Acts #39 - Boldness

2021-05-14

Acts 14:1-7 (NIV) Read by: Brennan Takayama Are you willing to proclaim the good news even when the results might include division? It can be difficult in our society today to say things, especially around the truth of the gospel, that we know might very well contribute to the division that is so prevalent in our world. Some of us might prefer to step away from that kind of thing, preferring not to cause any kind of conflict. So, we stay quiet and we assume that THE truth is better left as our truth. Others of us, may...

Acts 14:1-7 (NIV)
Read by: Brennan Takayama

Are you willing to proclaim the good news even when the results might include division?

It can be difficult in our society today to say things, especially around the truth of the gospel, that we know might very well contribute to the division that is so prevalent in our world. Some of us might prefer to step away from that kind of thing, preferring not to cause any kind of conflict. So, we stay quiet and we assume that THE truth is better left as our truth. Others of us, may not be able to focus on anything but the conflict and we end up in endless debates with folks who are just as fixed on the conflict. We neglect those who are truly open while we batter those who are at the total other end of the spectrum from us.

On today’s episode of Daily Read, Paul and Barnabas don’t do that. They neither run away from the conflict, nor do that get pulled down into the mud. They do the work of faithful proclamation to all those who are open to it, even if it means that some would be actively turned against them. And, yet they don’t stick around to get abused for it either, they say what needs to be said and they move on unencumbered. Oh let it be so with us LORD.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What phrase in this passage did you find most intriguing?

2. Has there ever been a time when you have been so afraid to cause division that you’ve softened or adapted the good news to the point where it barely resembled what we know to be the good news? Or, have you ever gotten stuck in an argument with a person or group way too long? To the point where no matter how convincing you were the relationship was dead. What do you think was motivating you?

3. Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly for the LORD. There is a great book on evangelism that helps us understand boldness as the healthy place between timidity and pushiness. Where do you tend to be, timid or pushy? Ask the Holy Spirit for what you need to become Bold.

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