Courage to Stand for Truth | Courageous Living
Part of Sermon Notes
July 24, 2021

It takes great courage to stand for what you believe, for your convictions and for the truth, especially if your convictions are rooted in the Bible.


“No one had the courage to speak favorably about Jesus in public.” - John 7:13 (NLT)


  • Even Paul sometimes needed encouragement to be courageous in what he believed.


“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.’” Acts 18:9 (NIV)


  • To stand courageously for what you believe, you first have an understanding of other worldviews before you respond with God’s truth.


“If you stand up for me against world opinion, I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32 (MSG)


The five most popular anti-Christian worldviews:


  1. Nature is god.


    15 “But be very careful! You did not see the Lord’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai. 16 So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman, 17 an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, 18 a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea. 19 And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth. – Deut. 4:15-19 (NLT)


  2. Money is god.


    “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15



  3. Pleasure is god.


    “Are you addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.” - Proverbs 21:17 (MSG)


    “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” - Galatians 6:8


  4. I am god.


    “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 2:4,5


    “But those governed by selfishness and self-promotion, whose hearts are unresponsive to God’s truth and would rather embrace unrighteousness, will experience the fullness of wrath.” - Romans 2:8 (TPT)


  5. Government is god.


    “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” - Matthew 22: 21


    But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. – Phil. 3:20 (NLT)


How to have courage to stand for truth:


  1. Shape your worldview through God’s word.


    Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. – John 17:17


    “God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.” - Hebrews 6:18


  2. Shape your worldview by spending time with Jesus.


    “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” – John 18:37 (NKJV)


    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6 (NKJV)


    The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him. – Acts 4:13 (TPT)


  3. Shape your worldview by spending time with other believers.


    16 The three men replied, “Your Majesty, we don’t need to defend ourselves. 17 The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we still won’t worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18 (CEV)