Faith in Action - Get Uncomfortable

Masoud was born into a devout Muslim family in Iran but secretly converted to Christianity in his late 20s after listening to underground Christian radio broadcasts. He was baptized in a private home and became active in the local house church movement—an illegal and dangerous act in Iran.

For a few years, he quietly shared his faith, helping other Muslims learn about Jesus, always aware that arrest, torture, or death could be the price. His faith was deep. But the pressure was deeper.

The Comfort He Chose:

In 2016, his house church was raided by Iran’s security police. Masoud was arrested, interrogated, and beaten. Under intense psychological and physical pressure—including threats to his wife and children—he eventually recanted his faith and signed a document declaring his return to Islam.

He was released.

He now lives openly as a Muslim. His old church community has gone underground again. He hasn’t spoken to them since.

The Tragic Consequences:

Masoud saved his body—but his soul was torn. Former friends say he suffers from deep shame and depression. He won’t talk about his time in prison. He’s reportedly afraid to pray at all, in any direction.

A contact in the underground church told a Western pastor:

“He is alive, but he is not living.”

The Comfort That Killed (Spiritually and Emotionally):

Masoud’s story isn’t about failure—it’s about what happens when the crushing weight of fear, family pressure, and state power collide with fragile faith. His tragedy isn’t that he wanted comfort, but that comfort came at the price of his peace, his purpose, and possibly his eternal conviction.

Today, I want us to consider the third FAITH IN ACTION challenge for the year.

A quick review...

Review

Anyone remember the first one?

Listen - Psalm 46:10. We need to take time to stop and listen to the Word, to listen for the Spirit’s leading in our life.

We must be students of the word, taking deliberate, careful, and intentional time in the word to hear from God.

Anyone remember the second one?

Look - Ps 84:3. - We need to be actively LOOKING for and acknowledging the works of God! We need to be actively giving thanks and worship Him for those God Sightings that we see in our lives.

Body

Number 3…we need to Get Uncomfortable.

Get Uncomfortable

Video - Comfort (Skit Guys - Onetime blind)

In a tragic tale of one who chose comfort over obedience…

The Story of Martin Niemöller and the Silent German Church

Background:

Martin Niemöller was a German Lutheran pastor and a national conservative. In the early 1930s, when Adolf Hitler rose to power, Niemöller supported him. Like many Protestant leaders, he saw Hitler as a bulwark against communism and a way to restore Germany’s national pride after World War I.

Most of the German churches welcomed Hitler. They flew swastika flags, sang patriotic songs, and allowed Nazi ideology to infect pulpits. Their comfort with the regime kept them silent—even as Jews were persecuted, freedom was eroded, and dissent was crushed.

Niemöller’s Comfort:

For years, Niemöller didn’t speak out. He prioritized stability, his church, and national loyalty over confronting evil. He later admitted that he ignored what was happening to Jews, believing it wasn’t “his business.”

The Turning Point:

By the mid-1930s, Niemöller realized his silence had helped empower a monster. When he finally began to preach against Hitler’s interference in the Church, he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp for 8 years. He narrowly escaped execution.

But the damage was already done. Millions had already died. The churches’ early silence gave the Nazis moral cover.

The Tragic Consequences:

The most haunting part of Niemöller’s story is not his imprisonment—it’s the recognition that his silence helped fuel the Holocaust.

After the war, Niemöller penned the now-famous confession:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

The Comfort That Killed:

The German Church, including Niemöller for a time, chose silence, safety, and social acceptance over obedience to Christ’s command to protect the oppressed and speak truth to power. That silence cost millions of lives.

Why This Matters:

This story echoes today in any place where Christians remain silent in the face of injustice—not out of hatred, but out of a desire to stay comfortable, accepted, and safe. The tragic consequence isn’t always immediate death—it can be complicity, a haunted conscience, and a history stained by inaction.

Truth this, this example though, may be hard to relate to. Few of us may ever be in a similar situation where we are asked to take such a bold and public stand.

Claire’s story might be more familiar…

The Story of “Claire” — The Christian Who Stayed Silent at Work

(This story is compiled from multiple real testimonies gathered by ministries that support believers in secular workplaces. The name and details are anonymized to protect identities, but the dynamics are entirely real and common.)

Background:

Claire was a mid-level marketing executive at a major corporation in London. She had been a Christian since her teens—active in her church, passionate about Scripture, and privately committed to honoring Jesus in every part of her life.

But her workplace was secular, progressive, and socially aggressive. Religion—especially traditional Christianity—was seen as outdated, narrow, even bigoted.

Early in her career, Claire was bold. She would occasionally mention church, offer to pray for a colleague in crisis, and gently share her faith when asked.

But as she rose in rank, she got quieter.

When asked to promote company materials that clashed with biblical values, she complied without question.

When coworkers joked about Christians or faith, she stayed silent.

