The Churches Response

Introduction: This past Wednesday (9/10/2025) was a very dark day in American history. Our nation has lost it civility. The bullet that killed Charlie Kirk was a bullet against freedom of speech – a right guaranteed in our Constitution. A right that all people share – Christians, Atheist, Humanist, Cultist, Democrats, and Republicans. No one has the right to silence civil discourse.

   Therefore, as Christians we must NOT remain silent any longer – we must use our freedom of speech and SPEAK! We cannot allow fear to cause us to recoil, to pull back and remain silent. No, now is the time for us to “GO” as Jesus commanded. We are called to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

   This is what Charlie Kirk was doing on the College campus of Utah Valley University – he was using his constitutional right of free speech. He was seeking to have a head-to-head (intellectual) conversation with college students. Challenging them to think, and in the process, he always reminded them about God, Jesus Christ, and man’s ultimate accountability. Charlie was a light in a very dark place, and he burned bright. And because he burned bright people came out to hear him and to interact with him.

   So, what do we do to pick up the baton and to run the race?” (I wrote that line before I saw this picture on social media). Well, the Bible gives us many “ups” that describe how believers should live, but in this sermon, I want to focus on just three “Ups’”. What are they?

1. Wake Up - Ephesians 5:14

   “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

   Considering recent events the Church must wake up. And when I use the word Church I am speaking of the people of God – believers, the followers of Jesus Christ.

   I want you to underline the words: Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead. What a challenging message today! It’s time for people to wake up – you have slept along enough. The average person needs 8 hours of sleep. After that, get yourself out of bed. You must not remain being a sleeper.

Waking the Dead

  Have you noticed that there are some people who when they sleep, are like dead to the world. You need to shake them to wake them (I hope that this sermon will do that today). Some sleepers must be shaken to be awaken. It is almost like you are raising the dead.

   There are far too many Christians who are spiritually asleep. They are not engaged in the church, nor the culture around them. And when it comes to freedom of speech – they remain silent. They are zippered mouth.

   A lot of Christians have been rocked to sleep by the culture of the world.

   Charles Spurgeon wrote, “A slumbering church compels God to use rough methods to wake her. He may send trial, persecution, or loss until His people cry out to Him again.”

   Paul tells us why it is important to wake up in Romans 13:11,

   “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

   Because the hour is late it is time for the Church (God’s people) to wake up and to allow Christ to shine on you. As He shines on you, you reflect His light in the dying world.

   Matthew 5:14-17 reminds us,

   14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

   Hear me today – We cannot allow ourselves to hit the snooze button on our spiritual lives any longer.

   I am calling God’s people to wake up from compliancy and apathy.  Stop sleeping, we have work to do. Not just the pastor, not just the few of us, but ALL of God’s people must wake up.

   We are not only to wake up, but we are to…

2. Stand Up - Ephesians 6:13

   “…having done all, to stand firm.”

   This verse is found in the passage in Ephesians that reminds us that the Christian life is a battle ground (we are in a spiritual war), and we have a very real enemy – the devil. He is called the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).

   The word “stand” means to plant your feet firmly. You are not going to be moved. It speaks of position. It is a word that means to remain firm, not to give way.

   God’s people are told three times in Ephesians 6:11-14 to stand

· We are to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil – Eph. 6:11

· Having done all, to stand – Eph. 6:13

· Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth – Eph. 6:14

   What does standing look like in today’s culture? It is standing firm for truth. To stand for the truth shows courage, conviction, and commitment. Charle Kirk showed us how that could be done.

   In a world that denies truth we as believers are called to remind the world that truth exists. The church is called the “church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Jesus said he was the way, the truth, and the life. Scripture is called truth (John 17:17). And we read in John 1:17,

   “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

  Dr. John MacArthur taught, “The church must be steadfast in the Word of God. When the culture drifts into error, the believer cannot drift; we must stand unmovable in the truth of Scripture.”

   It costs to stand for truth. Listen to this list I prepared:

· Moses took a stand, and he faced rejection from God’s people (Exodus 5).

· Elijah took a stand and faced 750 prophets of Baal. One plus God is the majority! (1 Kings 18).

· The three Hebrew men took a stand and were cast into the Firey furnace (Daniel 3).

· Daniel took a stand when everyone else bowed down and was thrown to the lions (Daniel 6).

· Nehemiah took a stand, and false accusations were made about him (Nehemiah 2,4).

· John the Baptist took a stand and was beheaded (Matthew 14).

· The Apostles took a stand and were imprisoned (Acts 5).

· Stephen took a stand and was martyred (Acts 7).

· Jesus Christ took a stand and was crucified (John 19).

· Charlie Kirk took a stand and was assassinated.

   God people must stop compromising. We must stand up for God’s Word even when it’s unpopular. Paul told young Pastor Timothy to:

   “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”(2 Timothy 4:2).

   Church we are called to wake up, and to stand up, but we are also called to…

3. Speak Up for Christ - Acts 4:20

   “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

   The early followers of Jesus were told to be quiet, and to keep the message of Jesus Christ to themselves (we are being told to do the same thing today).

   But not Peter and John. They answered them,

   “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20).

