An Ancient Influencer Strategy that Still Works
So They May Hear: Acts
May 18, 2025
Dr. Clayton Chisum
John 15:18 NLT
John 15:20 NLT
Acts 4:1 NLT
Sadducees:
Acts 4:3, 17, 21
Acts 5:18, 26, 28, 33, 40
Acts 5:17,26
A motivation for living out your faith:
The Sadducees wanted things to go back to the right order, and it became their ultimate goal.
Proverbs 14:12 CSB
Here’s the danger: if we aren’t careful, we will make spreading morality our ultimate mission and turn what is good and make it our god.
is not our message
Acts 1:8 NLT
Acts 4:8,12
Acts 4:19-20 CSB
One of the greatest acts of love is telling others how they can receive forgiveness from God. In the face of possible persecution, it’s a humble message saying, “I care about you more than I care about me.”
Fear-based religion says “I care about me”; Faith-based Christianity says “I care about you”.
A motivation for living out your faith:
The fear of rejection for doing what others may see as “radical” is a powerful motivator to do nothing.
When was the last time you shared your faith clearly and demonstrated your faith lovingly?
Acts 4:13 NLT
Acts 4:29 NLT
Acts 5:42 NLT
Discussion Questions
- The sermon contrasted two motivations for living out faith—emotional fear (Sadducees) and urgent love (Peter and John). How do you see these motivations playing out in your own life or in the church today?
- The sermon warned against making moral improvement the ultimate mission of the church. Why do you think it’s easy to focus on “fixing” behavior rather than sharing the gospel? How can we shift our focus to sharing Jesus?
- Peter and John faced arrests, threats, and beatings but continued sharing their faith. What are some modern-day fears or risks that hold us back from sharing the gospel? How can we overcome them?
- The sermon described urgent love as caring more about others than ourselves. Can you share a time when you felt this kind of love for someone else or saw it in action? How can we cultivate this in our daily lives?
- The sermon challenged us to lovingly “rock the boat” by sharing our faith, even if it disrupts social order. When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? What happened, or what stopped you?
- In Acts 4:29, the apostles prayed for boldness despite threats. How can we pray for boldness in our own lives to share the gospel?
- Acts 4:13 notes that Peter and John’s boldness came from being with Jesus. How does your closeness to Jesus impact your willingness to share your faith? What can you do to grow closer to Him?