The Boldness God Gives His People
Big Idea: God made you on purpose, and He gives His people boldness to speak the truth about Jesus.
What We Talked About This Morning
Pastor Ethan began by reminding students that while there are things in our lives we should change—our attitudes, our habits, our obedience—the way God made us is not one of them. We don’t need a new name or a new identity. God made us intentionally, and He calls us to live boldly for Him.
The Story in Acts 4
We stepped into a powerful moment in the early church. Jesus has already died, risen, and ascended to heaven. The Holy Spirit has come, and the church has exploded from 120 to over 3000 believers in one day.
Peter and John go to the Temple to pray and meet a man who has been unable to walk for over forty years. In the name of Jesus, the man is healed. Peter and John preach the gospel, and the church grows to over 5000 men.
But their boldness gets them arrested.
The religious leaders—who had already killed Jesus—demand to know: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” Peter and John hadn’t done anything foolish; they had helped a man in need through the power of Christ.
Pastor Ethan shared a funny childhood story about doing something actually foolish—throwing lit roman candles into the air and dodging the fireballs. Peter and John weren’t doing anything reckless like that. They were doing something good, and the leaders hated it because it pointed people to Jesus.
Peter’s Bold Response
Acts 4:8–12
Peter immediately gives glory to God. He declares that the healing happened through Jesus, the same Jesus these leaders had crucified less than 100 days earlier. He boldly proclaims that salvation is found in no one else.
Acts 4:13
The leaders are stunned. Peter and John are ordinary, untrained men—but their courage is unmistakable. They recognized that these men had been with Jesus.
The leaders command them to stop speaking about Jesus. But Peter and John refuse.
Acts 4:19–20
They say, “We are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” They choose obedience to God over fear of people.
What This Means for Us
Many of us want to be like Peter and John—bold, confident, unafraid to share the gospel. It can feel scary, but God gives courage to His people.
Pastor Ethan encouraged students to take three steps:
Boldness comes from closeness.
Peter and John didn’t brag—they prayed. Acts 4:29–31 shows God shaking the whole house as He filled His people with courage. God answers prayers for boldness.
Set aside time each week to share the good news—at school, in your neighborhood, at the store, anywhere God opens a door. And remember: Jesus is with you.
Becoming More Like Christ
To grow in courage, we:
God’s Promise
God gives His people courage through the Holy Spirit. When we obey Him, He strengthens us to speak truth with boldness.
Dinner and Discipleship (Family chapel chat for around the dinner table)