Living Like a Martyr
(Slide 2) Intro:
What is a martyr? What does it mean to live a life of a martyr? Who are the martyrs of today. What are we witnesses of? What does the Bible say about martyrdom? What did martyrdom look like in the Early Church?
The word martyr, first appears Acts 1:8, μάρτυρες, which means, witnesses, the plural form of μαρτυρώ, which means, “to be witness of.” It is an action verb, that is not a passive action, it is active, which requires our actual participation in living the Gospel of Christ.
There are two types of martyrs, those who die defending their faith in Christ and those who live on imitating the life of Christ.
Background on Martyrdom:
Mary Magdalene and the resurrection of Jesus: John 20
Stephan of Acts who died as a martyr: Acts 7:54-60
Paul addresses the Areopagus: Acts 17:22-34
The Great Fire of Rome on July 14th, 64 AD and The Great Persecution of 296-311 AD
Key points:
(Slide 3)
- Be confident and strengthen your relationship with Christ
Ex 1: Mary Magdalene and the resurrection of Jesus: John 20
Ex 1: Jesus, who is Logos came into this world in flesh to be the light in the dark. -John 1:1-5
-We take this WORD and apply it in our lives=Christ lives in us.
Application: Carve out a day with God, rededicate your life to Him daily
(Slide 4) 2. Changing our perception about suffering and hardship for following Christ:
-Following Christ comes with a cost: You will be hated for following Christ. -Matthew 10:22-23
Ex 1: Stephan’s martyrdom -Acts 7:54-60
Application: Life does not get easier for following Christ; it comes with hardships and builds us stronger.
Ex 1: My quarterlife crisis moment and butting heads with people in workplaces.
(Slide 5) 3. Living in the World with the WORD
(Slide 6) Be doers and not complainers and be different in Christ. The grass is never greener on the other side.
(Slide 7) Show the two maps of the Roman Empire
(Slide 8) Ex 1: Paul addresses the Areopagus -Acts 17:22-34
(Slide 9) Ex: 2: The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, Christians endured through persecution, some did not
Ex 3: The Great Persecution of 296-311 AD, Christians endured through persecution, some did not
Application: 1. Start the day with Prayer and Reading the Scripture and conduct yourself in a Christ-like way through discipline (In your own style)
(Slide 10) 2. Do the Jesus way, dine with others who do not believe so that they may believe in Him. -Matthew 9:9-13
Ex: My relationship with my atheist and agnostic friends
Conclusion:
- Be firm on why you have a relationship with Christ
- Changing our perception about going through hard times while following Christ
- Live in the world with the WORD
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