Bold in Faith

April 20, 2018

 DAILY READING

Acts 4:1-4

This weekend’s reading: John 21:15-19

FIELD NOTES
In the Book of Acts, we as readers are given a glimpse into the lives of Jesus’ disciples and the members of the Early Church.  Although they certainly don’t get it right all the time, these men and women are passionate missionaries for Christ.  In the passage of Acts 4 for today, Peter and John are proclaiming the Easter story, the resurrection of Jesus, which really upsets some of the Jewish leaders.  Because of the boldness of their message, they are arrested and imprisoned.  In the United States today, it occurs to me that I don’t have that threat of arrest for sharing my faith.  In comparison to many countries in the world where you are legally not allowed to be Christian, and to Peter and John, I/we have it easy.  In countries like China or Sudan, you can be killed for being a Christian.  I fear that as a Christian in the United States, my faith has become soft and comfortable.  Instead, I want to be like Peter and John and the missionaries that often go covertly to places like China and Somalia to courageously live out and claim their faith.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Do you think your faith has become a safe, comfortable faith?
• How are you courageously claiming Christ’s message?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• How can you tell your family and friends about your love of Jesus?

PRAYER GUIDE
Holy God, please give me the courage and boldness to spread the Gospel.  Sometimes when it is too easy to do something, I just don’t do it.  Lord, help me overcome this complacency and talk about my faith with my family, colleagues, and friends.  Amen.