“Vibrant Boldness”

Vibrant! Series Lesson 4

Sermon Notes

October 8, 2023

I. Boldness For The Greatest Mission…

A. Ever since the fall, mankind has lived in the tyranny of

.

B. On their way to their way to the temple, Peter and John encounter a
man who has been lame since birth. (Acts 3:1-5)

1. Through the name and power of Jesus, Peter heals the lame man! (Acts
   3:6-7)

C. People are amazed, a crowd gathers, and Peter begins to preach!
(Acts 3:9-19)

D. Peter and John are taken by the priests and Sadducees and put in
jail and then interrogated for preaching the

of the dead and healing the lame man. (Acts 4:1-10)

1. You can jail the messenger, but you cannot chain the
   

   Reveal Answer
   The church
   continues to explode!

2. Peter boldly proclaims to these religious authorities that salvation
   is only found in
   

   Reveal Answer
   !
   (Acts 4:12-14)

3. Despite the “commands” of the religious authorities, Peter and John
   vow to keep speaking about what they “had seen and heard.” (Acts
   4:19-20)

4. All through Acts we see this kind of vibrant boldness being
   unleashed in Stephen, Paul, and many others! (Acts 28:31)

E. This mission of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth is so big
that you can’t complete it unless you go

!

F. Life Group Discussion Questions: Consider whether you tend to
agree or disagree with this statement: Most Christians living in the
United States at this time are not very “bold” in their faith. If you
agree with this statement, what are some possible reasons why
Christians living in America aren’t very bold? Recall and share about
a time when you or someone close to you was “bold” in their faith. How
do you define “boldness?”

II. Reminders For Keeping Your “Courage Tank” Full…

A. Reminder: We must remember to spend time with

! (Acts 4:13)

1. Courage is the byproduct of spending time with the risen Christ and
   being filled with His Spirit.

2. Is our timidity evidence of the absence of our intimacy with Jesus?

3. The consequence of squeezing out time with Jesus is a slow, subtle
   leak in our courage tank.

B.Reminder: We must remember that __can only befound in Jesus! (Acts 4:12)

1. They don’t arrest Christians for doing kind things; they arrest
   Christians for the “name” in which we do kind things. (Acts 3:16)

2. There is only one “eraser” that can completely remove the stain of
   sin and that is the blood of Jesus! (Acts 3:19-20)

C. Reminder: We must remember that you cannot chain the person who
has been

by the power of Jesus! (Acts 3:8)

1. As the “lame” man goes into the temple, he lets his praise out! He
   is going to talk and sing about the Christ who has made him walk!

2. There are two kinds of Christians in our churches: “sleepers” and
   “

   Reveal Answer
   !”

D. Reminder: We must remember to pray for

, not comfort. (Acts 4:29-30)

1. Whatever your next step is in following Jesus, pursue it boldly!
(Acts 4:31)

E. Life Group Discussion Questions: *Which of these “reminders”
have been beneficial to you in recent years in helping keep your “courage tank” full? Which of these “reminders” do you need to focus on at this time in your life? Can you think of times and situations in your life when you prayed for courage rather than comfort? What do you recall about those times and situations in your life? Is there a situation or an opportunity in your life now that you need to be praying for courage orboldness?