Francis Chan: A New Attitude Towards Authority (Part 2)

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is about responding to criticism and persecution with a new attitude towards authority. We are reminded that God is always in charge, even when it seems like things aren't going well. He is the one who decides whether our projects succeed or fail, and we should trust in His sovereignty. The Bible teaches us to respond to criticism with kindness and love, just as Jesus did on the cross.

Key Scripture References

• Matthew 5:10-12 - This passage reminds us that we are blessed when people insult us and persecute us for following Christ. We should rejoice and be glad because our reward in heaven is great.
• 1 Timothy 6:15 - God is the one who is in charge of everything, and He lives in unapproachable light. He is immortal and has seen no evil. This reminds us that nothing takes Him by surprise, and He is always in control.
• 1 Peter 3:17 - It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Sometimes we may feel like we've done everything right, but still face criticism or persecution. However, the Bible teaches us that sometimes it's God's will for us to suffer for doing good.
• Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation always be full of grace. This means being kind and loving towards those who don't believe in God or may even mistreat you. We should make the most of every opportunity to show love and kindness, just as Jesus did.
• Luke 6:32-35 - Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and do good to them without expecting anything in return. This is what it means to be a child of God, showing mercy and kindness even to those who don't deserve it. When we can show this kind of love, then we are truly living as sons and daughters of the Most High.

Key Takeaways

• We should respond to criticism with kindness and love, just as Jesus did on the cross. This means being gracious and merciful towards those who may mistreat us or criticize us.
• God is always in charge, even when it seems like things aren't going well. We should trust in His sovereignty and remember that He has a plan for our lives.
• Suffering for doing good is sometimes God's will, and we should be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ.
• We should make the most of every opportunity to show love and kindness towards others, even those who don't believe in God or may mistreat us.

Practical Application

This message encourages us to respond to criticism with a new attitude towards authority. We should trust in God's sovereignty and remember that He has a plan for our lives. We should also be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ, even if it means facing criticism or persecution. Finally, we should make the most of every opportunity to show love and kindness towards others, just as Jesus did.