Real Life Community Church Richmond, KY
Real Life Community Church, is a church located in Richmond, Kentucky. Our fellowship is comprised of authentic followers of Jesus Christ who aim to glorify God in all that we do. We have a desire to reach our community, meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of those who are hurting.What to Expect in a Service Our Sunday Morning services include a time of dynamic, blended worship. We have a full praise band, consisting of real Christ-followers who are committed to worshiping God, not just through song, but in every area of their lives. Each service will include a relevant, Bible-based message, that will inspire and challenge those who hear it. Come casually or formally dressed… however you are most comfortable. We hope to see you soon!
Real Life Community Church Richmond, KY
Acts | Part 6 | The Reward and Challenge of Evangelistic Ministry
Dive into the transformative experiences of Peter and John as they face the challenges of sharing the gospel in the book of Acts. This sermon sheds light on the intrinsic fears many of us carry when it comes to evangelism, emphasizing that we are not alone in our hesitations and struggles. We explore the boldness these apostles exhibited when confronted with authority and how their reliance on the Holy Spirit enabled them to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ despite the risk of persecution.
Throughout the message Pastor Chris highlights key points about the necessity of overcoming our fears, the significance of prayer, and the crucial role of community in sharing the gospel. Peter and John’s story serves as a call to action for all believers to step up, trust in God, and step out in faith, even when facing the unknown. You'll be inspired to--not only share your faith-- but also reach out for support as we collectively navigate the challenges of contemporary evangelism.
All right Acts, chapter 4, beginning in verse 1. It says came upon them greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus, the resurrection from the dead, and they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening, but many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and all who were of the high priestly family. When they had set them in the midst, they inquired by what power or by what name did you do this? 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.
Speaker 1: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. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying what shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them, as evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may be spread no further among the people, and we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened, for the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than 40 years old when they were released.
Speaker 1:They went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, 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 people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His anointed.
Speaker 1:For truly, in this city they 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. And if you remember from last week, we say this is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Let's try that one more time. This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Speaker 2:Well, I am moved this morning. My spirit is moved and I hope you feel that same way is moved, and I hope you feel that same way. The most rewarding accomplishments in life, generally speaking, do not come easy. Theodore Roosevelt said that nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty. And you know, when I think about things that are rewarding, accomplishments that are rewarding in our lives, I can think of no greater accomplishment than leading someone to the Lord Jesus Christ, than leading someone to the Lord Jesus Christ. I can think of no greater accomplishment than sharing the gospel with someone who is far from God and having them respond in faith, only to have their eternity changed forever. But I'll tell you this sharing the gospel, leading others to Christ, it's not easy. I'm a preacher of over 20 years and it's not easy for me at times. I think most of you, if you're a real follower of Jesus, I think you would say yes and amen that there's someone in your life right now that you would love to lead to Christ. Actually, raise your hand if that's you. There's somebody in my life right now, at work, at home, that I would love to lead to the Lord Jesus and yet there's a hesitancy to even share the gospel. Why You're not alone? Because it's actually difficult. It can be. I've got good news for you this morning. We're not the first generation to face challenges when sharing the gospel.
Speaker 2:So last week we're going through the book of Acts and last week we were in chapter 3. Peter and John, two apostles, come upon as they're going to the temple to pray. They come upon a man who has been lame from birth and daily he would be laid at the temple gate in order to beg alms. He was dependent on the charity of others to survive, an outcast, sick, unable to walk. And Peter and John walked by him and he asked for, you know, some change. And they look at him. They said Peter says silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. And the man gets up. It doesn't just walk, he leaps for joy, praising God, doesn't even have to learn to walk. I mean, that's a miracle in itself, just amazing. Well, that gains a crowd, it gains the attention of many people who are in the temple and a crowd begins to form and Peter uses that opportunity to share the gospel and in our text today, in Acts 4, verse 4, it reminds us that that day 2,000 men, plus women and children, were added to the church. They were saved, gloriously, wonderfully saved, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:But today we find out that not everybody's happy about that and Peter and John face some challenges there in the temple. And if you'll take this message to heart today, I believe you're going to be greatly encouraged and helped in sharing the gospel. I just believe this week you could lead that person that you raised your hand about to Christ. How many would love that? Amen, all right, four of you, all right. So we're going to look at some challenges, actually two.
Speaker 2:There are many challenges that people face when sharing the gospel. I'm going to look at two this morning that we see in the text. One I'm not going to spend as much time on this one, but one is internal and one is external. So the internal challenge in sharing the gospel you could call it fear or, let me be more specific, perhaps you could call it a fear of ignorance. And what do I mean by that? You know I've talked to a lot of church folks through the years who said, you know, I'd love to share the gospel with my loved one, but I'm scared I won't have all the answers. I'm scared Like I want them to have eternal life. But what if they ask me something I don't know the question to? They feel ill-equipped to even share the gospel.
Speaker 2:Well, I've got great news for you in the text today. I want you to look at verse 13. We're going to jump ahead just a bit. Look at verse 13. Now, when they these are the temple leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John, they were boldly preaching the gospel in the midst of these leaders who were rejecting Christ. They perceived that they were what Uneducated common men and watch this, the temple leaders. What were they Astonished? Astonished by uneducated common men Now, I won't have you raise your hand, if that's you all right. And it says they recognized they'd been with Jesus. And the question becomes how did Peter and John astonish these educated, uber-spiritual temple rulers? Well, there's two reasons. I see here One, and I love this.
Speaker 2:The text says verse 13, that they recognized that these two men, peter and John, had been with Jesus. Oh, that people would be able to say that about us. You may not have a degree in theology, you may not have all the tenets of faith memorized, but, oh, if people can just see that you've been with Jesus, you can make a difference in their lives. Now I know that Peter and John were quite literally in the Jesus School of Ministry for three and a half years and I know that we are not physically with Jesus he is at the right hand of the Father but we have the Lord with us by His Spirit. He has not left us alone, amen. And do you know that every time we come together like this I hope when listen, when you leave today and you go out to eat, I hope your waitress or waiter can say oh, that's somebody who's been with Jesus. Every time you open your Bible, every time we partake in communion, every time we sing to our great God beloved, we are with the Lord and we ought to leave that place. Wherever we're at reading the word praying, whatever we're doing, we ought to leave that place. Wherever we're at reading the word praying, whatever we're doing, we ought to leave that place shining with the glory of God, because the world needs not just religious folk who can quote scriptures. They need people who have been with Jesus. There's another. This just dovetails off that first point.
Speaker 2:But this is another reason Peter and John astonished the educated rulers. It's in verse 8, peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak to them. They were filled and this is a fresh, this present tense in filling of the Holy Spirit which, remember, is for the purpose of witnessing. Matthew 10, 19,. Let me just read this to you when they deliver you, jesus is talking to the disciples and he's warning them about the persecution to come. He says when they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you're to say. Watch this, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. So this is not something that you just plan for. And you know I'm going to share the gospel as a person, and here's how the conversation is going to go and all that you don't know, but here's what you do. You can trust the Lord that what needs to be said he will bring to your mind.
Speaker 2:Now let me just give one caveat here. The Holy Spirit uses what we've put in. Okay. So if you never read your Bible, if you're not committed to coming to church and hearing the you know exposition of God's Word week after week, the Holy Spirit doesn't have much to work with Now. He could use a new believer who's I mean heard one verse. But I'm saying we've got our part to do. But the truth is we know this. We don't know how these conversations are going to go sometimes, but we just trust the Spirit.
Speaker 2:Now there might be, to be sure, a question that's asked of you, you know, maybe a philosophical or deeply theological question. You know, explain to me the problem of evil and suffering, and you might not have an answer. You know, the Holy Spirit brings to mind what you need to say to share the gospel. But there might be a question that stumps you and I want you to write this down. I'm going to give you this profound response. Let's say you ready. So if you don't know the answer to a question somebody asked you, here's what you say. Write this down, profound. I don't know the answer to that, okay, please, please, do not try and just wing it, and that's what people do a lot Just simply say I don't know, but here's what you say. After that I'll get the answer for you and you come to one of our pastors that's what we're here for and you might ask me something I don't know, and here's what I'll say to you I don't know. Actually, I'll probably say you know, this is not a good time. Come back and ask me tomorrow and I'll research it. No, I'll say listen, I don't know the answer to that but I'll get it for you. All right, here's the point.
Speaker 2:The Holy Spirit uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Peter and John, common fishermen who's my fisherman in here? Man, you are set up for God to use you in such a powerful way. And what illustrations you have when you're on the lake with your unsaved buddies about being a fisher of men. You know, and the Lord, you know all that. When you're on the lake with your unsaved buddies about being a fisher of men, you know, and the Lord, you know all that the Lord did around the lake, around the sea. I mean, it's a beautiful thing. The Holy Spirit, god himself, uses ordinary people that's you, that's me to do extraordinary things, amen.
