Living Boldly for Christ Amidst Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: Boldness in the Name of Jesus

The early disciples faced powerful opposition and intimidation, yet when questioned by the highest authorities, they did not shrink back or hide their faith. Instead, filled with the Holy Spirit, they boldly proclaimed that the healing and their message were done in the name of Jesus Christ, whom their accusers had crucified but whom God had raised from the dead. Their courage was not rooted in their own strength or credentials, but in the authority and power of Jesus’ name—a name above every other, the only name by which we are saved. In moments when you feel unqualified or afraid, remember that your boldness comes not from yourself, but from the One who sends you. [54:22]

Acts 4:8-12 (ESV)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel pressure to stay quiet about your faith in Jesus, and what would it look like to speak or act boldly in His name this week?

Day 2: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact

Peter and John were recognized as unschooled, ordinary men, yet their courage and clarity astonished the religious leaders. What set them apart was not education or status, but that they had been with Jesus. The world expects the powerful and influential to make an impact, but God delights in using ordinary people who have spent time with Him. When you feel inadequate or unqualified, remember that your time with Jesus is what equips you to make a difference, and His presence transforms ordinary lives into extraordinary testimonies. [58:57]

Acts 4:13 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: How can you intentionally spend time with Jesus this week so that His presence shapes your words and actions in noticeable ways?

Day 3: Choosing God Over Comfort

When threatened and offered safety in exchange for silence about Jesus, the disciples refused to compromise. They understood that faithfulness to God and obedience to human authority were mutually exclusive in this moment, and they chose to obey God rather than men. The world often offers us comfort and acceptance if we will just “edit out” Jesus from our lives, but true discipleship means we cannot help but speak and live out what we have seen and heard. [01:04:37]

Acts 4:19-20 (ESV)
But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Reflection: Is there a situation where you are tempted to compromise your faith for the sake of comfort or acceptance? What would it look like to choose God’s approval over human approval today?

Day 4: Praying for Character, Not Just Circumstances

After their release, the disciples and the early church did not pray for safety or easier circumstances, but for boldness and courage to continue speaking God’s word. They acknowledged God’s sovereignty over all things and asked for the strength to rise and meet the challenges before them. Their prayer was not for the threats to disappear, but for their character to be transformed so they could remain faithful. What if, instead of only asking God to change your situation, you asked Him to change you? [01:07:49]

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: What is one area of your character where you need God’s courage or boldness? Will you pray today for God to change you, not just your circumstances?

Day 5: Living in the Legacy of Spiritual Courage

Throughout Scripture and history, God’s people have faced threats, intimidation, and even danger for standing firm in their faith. From Moses before Pharaoh, to David before Goliath, to Daniel in the lion’s den, and the early church before the Sanhedrin, the common thread is a courageous trust in God’s power and presence. You are part of this legacy, called to live bravely for Jesus in your own time and place, empowered by the same Spirit. The world may promise safety if you stay silent, but God calls you to a life of bold witness and faithful obedience. [01:15:10]

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life who needs to see courageous faith in action? How can you take a specific step to encourage or witness to them this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s passage from Acts 4 invites us to consider not just the length of our lives, but the quality and courage with which we live them. The early disciples, faced with real threats to their safety and freedom, chose to live boldly for Jesus rather than quietly for their own comfort. Their story unfolds in four acts: a miraculous healing, an arrest, a trial before the most powerful leaders in Jerusalem, and finally, a prayer meeting that shakes the very place they gather.

The authorities—priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees—were deeply disturbed by the disciples’ proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection. These were not just religious leaders, but the very people who had orchestrated Jesus’ death. Now, they confronted Peter and John, demanding to know by what authority they acted. In that intimidating courtroom, Peter, once a denier of Jesus, now stands filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaims that it is by the name of Jesus—whom they crucified and whom God raised—that the miracle occurred. He declares that salvation is found in no one else.

The leaders are astonished, not just by the message, but by the courage of these “unschooled, ordinary men.” The only explanation: they had been with Jesus. Even when threatened and offered safety in exchange for silence, Peter and John refuse to stop speaking about what they have seen and heard. For them, Jesus is not a small part of their lives—He is the whole message, the very power and purpose of their existence.

