Boldness from Experience

Acts 4:13-14

“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. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.”

Peter and John had been causing quite a stir with their message of Jesus, the risen messiah, and many were coming to faith. But not all who heard them were fans. The priests and captain of the temple were livid as many of their followers became convinced that Jesus was the Son of God. Peter and John were thrown in prison for the religious counsel to deal with. I imagine that as these two fishermen turned evangelists were brought into the presence of the Sanhedrin the next day the  strategy was to intimidate, put them in their place and send them off to lick their wounds. The Sanhedrin after all, were the authority on all things spiritual. They were the educated, but as Peter began to speak, they realized that they were the ones being schooled. 

This passage isn’t a lesson in the evils of education. I’m a firm believer that we should study to show ourselves approved, and I have educators in my immediate and extended family. But there is something about learning through experience that you can’t get from a lecture or a classroom.

I was blessed with a great education, but nothing made it’s mark in my preparedness and confidence in ministry like actually doing ministry. The first times, the mistakes, the conflicts and the victories were all learning experiences that gave me a boldness to lean in to my calling, not because of my own abilities, but because of His. God continues to show up and work in and through our faithfulness. So when we are faithful and God does what only He can do – what are you going to say against that? 

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following:
  • Spend some time reflecting on times that you have experienced God’s goodness and transforming power in your life. How can you leverage that to act with boldness this week for the sake of the Gospel? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jon Price

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Focus this Week – Boldness

Acts 4:23-31

“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 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.”

When Macon Jones, one of our Pastors, was a senior in high school, he was as tenacious about the gospel as he is today. I really enjoyed seeing the fruit of that desire. Macon was also an excellent football player and as tenacious on the field as he was about his faith. He had a major impact on and off the field.

One particular game against a rival team made this fact evident. Because Macon’s faith was so loud in the community, it made its way to the student section of the rival team. They decided for this game to dress in church clothes to taunt Macon and his team. Though the entire school used his faith in the wrong way, they had no doubt that Macon was a child of God through the blood of Jesus. They also knew if they trusted Christ, they too would be part of God’s family.

Where does that boldness come from? Read the passages this week and listen to God’s voice for boldness to face the world with authentic faith.

Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s scripture.

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Pastor Stephen Williams

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Small Group Discussion

We’ve been reading this week about servant leaders and what that looks like today. We have seen their qualifications and usefulness in God’s Kingdom. 

Discuss with your small group what you’ve drawn from your reading this week and how God has spoken to you. You can also pull from the questions in each day’s reading and use the HEAR method: 

  • The HEAR method is also an excellent structure for your discussion as a group. If you aren’t currently in a group we’d love to help you connect with one. Contact sharon@mybelmont.org or go to mybelmont.org/smallgroups

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jon Price

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Standing Strong

Acts 7:53-60 

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

An expression I have come to live by, the motto of Dallas Seminary, is to: “Teach truth. Love well.” Synonymous with love is grace. If we speak truth without grace, are we truly living and loving like Jesus? And on the other hand, are we truly loving someone if we never share the truth? The answer to both is an emphatic No. Paul, in Ephesians 4, tells us to speak the truth in love. This is, however, no formula to draw a well-received response. As we see by Stephen’s story in Acts 7, the truth will often ruffle feathers. It’s a direct attack on sinful pride.

Stephen spoke the truth with boldness and it cut so deep into the sinful pride of the Jewish audience, they were outraged to the point of stoning Stephen in mob-like fashion. I am sure Stephen was aware of the potential outcome, but he remained steadfast with the truth. I believe he was able to stand firm in the truth for three reasons:

  1. He was full of the Holy Spirit. He had the power of God’s grace in his life.
  2. He understood the reward was greater than death. God’s glory is infinitely greater than any trial or persecution Stephen would experience.
  3. Jesus is standing up for him as his advocate. The Son of Man, had been crucified and now stands at the right hand of God advocating for Stephen and all the saints and is ready to welcome them into glory.

Just as Jesus had been vindicated by the Father (Luke 9:22), so to was Stephen vindicated by Jesus. This love and grace shown to Stephen empowered him to also share the same love, grace, and forgiveness to his executors. Not only did Stephen speak truth. He loved well. He spoke truth with grace as he plead for his accusers to be forgiven. Sounds very similar to the cruxifixction story of Jesus, right? “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” Stephen had learned to truly love and live like Jesus in every way through the power of the Spirit within him, reminding him of the glory that awaited him in heaven. And it’s all made possible because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, became the Son of Man who died in our place, was resurrected, and now stands at the right hand of God advocating and standing up for us even in the face of persecution.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  •  [questions bulleted]

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Zach Gallman

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Qualifications for Deacons

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

According to these verses, what is the most important quality of a deacon?  All of these qualifications reflect a person of good character in the community they serve. So the greatest quality is a character that has a voice among the people. Here are several thoughts on this truth.

  1. Bad character is a distraction from serving others. 
  2. Serving requires personal interaction. So, a deacon has to be trusted before others will receive service.
  3. Servants reflect the Master or are examples of a follower of Christ. 
  4. Good character allows a deacon to be real and authentic. If there are many things to hide, a person has to be fake.

Deacon’s do not represent perfection, but they do show God’s grace. A servant with these qualifications is a testimony of how God can mature a person once lost in sin.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:

  • What do each of these qualifications say about a person’s character?
  • What are questions that you have about any of these qualifications? Email the questions to pastor@mybelmont.org or ask in small groups when you meet.
  • Why do you believe these characteristics are important?
  • Should these characteristics be the goal of every follower of Christ?

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

 

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When to Make the Stand

Philippians 2:1-4

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

God has truly blessed me with rich experiences on my spiritual journey. During the decade of the 1980’s I joined forces with several youth ministers in the area to reach students with the Gospel. The Lord helped us provide huge events for students and many came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. We were a strange group, besides being youth ministers; we were from 5 or 6 denominations that had some conflicting doctrines. We knew the only way this would work, was to focus on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and everyone was on board. We kept the main thing, the Main Thing!

I had to assure my leadership that doctrine beyond salvation in Christ would not enter the conversation until a person walked through the doors of a church. I was ridiculed by some who said I should not affiliate with people who did not believe 100% the way I did.

There is a God and I’m not Him. He is perfect and I am not. I have seen the Lord work through things I did not like and God didn’t even ask my permission. Most church disunity comes from peripherals that include: experience, culture, preference, personality, and power.

When do you take an unwavering stance? When another gospel is presented that does not place a personal relationship with Jesus front and center, when folks say there are many roads to Heaven, when people add to or take away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or when one believes they can be good enough to earn their way to Heaven. Against these things I’ve taken a stand and presented scripture as a standard. Not MY TRUTH – HIS TRUTH!

Where do you make a stand?

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What are your irreducible beliefs – those convictions that you will not compromise? 
  • How do you determine which principles are primary, secondary or even not that important at all? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jim Sellers,
Minister of Music and  YAH Director

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