Speaker 2:So that's the internal challenge of sharing the gospel. You don't have to fear. Trust the Lord. But then there's an external challenge and we'll call this rejection. You're scared. What if they don't listen? What if they make fun of me? What if they reject the gospel? Look at verses one through 4.
Speaker 2:And as Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed. You ever feel this way when you're talking about Jesus with somebody, you just feel like they're annoyed by you. That's all right, you're in good company, because they were teaching the people and they were proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them. A man was just healed. They arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening, but many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number came to about 5,000. So rather than celebrating the healing, you have these Debbie Downers who are man. You've always got to have somebody to ruin the party right, and they're upset with Peter and John, annoyed so much that they arrest them. Think about that.
Speaker 2:And the question is why are they so antagonistic? And I have three reasons why they are so antagonistic, and this so applies to our life today, as we share the gospel with the lost. They're antagonistic because the gospel challenges them in at least three ways. You ready Number one. The gospel challenges their authority, or their power, if you like. Okay, so here's who arrests.
Speaker 2:Peter and John, number one priests. These are ordinary priests performing the evening sacrifice. They're part of the religious leadership amongst the Jewish people. Then you have the captain of the temple guard, the chief of the temple police force. They're not playing. Then you have the Sadducees. The Sadducees are this sect of Jewish aristocrats, very rich, that wield a great deal of religious, social and political power.
Speaker 2:And Peter and John stand before this group of men, these ordinary common Galilean fishermen, and look at verse 7 in Acts 4. And when they had set them in the midst? I mean, they're surrounded by them, and not just them, by the way, but other leaders of the temple as well. At this point, here's what they ask by what power or by what name did you do this? Now, that's a really telling question, because the name has to do with authority. What they're really asking is who gave you the authority to walk in the temple, cause a ruckus and start teaching a crowd of people? I mean, just imagine. I sympathize with them just a bit, because imagine somebody walking in as we're singing this morning, off the street. We don't know them and they just take it upon themselves. They come and they lay hands on somebody. Pray for them in Jesus' name, come up and just start preaching to you. I would probably ask them, after security escorts them out, by whose authority are you preaching? You see, this is very important.
Speaker 2:In verse 10, peter makes it clear it's not on their authority that they're coming, but on the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a problem. This is a problem Because the implication is that the temple leaders are not the ultimate authority of Peter and John, that there is a greater authority, even of Caesar, and so their power is threatened when they call someone else Lord and we say we're not going to listen to you. We've got a higher authority. And you know, today many reject the gospel, not because they're offended by Jesus being a Savior, necessarily, but because he is Lord. And the implication there, because our culture loves we talked about this a few weeks ago they love autonomy, the right to govern their own lives. They want to be Lord of their own lives and if Jesus is Lord of their life, that means that they no longer are and that is offensive. Jesus challenges authority. In Romans 10, verse 9,.
Speaker 2:If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved, beloved. The most basic and fundamental confession of Christianity is that the risen Christ Jesus is Lord. You know, in our, let's say, the American church there's a popular erroneous teaching. It's called easy believism and they'll take one verse, like John 3.16, a wonderful and beautiful verse, that says you know, if you believe in him, believe, you know, you won't perish, you'll have everlasting life.
Speaker 2:So a lot of preachers, a lot of people sharing the gospel, they'll tell somebody who's living in sin. They'll say listen, well, all you have to do is pray a little prayer with me. That's not how the Bible says you're saved. Just pray a little prayer with me and ask Jesus into your heart, and then you know it's like all you have to do is believe in Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection. Now the demons in hell do that and shudder with fear. That's intellectual belief and that's not saving faith. That's intellectual belief and that's not saving faith. Peter was just asked in chapter 2, he shared the gospel and people were cut to the heart and thousands of people asked Peter, what do we do? And Peter didn't say just pray a little prayer and ask Jesus into your heart, repent and be baptized for the remission of sin and the gift of the holy spirit. So we've got to be careful here.
Speaker 2:But because there is this idea, that's a beautiful truth that jesus is a friend of sinners. Are you thankful for that? Do you believe that? But see, that has been misinterpreted. It's been very misinterpreted. It doesn't mean that Jesus is just okay with sin. Think about the woman caught in adultery. What did Jesus say? Go and sin no more.