When a junior employee asked her privately, “Do you really believe all that Bible stuff?”, Claire dodged and said, “Oh, I just like the community aspect.”

Her heart burned with conviction—but the fear of being labeled, passed over for promotion, or losing professional respect kept her quiet.

The Tragic Consequences:

Years later, that same junior employee—now working in a different office—became a Christian. She visited Claire’s church one day, recognized her, and gently asked:

“Why didn’t you say anything back then? I was searching. I would’ve listened to you.”

Claire wept. She realized that her silence hadn’t just preserved her reputation—it had possibly delayed someone’s salvation.

And worse: in all her years of corporate success, she had never once been recognized as a follower of Jesus.

The Comfort That Killed (Witness and Integrity):

Claire didn’t fall into scandal. She didn’t renounce Christ. But she chose the comfort of being accepted, respected, and promoted over the discomfort of standing visibly with Jesus. And her silent witness—so carefully guarded—became no witness at all.

Why This Matters:

This one seems more relatable to us. Because most Christians probably won’t face prison or death for their faith. But we all face pressure to hide, to blend in, to not make waves. And sometimes the tragic consequence is a life that ends without having visibly pointed anyone to Christ.

There is David…

David – The Bible Study Leader Who Avoided “Difficult” Topics

Context:

David led a small group at a large suburban church in the U.S. He was kind, thoughtful, and genuinely loved the people in his group. But over the years, he began avoiding topics that could “make people uncomfortable”—particularly around sexual issues, sin, judgment, or repentance.

He told himself, “If I press too hard, they won’t come back.”

The Comfort:

He wanted peace, harmony, and to be liked. Teaching difficult truth felt confrontational. He believed love meant gentleness—but over time, gentleness became silence.

The Consequence:

One member, John, later shared privately that he was living in unrepentant sin and had assumed Christianity was mostly about “being kind and going to church.” He eventually left the faith, saying,

“It never felt like it asked anything of me.”

Truly, this feels like a deeply profound admission. To leave the faith, not because it was TOO stringent, but because it was TOO libertarian.

David now wrestles with guilt—not for what he said, but for what he never said. His silence helped shape a vision of Christianity that required no repentance—and ultimately, no Savior.

Clair’s and David’s stories seem more similar to that of Demas.

Demas’s Departure

Demas’s story in scripture, though sparse on details is tragic and revealing of what so often happens today.

Colossians 4:14

Colossians 4:14 ESV

14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

Philemon 1:24

Philemon 24 ESV

24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Demas was a fellow laborer with Paul. He was seemingly faithful and diligent to work together with Paul in the labor of the ministry.

However, then in 2 Timothy 4:9-10, we have these sad words…

2 Timothy 4:9-10

2 Timothy 4:9–10 ESV

9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Demas, at some point, changed his values and priorities. He chose comfort, ease over the labors, persecutions, and hardships of a life in ministry, of a life of obedience and faithfulness.

Sadly, we never hear of him again. Whether he repented and returned, we are not sure. But he chose the love of this world, the comforts it promised over the truth and presence of God.

What make’s his story so sad and tragic is that it represents the “slow fade” that we all are prone to. Along the way, we make choices everyday. Those choices either lead us TOWARDS God or away from Him. We never remain neutral. The question is…which way are your choices leading you?

Can I have a volunteer read for me 1 John 2:15?

1 John 2:15

1 John 2:15 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

What does it mean to love the things of this world?

What is so shocking about the second half of this verse…if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him?

What discomforts are we often unwilling to embrace in our service and obedience to Jesus?

Man’s criticism and judgment

Thus we do not speak our convictions

Thus we do not speak the truth

Granted, there is a gentle, humble, patient, and gracious way that we need to speak it and discernment and wisdom tells us how we ought to speak but some NEVER speak out of fear of man’s criticism and judgement.

Awkwardness of conversations and interactions

Getting up early to help others

The sacrifice of our time

The surrender of our resources

The giving up of our pleasures to read and study more so we are prepared to give an answer to those who ask.

Lack of sleep

Praying out loud, in public, with those who need it.

Loneliness by standing on truth when no one else will.

What is the cost of following Jesus?

Have volunteers read the following:

Matthew 16:24.

Matthew 16:24 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Dying to self.

Surrender of all to put Him first

Death to our will

Mortification of our desires

An embracing of suffering and struggle (for now)

Matthew 10:37-39.

Matthew 10:37–39 ESV

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Putting God ABOVE ALL, including our most cherished relationships.

Dying to self

Losing our life for His. (Like He did for us?

Faith in action will require us to LISTEN, TO LOOK

AND TO

GET UNCOMFORTABLE.

We will be called to step out of ourselves to speak truth, to be unashamed of the gospel, and to live for the sake of another.

Are you willing?

What comforts do you need to lay down for Jesus?

