Boldly Engaging A World Gone Mad

Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DG, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DG share their story.

Jesus has proclaimed that those who conquer will inherit His new life but that cowards will proceed to the second death. The Apostle John is writing in Revelation to call the church to live faithfully in a faithless world. It is not fear that is sinful, but fear can lead to sinful rebellion against God. By looking at Scriptural examples, we learn that we need to be a faithful minority, not join in with a cowardly majority. Boldness is not the absence of fear, but trusting in God when afraid. Rather than seeking to control and mitigate our problems, bold faithfulness resolves to seek the Lord. As Pastor Andrew summarized, “Prayer is not an afterthought. Prayer is actually the language of the bold.” Our God calls us to be faithful to Him, that looks like keep our eyes on Him even when it is difficult—especially when it is difficult.

What does it look like for us to be a church that boldly extends the message of the Gospel into our cultural moment?

1. In what aspects of your life do you find yourself giving in to fear rather than trusting in the Lord?
2. How do we recognize the difference between Biblical boldness and an artificial "macho boldness" in the 21 st century?
3. What are our default responses to fear, suffering, and difficult circumstances?
4. What obstacles keep us from being people who first seek the Lord in our fear, suffering, and difficult circumstances?

Take time to pray with and for each other.