Speaker 2:In Luke, chapter 5, luke tells a great story of Jesus eating with a group of tax collectors, one of them being Matthew, who becomes a disciple. And this is the part where we see that Jesus is a friend of sinners. He's eating with them and the Pharisees, the religious leaders. They are appalled that Jesus would do such a thing, because to them to eat with these sinners was to condone their lifestyle. But that's not what that verse is about Jesus being a friend of sinners. Here's verse 32 in Luke, chapter 5. Here's Jesus' response to the Pharisees I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. To what Repentance? He's not condoning their lifestyle. Beloved, he meets us where we are downtrodden, heavy laden, deep in sin, and he offers us grace. But he cleans us up as well. We repent and turn to him.
Speaker 2:Kevin DeYoung, great pastor, writes this that Jesus was a friend of sinners not because of winking at sin. He did not ignore sin, nor did he enjoy lighthearted revelry with those engaged in immorality. He goes on to say Jesus was a friend of sinners in that he came to save sinners and was very pleased to welcome sinners who were open to the gospel, sorry for their sins and on their way to putting their faith in Jesus, hallelujah. So some reject the gospel because the gospel challenges authority. Secondly, it challenges the temple leader's intellect. I'm just going to spend a moment here.
Speaker 2:The Sadducees listed in the first four verses did not believe in angels, demons, the supernatural, the resurrection from the dead, the resurrection from the dead. Thus Peter and John Preaching that Jesus is risen Is a very big problem for them. Because here's these common men Saying your theology, your world view, is wrong. Not everything can be explained by science. There is a supernatural realm. And so for them to confess the risen Christ would be to commit, within their circle, intellectual suicide. And you know, today many Americans reject the gospel because of intellectual pride. You know, since the Enlightenment era we have many who are what we call rationalists. They believe that there's a scientific answer for everything. And if there's not, it just cannot be true. They, like the Sadducees, deny the miraculous. Not be true. They, like the Sadducees, deny the miraculous. But I'm just going to say it's more illogical to believe that there's not, you know, a spiritual realm. I mean, come on, look at the earth, look at creation itself. That's enough. If you've ever watched a child being born, I mean it takes way more faith to believe that that just happened by happenstance. Right? I love what.
Speaker 2:I think his name is Paul Little, who wrote a book, what's it called? Know why you Believe. It's a great book for high schoolers, by the way, to know not just what you believe but why you should believe it. And he says I'll never forget this. In the introduction he says to be a, a Christian, you do not have to lose your mind. There are historical and logical reasons to believe in the Lord, jesus Christ and His resurrection. There's an overwhelming amount of evidence for that. But the gospel does challenge. It takes some humility. It does challenge the intellect of the lost.
Speaker 2:Thirdly, the gospel challenges the, let's say, self-image or self-righteousness of those religious leaders, and here's what I mean by that. Peter is preaching in verses 8 through 12 to these men and he calls out their sin. He's like you crucified, your Messiah, the cornerstone. And then in verse 12, here's what Peter has the audacity to say to these well-educated temple leaders. Here's what he says there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men which we must be saved. That's radical. The religious leaders in the temple. They see themselves as uber spiritual, that they have on the cloak of self-righteousness, putting themselves spiritually above the quote-unquote common Jewish people. And to assert that Jesus is the only way of salvation is extremely, extremely off-putting to them. Do you know what that implies to them? That they get salvation the same way as the prostitute and the drunk and the drug addict and the thief and the murderer Boy? That's offensive to a self-righteous person. And you know.
Speaker 2:The assertion that Jesus is the way, Not a way of salvation today Is offensive to contemporary people, westerners. Jesus did not say I am a way to the Father. What did he say? I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. And so that's offensive for two reasons. Listen to me.
Speaker 2:Number one, when you say that, when you make that biblical claim. You're saying very clearly there's not salvation in any other religion, any other religion. That means if you Believe in Muhammad and serve, you know the Islamic religion, you're not saved. If you're a Buddhist, I don't care how faithful you are, you're not saved. If you worship the plurality of Hindu gods, I don't care how faithful you are, I don't care what your culture is, you are not saved. There is one name through which men might be saved and that name is Jesus Christ. That's offensive. It's offensive to many people today. They don't mind Jesus being a way. You know people.