So that you can follow….

Conclusion

Let me end today with some POSITIVE examples…those who chose difficult over comfortable and who saw God work mightily in them..

Hannah – The Teen Who Spoke Up in a Hostile Classroom

Context:

In a secular high school in California, Hannah, a quiet Christian teenager, found herself in a heated classroom debate about gender and identity. The teacher asked students to share opinions—most students loudly endorsed the dominant narrative. When it came to her turn, Hannah hesitated. Everything in her screamed, Just smile and nod.

But she chose obedience. Gently, respectfully, she said,

“I believe God created us with a purpose, and that includes our bodies. I also believe everyone deserves love and compassion, even if we disagree.”

The Cost:

She was mocked. A few classmates stopped speaking to her. The teacher gave her the cold shoulder for the rest of the semester.

The Fruit:

Weeks later, a girl approached her privately and said,

“Thank you. I’ve been struggling with what to believe, and you were the only one who gave me another way to see things.”

That girl eventually joined Hannah at youth group—and later gave her life to Christ.

James – The Corporate Manager Who Refused to Compromise

Context:

James was a regional manager at a major logistics company in the UK. He was told to approve a training module that promoted values directly contradicting biblical teaching. He respectfully declined, saying he couldn’t in good conscience endorse something that conflicted with his faith.

The Cost:

He was demoted. His colleagues distanced themselves. Even other Christians told him he was being “too rigid.”

The Fruit:

A few months later, an HR executive—also a Christian—reached out and said:

“Your stand gave me courage to speak up too. I was beginning to compromise in small ways.”

James now mentors several Christian professionals trying to navigate faith in the workplace. His career didn’t recover in the same way—but his obedience became a catalyst for others.

Maria – The Grandmother Who Spoke the Gospel at Family Gathering

Context:

Maria, a 68-year-old widow, had a large, culturally Christian but spiritually cold family. For years, she avoided talking about Jesus at family gatherings—afraid of alienating her grown children or being seen as “preachy.”

But one Thanksgiving, she stood up before dinner and simply said:

“Before we eat, I need to say this: I’ve followed Jesus for a long time, but I’ve stayed quiet to keep things easy. I don’t want to do that anymore. He’s everything to me. And I hope He’ll be everything to you too.”

The Cost:

The room was silent. A couple of relatives rolled their eyes. One daughter didn’t speak to her for weeks.

The Fruit:

Months later, one grandson—previously suicidal and estranged—came to her and said:

“When you said that, it made me realize someone actually believes this stuff. Can we talk?”

He now attends church with her weekly. She says,

“It took 40 years, but God’s timing is perfect.”

Why These Stories Matter:

Each person risked something real: reputation, comfort, career, relationships. But in choosing faithfulness over fear, they opened doors that silence would have kept shut.

They remind us that obedience to Christ isn’t always dramatic—but it’s always powerful. And the fruit is often unseen until much later.

Big Idea: Faith in action requires us to listen, look, get uncomfortable, and follow.

Listen

Look

Get Uncomfortable

Pray.

Application

🧭 Faith in Action: Small Group / Personal Reflection Guide

Big Idea: Faith in action requires us to Listen, Look, Get Uncomfortable, and Follow.

📖 LISTEN

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

What currently distracts you from hearing God’s voice clearly?

When was the last time you created space to truly listen to God? What happened?

What is one step you can take this week to slow down and tune into the Word and the Spirit?

📝 Personal Response or Prayer:

👀 LOOK

“Even the sparrow finds a home… at your altars, O Lord of hosts.” – Psalm 84:3

Where have you seen God working in your life recently? Be specific.

How can you become more intentional in recognizing and celebrating “God sightings”?

How does gratitude shift your focus from the problem to the Provider?

📝 Personal Response or Prayer:

🔥 GET UNCOMFORTABLE

“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me…” – 2 Timothy 4:10

Which of the following stories do you most relate to—Masoud, Claire, David, or Demas? Why?

What fears often silence your faith or paralyze your witness?

What comforts do you cling to that may be stalling your spiritual growth or obedience?

What would “getting uncomfortable” look like for you this week?

📝 Personal Response or Prayer:

🐾 FOLLOW

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:39

What does “taking up your cross” mean in your current stage of life?

Are you following Jesus closely—or at a distance?

What is one area where Jesus is asking you to surrender, step out, or speak up?

Who needs to see or hear your faith in action?

📝 Personal Response or Prayer:

❤️ Final Challenge:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world…” – 1 John 2:15

Which part of the journey—Listen, Look, Get Uncomfortable, or Follow—is God calling you to grow in most right now?

Are you willing to trade comfort for obedience?

🛐 Closing Prayer Prompt:

“Jesus, show me where I’ve chosen comfort over obedience. Give me the courage to follow You fully, whatever the cost.”

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.