We need to have what Paul had namely this boldness that frees us to take some risks, to open

our mouths and say significant things about eternity and reality and God and what is life

all about anyway instead of just kind of flowing like a jellyfish with the nonsense

that's usually spoken about everywhere.

So what does God need to do within you to make you bold like the Apostle Paul?

John Piper opens 1 Thessalonians 2, 1-12 to provide an answer to that question in this

episode of Light and Truth.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on May 30, 1993.

If there's a longing inside of you this morning to be an influence in the world for Christ

and for His kingdom and if there's a longing inside of you to lead a life that is authentic

and real rather than phony, then I think the answers to these three questions are going

to sound very, very relevant to you even though they're 2,000 years old because God has

never changed and human nature has never changed.

So let me take you one at a time through these three questions.

Why do we ought to be bold and where boldness comes from and what has to happen inside for

you to be bold?

Number 1, why should you care about being bold?

The answer that this text gives is boldness keeps your life from being in vain.

Boldness will keep your life, your ministry, your family from being lived in vain.

It will keep you from coming to the end of your life and looking back and saying nothing

happened.

It was insignificant.

...