Fearless Evangelism

Sermon Notes:

Point 1: Fear creators (18:1, 2; 12–17)

READ Joshua 1:1–9

Fearless Evangelism

Pastor Greg Stansel Acts 18:1-17 August 14, 2022

Snap shot: Since Jesus is building His Kingdom, we can share the gospel without fear. I. Fear creators (18:1, 2; 12–17)

II. Fear destroyers (18:9, 10)

III. Fearless evangelism (18:3–10)

Connect

Tell of a time you were afraid of something, but once you understood it your fears dissolved.

Study

1) Make a list of things that would create fear for Joshua and the people of Israel. Take that list and write out how the Lord speaks into that fear with His promises. Do any of the promises of Jesus to the church reflect the promises made to Joshua and Israel in this passage?

2) What are some things that create fear in your life? How do your fears hinder your living for Jesus and proclaiming the Gospel? What would it look like to start addressing those fears?

Point 2: Fear destroyers (18:9, 10)

READ Jeremiah 1:1–19

3) What fears did Jeremiah have? How does the Lord respond to Jeremiah’s fears? What promises does the Lord make? What does Jeremiah have to do, even though he has these fears?

4) What are promises that the Lord gives us to address the fears we have about speaking His Word? What is the next step after hearing/reading the promises of God? Why is it so important for us to participate in spreading the Kingdom?

Point 3: Fearless evangelism (18:3–10)

READ Acts 18:3–10 (yes, read it again)

5) In the sermon there were seven “be’s” for fearless evangelism: 1) Be in community; 2) Be faithful in your work; 3) Be supportive of other’s work; 4) Be consumed with the Word; 5) Be innocent; 6) Be where the Lord leads; 7) Be in the promise. Discuss how each of these areas helps the church present the gospel.

6) As you look at the list in the question above, where is it that you need to grow? Spend time as a group discussing your areas of needed growth and praying for one another.

Practical Applications

1. Spend time writing out a list of things that create fear in your heart when it comes to sharing the gospel. After making the list, spend time praying through the items and asking the Lord to grant you boldness. Pray Acts 18:9–10.

2. Discuss how your small group can help one another share the gospel.

3. Pray about your tithing and how you are supporting the work of the gospel in the church and in foreign missions. Is the Lord spurring you to support a mission, missionary, to start tithing, to increase tithing?

Pray the passage

 Spend time praying against things that create fear in your life and keep you from sharing the Gospel.

 Spend time praying in faith and rejoicing that the Lord is with us and is intimately involved in the salvation of others.

 Spend time asking for boldness to share the gospel.

Memorize & Meditate

“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9, 10).

Preparing for next week

Read: Acts 18:18-28

Ask: questions of the text.

Pray: through text, for Rob Hill as he prepares, for your heart to hear, for the congregation to hear, for all of us to be obedient.