How To Tell The Truth | Preston Perry | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

How To Tell The Truth

Nov 7, 2024 • 44 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message from Acts 4, Preston Perry teaches how believers can boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel in a hostile, pluralistic world. By walking through Peter and John's confrontation with the religious leaders, Perry highlights that opposition often stems from Christ's absolute claims and exclusivity. Ultimately, spiritual boldness does not come from natural personality or formal credentials, but from supernatural empowerment given by the Holy Spirit to those who walk in intimate relationship with Jesus.

Themes

Gospel BoldnessFacing PersecutionAbsolute Truth vs. PluralismHoly Spirit EmpowermentIntimacy with Christ

Pastor's Points

1.

Understand why the world hates the Christian and why the world hates the Christian message.

2.

Understand how we can embrace persecution in light of spreading the gospel.

3.

Understand how we can effectively walk in boldness as Christians.

Key Points

1.
Understand why the world hates the Christian and why the world hates the Christian message.
2.
Understand how we can embrace persecution in light of spreading the gospel.
3.
Understand how we can effectively walk in boldness as Christians.
4.
Believers face opposition both from legalistic Pharisees who value the law over people and compromised Sadducees who reject scripture's authority.
5.
The world hates the gospel because it makes absolute claims in a pluralistic society where people prefer to stay unsure rather than submit to God.
6.
Christians should not be ashamed of being narrow-minded, as Jesus explicitly taught that the way to eternal life is narrow.
7.
Persecution is a normal reality for believers, as good deeds done in an evil world expose the idols of men.
8.

Sermon Moments

“The world will hypocritically applaud any man who claims he is the seeker of truth, but will call for a public execution for any man who claims he has found it.”

“Preston shares his story of preaching a bold Christian poem titled 'Jesus Is God' in an open mic hosted by the Nation of Islam in Chicago.”

“Boldness is not doing what people are afraid to do; boldness is doing what God empowers you to do.”

“The religious rulers perceived that Peter and John were uneducated, common men, but they were astonished because they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

“The number one recipe to being used by God is not information—it is intimacy with Jesus.”

This Week

Stop relying on natural personality traits for sharing your faith and pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness in the moment.

Refuse to compromise or dilute the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ when discussing faith in a pluralistic culture.

Expect and accept social friction or opposition when doing good and living righteously in a secular world.

Shift your mental focus away from personal fear and rejection toward the eternal impact of people hearing the gospel.

Prioritize daily prayer and quiet time to deepen your personal intimacy with Jesus above merely accumulating Biblical knowledge.

Identify specific people in your daily life—neighbors, friends, or coworkers—and share the truth of Christ with them without making excuses.

Reject a comfortable, passive lifestyle and actively obey the Great Commission by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Remember This

True spiritual boldness is not a human personality trait or academic achievement, but supernatural power granted by the Holy Spirit to those who walk in daily intimacy with Jesus.

A Challenge for You

Let us pray that God plants a boldness in our hearts and minds to go back into our communities and infiltrate them with the gospel—refusing to be silent or afraid, but proclaiming Jesus to the world.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.