Pastor Blaik J. Westhoff
Scripture: Acts 4:1-31
Sermon Questions:
1. What do you think of when you hear the word “bold”?
2. If you were Peter or John, what would you have done?
3. If Peter and John weren’t born bold, where did their boldness come from?
4. Can you think of a time when you felt that your ‘being bold’ came from the Lord?
Further Study:
Luke 12:11-12 (NIV)
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
1. Do these verses indicate that the Holy Spirit can also make us bold when needed?
2. Have you ever experienced this yourself? What were the circumstances?
Acts 19:8-10 (NIV)
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
1. Sometimes we can get discouraged when we try to be persuasive but people still are unaccepting of our position. What do you think is the proper Christian response when people are not persuaded by our arguments?
Acts 26:28-29 (NIV)
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
1. What do these verses teach us about boldly sharing your faith?
2. Is it a waste of time to attempt to persuade someone to become a Christian? (Hint: lookup the definition of ‘persuade’)
3. What hymn has the words “…and am persuaded that he is able”? (answer next week)