Unstoppable: Defiant Faith and Submission in Christ

The journey of the early church, as seen in Acts, is not a sanitized fairy tale but a gritty, honest account of real people facing real challenges. The first followers of Jesus experienced both miraculous victories and painful setbacks. They saw lives transformed, the poor cared for, and thousands coming to faith, but they also endured fierce opposition from religious and political authorities whose power and livelihoods were threatened by the gospel. The story of the church is not one of easy triumph, but of perseverance in the face of darkness pushing back against the light.

This tension between darkness and light is not just a historical reality; it is a present spiritual battle. When the light of Christ shines brightly—when lives are changed, when the gospel is proclaimed, when the church is active—opposition intensifies. Spiritual warfare is real, and it often becomes most intense when we are closest to God and most faithful in our calling. It is important to be honest with ourselves and others: following Jesus does not mean a life free from struggle. In fact, it often means the opposite. The enemy attacks those who are a threat to his kingdom, and so we must be vigilant, resisting the urge to give in to apathy, gossip, or division.

As believers, we are called to more than passive church attendance. Scripture declares that all who belong to Christ are part of a royal priesthood, tasked with proclaiming the excellencies of the One who called us out of darkness into light. This means every Christian is responsible for sharing the gospel, discipling others, and living as a light in the community. It is not the job of a select few; it is the calling of all.

Yet, as we live out this calling, we must also understand the biblical posture toward authority. God calls us to a life of submission—to Him, to church leaders, to family, and even to civic authorities. Defiance is only justified when obedience to human authority would require disobedience to God. Our default should be respect, honor, and submission, not prideful rebellion. The early Christians were known for their love, respect, and kindness, even toward those who persecuted them. This radical love and submission drew many to Christ.

Ultimately, the invitation is to examine our hearts: Are there areas where we resist submission—whether to God, to others, or to authority? Are we living as lights, marked by love and respect, or are we contributing to the perception of Christians as hateful or rebellious? The call is to submit to God, receive His gift of salvation, and live as a true reflection of His light in a dark world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The authenticity of the Christian faith is seen in the Bible’s unvarnished honesty about its heroes’ failures and the church’s struggles. If the early Christians were inventing a religion for power or wealth, they would not have included stories that made themselves look weak or foolish. The inclusion of uncomfortable truths is evidence that Scripture is a record of real events, not propaganda. This should give us confidence in the reliability of God’s Word and humility about our own imperfections. [16:10]
• 2. Spiritual warfare is not a distant or abstract concept; it is a daily reality for those who follow Christ. The enemy intensifies his attacks when we are most faithful, seeking to exploit our weaknesses and sow division. Recognizing this battle helps us understand why resistance and temptation often increase when we are closest to God or most active in ministry. We must be vigilant, guarding our hearts and relationships, and not be surprised when opposition comes. [36:00]
• 3. Every believer is called to active participation in God’s mission, not mere spectatorship. The priesthood of all believers means that sharing the gospel, discipling others, and being a light in the community is everyone’s responsibility. Waiting for permission or relying solely on church leaders limits the impact God intends for His people. Embracing this calling requires initiative, courage, and a willingness to step into uncomfortable roles for the sake of Christ. [49:33]
• 4. Submission to authority is a central Christian virtue, rooted in the understanding that all authority is established by God. While there are times for righteous defiance—when obedience to human authority would mean disobedience to God—our default posture should be one of respect, honor, and humility. Prideful rebellion, even when cloaked in religious language, undermines our witness and distorts the gospel. True submission is an act of trust in God’s sovereignty, not blind allegiance to flawed leaders. [64:00]
• 5. The distinguishing mark of the early church was radical love and respect, even toward those who opposed or persecuted them. This countercultural posture drew people to Christ, as they saw believers responding to hatred with kindness and to injustice with grace. Our words, actions, and even our social media presence should reflect this same love, challenging the narrative that Christians are defined by hate or division. In a world hungry for genuine love, our submission and respect can be a powerful testimony to the reality of Christ. [77:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Announcements and Travel Reflections
• [05:30] - The Reality of the Early Church’s Struggles
• [10:45] - Persecution and Economic Threats
• [16:10] - The Bible’s Honesty and Historical Reliability
• [22:00] - Spiritual Warfare: Darkness vs. Light
• [29:45] - The Cost of Following Jesus
• [36:00] - Recognizing and Resisting Spiritual Attacks
• [41:20] - The Royal Priesthood: Everyone’s Calling
• [49:33] - Taking Initiative in Ministry and Discipleship
• [54:50] - Submission to Authority: Biblical Foundations
• [64:00] - When Defiance is Justified
• [70:30] - Examining Our Attitude Toward Authority
• [77:00] - Radical Love as the Church’s Witness
• [82:00] - Invitation to Submit to Christ and Response

Bible Reading

Acts 5:17–32 (ESV) — > 17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
> ...
> 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

1 Peter 2:9–10 (ESV) — > 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Romans 13:1–7 (ESV) — > 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ... 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Observation Questions

1. What were the apostles doing that caused the high priest and Sadducees to arrest them? (Acts 5:17–21)
2. How did the apostles respond when they were told not to teach in Jesus’ name? (Acts 5:28–29)
3. According to 1 Peter 2:9–10, what is the identity and calling of every believer?
4. What does Romans 13:1–7 say about the source of authority and the Christian’s responsibility toward it?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon described the early church as facing both “miraculous victories and painful setbacks.” Why is it important that the Bible includes stories of failure and struggle, not just success? How does this affect our trust in Scripture? [16:10]
2. The apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men.” In what situations is it right for Christians to defy human authority, and how can we discern when that is necessary? [01:04:00]
3. The sermon emphasized that every Christian is part of a “royal priesthood.” What does it look like for ordinary believers—not just pastors or leaders—to live out this calling in daily life? [49:33]
4. The early church was known for radical love and respect, even toward those who persecuted them. Why do you think this posture was so powerful in drawing people to Christ? [01:17:00]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that spiritual warfare often intensifies when we are closest to God or most active in ministry. Can you think of a time when you experienced increased opposition or temptation while trying to follow Jesus? How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time? [36:00]
2. Are there areas in your life where you are resisting submission—whether to God, to church leaders, to family, or to civic authorities? What is one step you could take this week to move toward a posture of respect and honor? [01:10:30]
3. The idea of the “priesthood of all believers” means every Christian is responsible for sharing the gospel and discipling others. Who is one person you could reach out to this week—to encourage, invite to church, or start a spiritual conversation with? [49:33]
4. The sermon challenged us to avoid apathy, gossip, and division. Is there a specific situation where you have been tempted to gossip or criticize others in the church? What would it look like to handle that situation differently, in a way that builds up the body? [36:00]
5. The early Christians were known for their love and respect, even toward those who mistreated them. Think about your social media presence or private conversations: do they reflect this kind of love and respect? If not, what is one practical change you could make this week? [01:17:00]
6. The sermon asked us to examine our hearts for prideful rebellion. Is there a rule, law, or authority figure you struggle to respect? What would it look like to trust God’s sovereignty in that area, even if you disagree? [01:04:00]
7. The invitation at the end of the sermon was to submit to God and receive His gift of salvation. If you have not done this, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you help someone else take that step? [01:22:00]