When released, the disciples return to their community, and together they pray—not for safety, but for boldness. They recognize God’s sovereignty over all authorities and ask for courage to continue speaking the word of God. The Holy Spirit answers, filling them with renewed boldness. This legacy of courage is not just for the apostles, but for all who follow Jesus. Like Moses, David, Daniel, and countless others, we are called to live bravely, not quietly, for the sake of Christ. The world will always offer us the deal of safety in exchange for silence, but we are invited to pray for character, not just comfort, and to live lives marked by the boldness of the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. The measure of a life is not its length, but its depth and courage. What matters most is not how many years we live, but how we use the time given to us—whether we choose comfort and safety, or a bold, faithful stand for Christ, even when it costs us. [35:00]
2. True authority and power in the Christian life come not from our credentials, eloquence, or status, but from being with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Ordinary people become extraordinary witnesses when they speak and act in His name, not their own. [54:22]
3. The temptation to edit Jesus out of our public lives is ever-present. The world often offers us comfort and acceptance if we will simply be quiet about Christ. But for those who know Him, Jesus is not an optional add-on—He is the message, the power, and the hope we cannot help but proclaim. [63:44]
4. The early church’s first instinct in crisis was not to pray for easier circumstances, but for greater courage and faithfulness. Their prayers focused on character transformation—asking God to make them brave, not just safe. This challenges us to examine our own prayers and to seek the Spirit’s boldness in our witness. [67:49]
5. We stand in a long line of spiritual ancestors who faced threats, trials, and even death for the sake of God’s name. The same Spirit who empowered Moses, David, Daniel, and the apostles is available to us today, inviting us to reject the world’s offer of safety for silence and instead to live courageously for Christ. [73:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Reflections on Legacy and Time
[00:47] - The Question: What Will We Do With Our Time?
[01:46] - Acts 4: The Disciples’ Boldness
[02:39] - The Miracle: Healing at the Temple
[03:31] - Arrest and Growing Opposition
[05:42] - Who Were the Priests, Captain, and Sadducees?
[07:17] - The Sadducees’ Opposition to Resurrection
[10:16] - Why the Authorities Opposed Jesus
[12:50] - The Disciples’ Night in Jail
[13:46] - The Trial Before the Sanhedrin
[15:07] - Facing Intimidation and Power
[21:06] - Peter’s Bold Response: In the Name of Jesus
[24:22] - The Exclusive Claim of Christ
[27:22] - The Astonishing Courage of Ordinary Men
[30:07] - The Healed Man as Living Evidence
[32:56] - The World’s Offer: Safety for Silence
[33:44] - The Disciples’ Uncompromising Reply
[36:39] - Praying for Boldness, Not Safety
[43:01] - The Spirit’s Answer: Boldness to Speak
[46:58] - Our Spiritual Legacy of Courage
[51:10] - The World’s Deal and Our Calling
[56:06] - Benediction: The Spirit Goes With You
[80:45] - Final Blessing and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 4:1-31 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole passage together, or focus on these key sections: verses 1-22 and 23-31)

Observation Questions

Who were the main groups and individuals who opposed Peter and John, and what specifically disturbed them about the disciples’ message?
When Peter was questioned by the authorities, what did he say was the source of the healing miracle, and how did he describe Jesus?
How did the religious leaders react to the courage and boldness of Peter and John, and what did they notice about them?
After being released, what was the first thing the disciples did with their community, and what did they pray for?

Interpretation Questions

The authorities offered Peter and John safety if they would simply stop speaking about Jesus. Why do you think the disciples refused this offer, even though it would have made their lives easier?
The leaders were surprised by the boldness of “unschooled, ordinary men.” What does this suggest about where true spiritual authority and courage come from?
The early church’s prayer was not for safety, but for boldness. What does this reveal about their priorities and understanding of God’s sovereignty?
The sermon mentioned that the disciples’ courage was a result of “being with Jesus.” What might it look like for someone today to “be with Jesus” in a way that shapes their character and witness?

Application Questions

The world often offers us comfort and acceptance if we will simply be quiet about Christ. Can you think of a time when you felt pressure to “edit Jesus out” of your public life? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now?
The disciples prayed for boldness, not for easier circumstances. When you face challenges or opposition, what do your prayers usually focus on—comfort or character? How might you shift your prayers this week?
Peter and John’s courage came from being filled with the Holy Spirit. What are some practical ways you can seek to be filled with the Spirit in your daily life?
The sermon challenged us to measure our lives not by their length, but by their depth and courage. What would it look like for you to live a “deep” and “courageous” life for Jesus in your current season?
The early church recognized God’s sovereignty over all authorities. Are there areas in your life where fear of people or institutions is holding you back from bold obedience to God? What would it look like to trust God’s sovereignty in those areas?
The legacy of courage is not just for apostles, but for all who follow Jesus. Who is someone in your life who needs to see your boldness for Christ? What is one step you can take this week to be a courageous witness to them?
The sermon mentioned spiritual ancestors like Moses, David, and Daniel who stood firm in the face of threats. Which of their stories inspires you most, and how can their example encourage you in your own challenges?

Sermon Clips

``The only way that I dare to step on this stage, step up to this pulpit, is if I'm speaking by another name, by another authority, according to His word and power. [00:52:28] (16 seconds) #AuthorityInChrist

There's two kinds of courage. There's a reckless courage which is scarce aware of the danger that it is facing. And there is a far higher cool courage which knows the peril in which it stands and refuses to be daunted. [00:56:57] (17 seconds) #CourageWithAwareness

Salvation is found in no one but Jesus. Our only hope of forgiveness, our only hope of atonement with God, which is the priest's job, keep in mind. Our only real hope of forgiveness of sins and atonement with God is not what you're doing here in this temple. It's what Jesus did on the cross. It's the only way to the Father. [00:58:25] (32 seconds) #SalvationInJesus

Unschooled. These guys don't have an impressive diploma. They're ordinary. They don't have any kind of fancy occupation or label. They're just unschooled, ordinary men. These were fishermen, right? How do they expect ordinary, unschooled men to act in the presence of all this display of power and prestige? Humble. Frightened. Intimidated. Shaky. Nervous. Stuttering on their words. Unsure of themselves. That's probably how everyone else who comes in that courtroom behaves. So that's what they're used to. And then suddenly Peter and John behave very different. Instead, they see boldness, courage, clarity. And they think, where is this coming from? Oh, these people have been with Jesus. [00:59:28] (55 seconds) #BoldnessFromJesus

What would it look like for you to live your lives in the name of Jesus? Not by your own power, not for your own credit, not for your own comfort, but if your life is lived in the name of Jesus and by the Spirit's power, that the legacy that you leave, the people around you, is one of a courageous, bold stand for the King of Kings. [01:13:29] (25 seconds) #LiveForJesus

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What empowers believers to speak boldly in trials

How does faith influence courage in difficult circumstances

What is the significance of Jesus' name in salvation