“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, ESV)
You wouldn’t go to a doctor about skin cancer or severe stomach pains unless you knew that they had done all the necessary schooling, got the degree, and had some years of experience under their belt in their chosen field, right? The same can be said when looking for a pastor or spiritual leader. You want to know that they know what they’re talking about and that they have their biblical facts straight, right?
So, how can you, a lowly and unschooled person, share the gospel of God with others? I get this question a lot. Many of my Christian clients, friends, and associates want to share their beliefs, but feel ill-equipped to do it effectively.
Who are you to preach boldly to the world? How are you, without a sanctioned education in theology and years of experience in preaching, supposed to share the Gospel to change the hearts and minds of those around you?
This is at the root of who we are at He’s the Solution and our ambitious motto and goal of, “Equipping business leaders to have strong faith in the workplace.” This is also why over the next several posts, we will delve into the how and why, especially in today’s world, of living and sharing boldly in Christ.
First, what does it mean to be bold in Christ? The Greek word behind “boldness” (parresia) shows up throughout the New Testament. Its range of meaning includes courage or fearlessness, like in Hebrews 4:16. It also can mean outspokenness or frankness — “a use of speech that conceals nothing.”
Since a big reason many of us shrink from boldly sharing our faith is that we feel we are not prepared or knowledgeable enough to make that leap, I want you to remember who Jesus chose to be his first disciples. Jesus did not choose the learned and educated Rabbis or Pharisees to accompany and learn from him. Instead he chose Peter and John, described in Acts as “uneducated, common men” to spread his gospel. What does this mean for you and me? It shows us that no matter who you are, what your background, education level, skill set, personality, or training is – or even what mistakes you may have made in the past – God has a plan to use you in a mighty way to point people to Jesus. It also tells us that being in his presence and filled with the Holy Spirit can change us in remarkable ways and mold us into the megaphone God needs to get the word out.
It’s exactly why I started He’s the Solution. I wanted to be used in a mighty way and ultimately help others do the same.
So, even if you feel like an ordinary and unlikely person to be bold in faith, through Christ, you can be a powerful force in your circle of influence.
I pray you will and that you’ll join me through this series to learn how to be, like Peter, a living cornerstone of bold faith and action in God.
