Preaching With Boldness

1 Thess. 2:1-2
    When I think of what it takes to be a member of the Lord’s church, I can’t help but think about the necessity to be bold in our convictions. The bible writers and early christians were constantly writing about being bold and, even more than that, were living the example. Paul tells the church at Thessalonica that “we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.” (1 Thess. 2:2). Even when they were being run out of town for preaching they gospel they did not cease to teach the truth about Jesus (Acts 17:5-10). When Stephen was asked about Jesus and his teaching concerning him, he was accused as saying “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” When asked, “Are these things so?” He gave the one of the best accounts of God’s plan to save man through Jesus Christ, and was killed for it (Acts 6:13-7:60). He did not back down from the teachings of God because of threat of physical death. I fear today that we have become complacent. We have much less to lose than our early brethren but yet we are afraid still to rock that boat. We have allowed the culture around us to permeate the church, rather than take the church into the world. I urge you brethren to continue to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), as of the utterances of God (1 Peter 4:11) and never compromising the truth (2 Tim. 3:16 - 4:5). Knowing that if we remain faithful to the Lord, there is a great reward waiting for us (2 Tim. 4:7-8, Rev. 2:10b). I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley