What You’re Missing by Staying Quiet

Make Us Bold

Scripture References

Primary text

• Acts 4

Other references

• Acts 1
• Acts 2
• Acts 5
• Acts 17
• Acts 28

Overview

A church that pleases God is filled with people who please God, and one of the clearest marks of a God-pleasing life is boldness for Jesus. Boldness is not a personality trait; it is the natural overflow of spending time with the risen Christ. Looking at Acts—especially the confrontation in Acts 4—Pastor Craig showed how ordinary believers became extraordinary witnesses, how bold prayers unleash bold action, and why courageous faith both attracts opposition and releases God’s power. Our calling is simple: seek Jesus, ask Him to make us bold, and let His light shine through us wherever we go.

Main Points

The Early Church’s Signature Was Boldness

• From Acts 1 to Acts 28, the Spirit repeatedly empowers ordinary believers to speak and act courageously.
• Boldness is “the defining mark” of the first-century church, not a side theme.
• Jesus Himself ties public confession of Him to His own confession of us before the Father.

Ordinary Idiotēs, Extraordinary Impact

• Religious leaders were “amazed” at Peter and John’s boldness because they were “ordinary men with no special training” (Acts 4:3).
• Greek word “idiotēs” = common, uncredentialed, outside the system.
• Quote:

  “God uses ordinary people.”

• Illustration: Pastor Craig’s college-tennis days—racket once covered with profanities became a witness covered with crosses and “Jesus,” startling teammates with a 60-second gospel presentation.

Boldness Flows From Time With Jesus

• Leaders “took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
• Two cycles:
  1. More time with Jesus → greater boldness → wider impact → deeper hunger → still more time with Jesus.
  2. Less time with Jesus → shrinking boldness → minimal impact → drifting heart → even less time with Jesus.
• Therefore, intimacy with Christ, not temperament, determines courage.

Praying for Safety vs. Praying for Boldness

• Under threat, the believers prayed:

  “O Lord, hear their threats and give us, Your servants, great boldness in preaching Your word.”

• God’s answer: the room shook; they were filled with the Holy Spirit and “preached the word of God with boldness.”
• Application: a church that pleases God asks for boldness, not comfort.

Expect Opposition, Expect God

• “Boldness triggers spiritual opposition”—second arrest of the apostles illustrates this.
• Yet an angel quietly opens the jail; Luke records it matter-of-factly, showing they expected God’s intervention.
• Don’t worry when you are opposed; worry when you’re not. Resistance often confirms effective witness.

Modern Examples of Timidity and Resolve

• Story: family vacation at a ranch; Craig enjoyed friendly conversations but never moved to share Christ—later convicted that comfort overrode concern for souls.
• Story: first funeral at age 22—fly swallowed mid-solo, awkward “coffin doesn’t rust” line; lesson that God still works through imperfect, “bless-his-heart” moments.
• Commitment: never again leave a setting without clearly offering Jesus.

Key Truths

• Bold speech naturally follows a life that has “been with Jesus.”
• God does His greatest work through people the world labels “ordinary.”
• What you pray for reveals what you believe about God; bold prayers honor Him.
• Courage for Christ will invite criticism, but it also invites divine intervention.
• A comfortable church may feel pleasant; a bold church changes the world.

Response

• Spend unhurried time with Jesus every day; let intimacy fuel courage.
• Pray specifically, “Lord, make me bold,” before you step into work, class, or the gym.
• Share the gospel plainly with at least one person this week—do not choose comfort over care.
• Invite someone to church and refuse to arrive alone next weekend.
• Persist when opposed; see resistance as confirmation, not deterrence.

Closing

Pastor Craig led the church to raise hands and repent of fear, asking God to ignite fresh courage:

“Make us bold so we can show the love of Jesus in a dark world. When the world grows darker, the light shines brighter.”
He then invited those unsure of their salvation to stand publicly for Christ, declaring Jesus as Lord without shame. Many responded, proving afresh that bold faith pleases God and draws people home.

Prayer

The congregation prayed collectively, surrendering fear and asking the Holy Spirit for power to witness. In summary: they thanked God for forgiveness, declared Jesus their Lord, requested filling with the Spirit, and committed to share His love with boldness.