How Christ-Followers Respond to Violence
1. What do we do when violence comes against us?
1. Avoid evil by being wise
– Proverbs 22:3, Matthew 10:16
2. Protect life with self-defense
– Exodus 22:2, Luke 22:36
3. Don’t pursue vengeance
– Psalm 37:8, Romans 12:19
2. How did the church in Acts respond to violence?
– Christ called us to witness to the ends of the earth (1)
– Christ empowers us by His Spirit to grow His church (2)
– We will be persecuted, but it will make us prayerfully bold (4)
– Some of us will be killed for our faith and speaking truth (7)
– But we will in turn pray for and love those who kill us (7)
– That very persecution will help the Gospel spread more (8)
– And we minister to our enemies, for their salvation (9)
– Christ transforms the sinner into the saved (9)
3. How does the Bible prepare us to face violence?
– We expect to be persecuted (John 15:18)
– We’re called to engage in the world anyway (Matt 5:13)
– We’re actually blessed by persecution (Matt 5:1-12)
– So we rejoice in persecution (1 Peter 4:13)
– We still mourn injustice, evil, and loss (Rev 6:9, John 11:32)
– But we morn with hope (1 Thess 4:13, 1 Cor 15:54)
– We grant mercy and forgiveness (Matt 5:44, Luke 23:34)
– We see tragedy as an opportunity for the Gospel (Phil 1:12)
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