Sermon Title: Take Heart – A New Courage
Worship service date: May 19, 2019
Interim Pastor Thomas Hiltsley
Primary Bible verses:
John 16:33
Acts 4:13-31
Key sermon points:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But have courage! I have overcome the world.”
Because Jesus is victorious, you and I are to live with a new courage.
Note the differences between:
Courage and Credulity,
Summary of Biblical account:
The disciples began to experience persecution as they practiced the presence of the Risen Jesus and proclaimed the Gospel. They prayed and God answered their prayers.
They had a new perspective on their situation.
The need was not change in their circumstances, but change in themselves.
Their request was for the advancement of the Kingdom.
They did not pray relief but for courage and boldness.
Their hope was eternal, not temporal.
God answered by increasing their boldness, which in turn brought increased persecution, martyrdom, forced relocation and spread of the Gospel.