A Bold Life: Living in the Direction of Jesus

Anxiety has a four‐fold greater prevalence in Gen Z than the Baby Boomer generation and about two‐fold larger than Gen X 
-Article from the National Library of Medicine

Teens spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes on their phones a day, and kids 8 to 12 spend 4 four hours and 44 minutes daily - Common Sense Media

Kids who attend religious services: 
18% more likely to report higher happiness as adults (ages 23–30). 
29% more likely to volunteer in their communities
and 33% less likely to use illicit drugs.
- Harvard School of Public Health

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, CSB)
Jerusalem – their city
Samaria – their region
The ends of the earth… their world.

Seek Peace but Be Bold

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7, CSB)

Our Bold Journey begins with small steps of prayer and love..
To be bold for Jesus, we must be curious about people. 
Being Bold for Jesus requires us to be boldly hospitable. 

A Bold Life is lived in a direction that follows Jesus.

Question: What is the level of your involvement in the community? Do you think you are living the life you are meant to live?

Pharisee Tenets
Strict adherence to law, 
Belief in the afterlife and resurrection:
Importance of ritual purity:
Believed in a Coming Messiah:
Emphasis on spiritual and intellectual pursuit.
Concern for the broader community.

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Acts 9:3–4

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

…even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them Timothy 1:13–15

Through Jesus disciples, God works to bring hope, healing and wholeness. 

Question: Is there a really significant event in your life that changed the direction of it? Has God used a person in your life to give you a positive direction?

The Disciple’s Direction
Definition: A Disciple is saved by God’s Grace, Pursuing a life of Obedience, in Relationship with God and others, and Empowered by the Spirit.

Saved by God’s Grace
For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 
 1 Corinthians 15:22

  If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation Romans 10:9–10

Pursuing a life of Obedience
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Relationship with God
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Empowered by the Spirit
A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:  
1 Corinthians 12:7
A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. John 10:10

A Bold Life is lived in a direction that follows Jesus.
Reflection:
Will you choose to follow Jesus? 
Will He be the direction of your life?