Speaker 2:Today, truth is relative right, which is the stupidest thing in the world. You do your truth. This is my truth. That's dumb. Come on, I think we're getting dumber. I'm not joking. So that's one reason it's offensive.
Speaker 2:Secondly, here's the implication, and this really flies in the face of self-righteous people. It says that you cannot be good enough to have eternal life to get to God. Statistically, in America, the vast majority of people believe. If they believe in heaven or in afterlife, you know what they believe. I'm going to get there by being a good person. See to receive the gospel. This is why it's so offensive To receive the gospel, the good news that through Jesus we can have salvation.
Speaker 2:To understand the good news, you first have to understand the bad news, as Tim Keller puts it, that we are more wicked and depraved than we could ever dare imagine. We've got to get that before we can realize that we're more loved in Christ than we could ever dare hope. You've got to have both sides. See, we are called by the world. We're charged with being elitist or exclusive right. This is the exclusive religion. Jesus is the only way, and on one hand, that's true. You know Christianity. We hold to that truth. I mean, it's fundamental that Jesus is the way of salvation, not a way.
Speaker 2:But I love what Tim Keller used to talk about all the time. He said, yes, on one hand Christianity can be exclusive, but listen to this. This is so good. He argued that, on the other hand, that Christianity is actually the most inclusive major historical religion out there, and here's why Every other historical religion. You know what it says. If you want heaven, if you want eternal life or what have you, if you want to get to God, you do X, y, z, a, b, c, 1, 2, 3. It's on you and if you can do these things. They look different in each religion, then you can get to God. You can have eternal life. And you know what that means, boy. That's exclusive. Let me tell you why. Keller argues that. What that means is that only the most disciplined, only the most righteous, morally upright people get eternal life, get to God. But see, christianity is different. It's the most inclusive historic religion out there.
Speaker 2:Here's what Christianity claims. None of us are good enough, but the ground at the foot of the cross is level ground. Come all ye broken, come all ye broken. Come all you heavy laden, come you worst of sinners. In the Bible, the prostitute came to Jesus and fell down at His feet. Your sins are forgiven. The tax collector, corrupt tax collector Listen, if an IRS agent can come to the Lord, you can come. You can come. Yes, the middle class, working godly father needs Jesus and gets there by the cross. But it's not just he that gets to come to God through Jesus. It's again the drug addict, it's again the prostitute. It's again every person sitting incarcerated right now. That's why I love prison ministry to tell them the good news that no matter where you've been, no matter what you've done, jesus welcomes you. He bids you to come to the cross. It's the most inclusive religion out there religion out there but that's a challenge to someone's self-image. Who they think they're good. They have to come to terms with. I'm not good enough. So what are?
Speaker 2:The external issue with sharing the gospel is rejection, and what are the consequences of rejection? Well, in our text you have an arrest in verse 3, imprisonment in verse 4, threats in verse 17, and ultimately it's persecution and death for many of the early church, many who are within the early church. In just a few chapters over chapter 7, stephen, faithfully preaching the gospel, is martyred owing to his faith. And today in America, I don't think any of you in here has been imprisoned for your faith and hopefully that will never happen but we do face rejection. I'm careful to call that persecution because of what other people are going through, but we are ostracized, we are hated amongst many people today. Some, even in this room, have lost your jobs because of your Christian beliefs. You're laughed at and I'll just say this you might not be put to death in this country for your faith, but being rejected in those ways I just mentioned, it's not. That's not nothing. As a matter of fact, psychology today reported that MRI studies show that the same areas of the brain become activated when we experience rejection as when we experience physical pain. Rejection hurts. We learned that from an early age. So there are consequences many times for sharing the gospel. There are internal challenges, external challenges that can lead to really discomfort, if not death in some places. But how are we to respond to this? Just very quickly. Number one we respond with loyalty to the Lord, Jesus Christ. We take it like a champ the hurt, the pain, the ridicule, the persecution. We're loyal to Jesus.
Speaker 2:Look at verses 17 through 20. But in order that it may not spread, these are the temple leaders talking no further among the people. Let us warn Peter and John to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. I love this, peter and John, just not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. I love this. Peter and John just answered to them.
Speaker 2:Whether it's right in the sight of God to listen to you or rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak, but speak of what we have seen and heard. In other words, threaten us all you want, but we're preaching the gospel. So I don't care if people laughed at you. I care. It doesn't really matter how they respond. You keep preaching. What if they laugh at me? What if they reject me? I hate that for you, but their eternity depends on you sharing the gospel with them. Can I be blunt? Get over it. Get over it. Get over it. No matter the consequences, we must decide today. Jesus, loss of job, whatever it is, we're going to be loyal to you. We're not going to hide it. Number two we respond to rejection with prayer. Acts 4, 23 and 24.
Speaker 2:When they were released, they went to their friends and began gossiping about the temple leaders. Is that what it says? They got on their phone and had a pity party, got on Facebook and posted how horrible the you know president of the temple is. We can't wait till the next election. No, they got together with their friends and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them. And when they heard it, here's what they did they lifted their voices together to God.
Speaker 2:We call that prayer. It could have been just a singing as well, but we know that they prayed and I want to point your attention to what they prayed first. And now, lord, here it is. Look upon these threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. They then pray. Stretch out your hand to heal. Signs and wonders are performed through the name of your servant, jesus. In other words, back us up, lord, show others that this is real. But the first thing they ask is Lord. They don't ask Lord, take us out of this. Let them be nicer, lord, sick them. Lord. Some of y'all prayed that. I know I might have prayed that a time or two in my life About some of you. No, I'm just joking, that was a joke. Not here. Yeah, other churches, but not here. No, really they pray.
Speaker 2:God, give us boldness. Let us not worry about our lives, just give us boldness. Let me say this, this is worth writing down God cares way more about reaching the lost than he does our comfort. God cares way more about reaching the lost than our comfort. In closing, the great news of this text is that persecution. What we learn is that persecution will never nullify the success of the gospel. All this is happening 2,000 men plus women and children get saved. Bring it devil, bring it atheists. You're not going to stop the gospel, because it's Christ who builds His church. Even the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.
Speaker 2:So here's what I want to leave you with today, just a kind of to do All right. So give me just a couple more minutes here. Number one I want you, along with me, to pray daily for boldness. I know it's scary, but I would love this week for you to share Jesus with somebody. You don't know how to do this. We'll help you. Come see one of our pastors. It's your job. Pray for boldness. But here's the other thing I want you to do, and this is important I want you to remember your persecuted brothers and sisters.
Speaker 2:We tend to forget that there are brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world that are experiencing what the first century church experienced Other Nero and other emperors. On February, the 13th of this year in the Congo, islamic terrorists brutally beheaded 70 Christians with machetes and large knives. Did you hear that If you are discovered to be a Christian in North Korea, you'll likely be killed on the spot? In Somalia, al-shabaab, a violent Islamist terrorist or militant group, often kill Somali Christians on the spot, wishing to eradicate Christianity. It's happening today, and we could go on and on. Listen, this is a report from the Open Doors website. Let's sit with this for a moment. 380 million Christians that we know of around the world suffer extreme persecution 380 million of our brothers and sisters this morning. 7,679 churches and public Christian properties were attacked last year that we know of. 4,476 Christians were murdered that we know of for their faith last year.
Speaker 2:So I want to just compel you to remember and pray for your persecuted brothers and sisters. We're part of the family of God, and so I'm going to invite you to an event that we're having. I know this isn't a normal altar call, but that's okay, because the point of this event is to raise our understanding and awareness of what Christians are going through in other parts of the world. So we did this last year. This is a live stream event put on by David Platt, and it's called Secret Church, and we're going to meet here at the church for a live stream event on April, the 11th, at 7 pm, and we're going to pray and study into the night. Well, why Friday at 7? I like to be in bed by 9 o'clock. Anybody else? All right, come on, but I'll be here, god willing.
Speaker 2:And here's why the point of this is to remember that our brothers and sisters all over the world have to come together in secret, at weird times, all hours of the night, just to worship together. They could never do what we're doing today. So we're going to study God's word and we're going to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters. So if you want to do that, there is a cost to it. It doesn't go to us None of the money.
Speaker 2:You're going to get a book, but you can sign up. You can get more information at the welcome table, yes, or you can look on the church app. There's a link that you can get your tickets. It's about $25 right now. It goes up the closer it gets to the event. I want to encourage you today to sign up. So, no matter the challenges, here's what I pray that the people of real life will continue to preach the gospel with boldness. And may God change Richmond with the good news of Jesus Christ. Let's pray God how we love you, how we thank you for the gospel, the good news. We thank you for Jesus, the only means of our salvation.