ministry
[57:40] - The Call to Every Believer
[60:58] - Praying for Evangelistic Eyes
[63:42] - Youth Ministry and Making Disciples
[68:23] - God’s Guidance and Open Doors
[69:28] - God’s Assurance to Paul
[71:10] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

- Acts 18:1–17
Paul’s ministry in Corinth, his work as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla, his witness in the synagogue, the opposition he faced, and God’s assurance to him in a vision.

- Matthew 28:18–20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Observation Questions

What was the city of Corinth like in Paul’s day, and how did its culture affect the way Paul did ministry there? [[47:00]]
How did Paul support himself while in Corinth, and who did he work with? [[41:09]]
What did God say to Paul in the vision when he was facing opposition and fear? [[42:10]]
According to the sermon, what is the purpose of the Lord’s Supper for believers? [[17:07]]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Paul have chosen to work as a tentmaker instead of relying solely on church support while in Corinth? What impact did this have on his witness? [[54:06]]
The sermon says the mission to make disciples is for every believer, not just pastors or missionaries. Why do you think it’s tempting to leave this work to “the professionals”? [[57:40]]
When God told Paul, “Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you,” what does this reveal about God’s role in our mission and our fears? [[42:10]]
The Lord’s Supper is described as more than a ritual. How does remembering Christ’s sacrifice shape a believer’s identity and mission? [[17:07]]

Application Questions

The sermon described Corinth as a city where immorality and idolatry were woven into daily life. In what ways does your own city or workplace resemble Corinth? How does this affect your witness? [[47:00]]
Paul’s tentmaking allowed him to connect with everyday people. What are some practical ways you can build authentic relationships with people outside the church, especially in your workplace or neighborhood? [[54:06]]
The pastor shared about praying for “the eyes of evangelism.” What would it look like for you to pray this prayer daily? Can you think of a recent missed opportunity to share your faith? [[01:00:58]]
God sometimes guides us through closed doors and new beginnings. Have you experienced a “closed door” in your life that led to a new opportunity to serve or witness? How did you respond? [[01:08:23]]
When have you felt afraid or discouraged about sharing your faith? How does God’s promise, “I am with you,” encourage you to keep going? [[42:10]]
The Lord’s Supper is a time to remember Christ’s sacrifice and let the Spirit minister to us. How can you make this act of remembrance more meaningful in your life, rather than just a routine? [[17:07]]
The sermon challenged everyone to make disciple-making central in their lives. What is one specific step you can take this week to move toward that goal? Who is one person you can pray for or reach out to? [[57:40]]

Sermon Clips

52s

#JesusSacrificeAndResurrection

“``We know that Jesus is that Passover lamb. We know that it was his body that was broken, his blood that was shed. And in that act, he took the sin of the world on himself and he suffered. He went to the grave and then he rose again. And it is that act which we celebrate at the heart of who we are as followers of Jesus Christ, that he died for our sins and rose again.”

31s

#EquippingSaintsForMinistry

“One of the big problems of having a professional pastor is that the church lets off and says, well, we pay him to do that. That's not the role of the pastor. The role of the pastor is to equip the saints for ministry. The role of the pastor is to encourage the body, ground them in Christ, so that we all go out with the job of making disciples of the nation. So that's all of our call.”

46s

#PaulProclaimsTheRisenChrist

“That's what Paul's talking about. And then in verse four, it says, every Sabbath, he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. This is what Paul was all about. In Acts 17, it says, Paul, by custom, went to the synagogue. And on three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them from scripture, explaining and proving that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. This is the Jesus I'm proclaiming to you. This is the Christ, he said. Paul's mission was to proclaim the risen Lord and to prove from the Old Testament that Jesus is the Messiah. That's what Paul was all about. That's what he did. That was his main goal in life, was to make disciples.”

74s

#ChristianFamilyAcrossPlaces

“I just simply said to them, tell me why it's cool to be a Christian, and so they worked on their testimonies, and these young kids stood up, and they said, the thing I like best about being a Christian is that wherever I go, I have family. I'm part of a military family, we move around a lot, but it never takes us more than a Sunday to find my family in a new place, because I just go to church, and I find the family of God there, and I'm a part of it. What a beautiful testimony from a young person, and they just went every week, or every day, a different young person gave their testimony, and at the end of the week, 27 kids gave their life to Jesus. Wow! To me, that's huge. Sounds crass, but production. It's huge results. It's seeing God work, but God works because we have an intentional result in mind.”

26s

#GodOpensAndClosesDoors

“God changes our strategies as we go. Doors open, doors close. Pastor Nick's going through that right now. I will go through it once Nick comes here. We have others who are leaving to new jobs. God closes one door. God opens another door. But he never shuts off the mission. Make disciples.”

17s

#DiscipleMakingUrgency

“People of God, God, this is our mission to make disciples. Look for God's strategies, and be assured that just like with Paul, Jesus says, lo, I am with you always to the end of the age.”

25s

“I hope for anyone this morning, you challenge yourself to say, how much on my brain is it to be a disciple maker? And if it's not, I ask you to urgently begin to pray to God, to say, God, how can I become sharper, better at being a disciple maker?”

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