   And we as the Church must not be silent either.

   In Matthew 28:18-20 we have what is called the Great Commission, and disciples of Christ we are to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

   What is the Gospel? The Gospel message only has three points as found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,

· Jesus died – v. 2

· Jesus was buried – v. 4

· Jesus rose from the dead – v. 4

   Evangelist Joe Viel showed us that we can speak up and share the entire Good News in less than 28 seconds (Watch the video clip).

      As followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that Jesus died in our place, that He was buried for our sin, and that through His resurrection that God accepted the sacrifice of His Son on our behalf. This is called the substitutionary atonement – someone else died in my place.

   2 Corinthians 5:21 reads,

   “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

    This is our message to the world.

   In Acts 1:8 Jesus said to his followers,

   “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

   We witness not in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.  And don’t miss that it starts at home and moves out into the world until the whole world hears.

   We cannot and must not remain silent.

   Charlie Kirk said, “You cannot have liberty if you do not have a Christian population.”

   This is one of the many reasons why we must not remain silent.

  Witnesses share what they have seen and heard (Look back at Acts 4:20).

· Charlie Kirk witnessed on college campuses.

· Preston Rhodes and Steven Trantham also speak on college campuses.

· Some of you speak up for Jesus Christ at your place of employment.

   I had a friend that work for the State of Oregon, and he was brought into his boss’s office one day, and his boss said to him, “Richard, we know that you are a Christian, but you need to turn your light down.”

· Still others of you will share Jesus where you attend school. Are you sharing Jesus where you go to school?

· All of us are to share Jesus Christ with our family members. Who have you talked with about Jesus Christ in your immediate family?

Be Bold 4 Jesus

   There is a conference held in Spokane each year called: Be Bold 4 Jesus, but I wonder how bold we are being for Jesus?

   I’m telling you that is time for all of God’s people to speak boldly for Jesus Christ, and to declares our faith to everyone – young, old, and indifferent. And we must speak up in all arenas of life.

   Scripture tells us that we are “Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We have a high and holy calling.

Your Personal Testimony

   One of the best tools you have for sharing Jesus Christ with others is your own personal testimony – tell others what Jesus Christ has done in your life. Focus in on where he has transformed you.

   But what about those who want to argue with you? You will always have someone that would rather argue than to have a civil discussion. But this is also why we need to know the gospel so well that we can defend it.

   Hear me: When we speak up – it will encourage others to speak up.

  We are called to wake up, and to stand up, to speak up, and we are also called to…

4. Grow Up - Ephesians 4:15

   “…we will grow up to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

   God’s people must grow up – this means that we are to mature as believers. The time for immaturity is past. Here is what the Apostle Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 13:11

  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

   Every Christian must set a goal to grow in their spiritual life. It doesn’t happen by osmosis. You must develop a plan for spiritual growth.

Wall Height Chart

   Have you seen parents who have a wall in their home where they measure the growth of their children? We have one in our home. Every kid wants to see his growth spurts. Growth is proof of maturity.

· Maturity means moving from milk to meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14).

· Pursue deeper discipleship, not shallow faith (2 Peter 3:18).

Here are five practical ways to Grow Up:

1. Grow up by having a steady diet of God’s Word (Hebrews 5:12-14).

2. Grow up in discernment through obedience (Hebrews 5:14) We must constantly practice distinguishing what is good from what is evil.

3. Grow up by putting away jealousy, strife, and worldliness (1 Cor. 3:3). These are marks of immaturity.

4. Grow up by pursuing a spiritual depth (Hebrews 5:12). We don’t need the ABC’s – we should be teachers now.

5. Grow up by depending on the Holy Spirit to transform your life (1 Corinthians 3:1). Walk in the Spirit and you’ll not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25).

   We are called to wake up, to stand up, to speak up, and to grow up, but the question is: Will we?

Conclusion: Church, the message could not be any clearer. The days we live in are dark, but the light of Christ shines brightest in the darkest night (the Church must shine now!). We are called to wake up from our spiritual sleep, to stand up with courage in a world collapsing under compromise, to speak up for Jesus without apology, and to grow up into the full maturity of Christ. We must stop running around like little children.

   This is no time for silence, slumber, or shallow Christianity. The bullet that took Charlie Kirk’s life was meant to silence truth—but truth cannot be silenced – you cannot kill truth. The question is not whether the world will hear truth, but whether the church will speak it. Will we rise to the challenge? We must. Will we live boldly for Jesus in our neighborhoods, our schools, our workplaces, and our families? Again I say, we must.

   Paul wrote in Romans 13:12,

   “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

   The time for delay is over. The time for excuses is over. The time for bold faith has come. Will you be BOLD for Jesus?

   So, let me ask you—are you awake, or are you still asleep? Are you standing firm, or are you compromising? Are you speaking up, or are you silent? Are you growing up, or are you staying a child in the faith?

   The church that wakes up, stands up, speaks up, and grows up will change the world. But it begins with you. It begins with me. It begins with us.

   May God help us to leave here today not just stirred, but changed—ready to shine, ready to speak, ready to live with holy boldness until the whole world knows that Jesus Christ is Lord!