Hello, Bridgeway family!
I hope you have been enjoying our current sermon series, “BOLD.” These past few weeks we have talked about how to combat fear and anxiety and live BOLDLY. You may remember that the inspiration for this sermon series started with the passage from Joshua 1. God told Joshua three times to “be strong and courageous.”
- Be Strong & Courageous (Joshua 1:6)
- Be Strong & Very Courageous (Joshua 1:7)
- Be Strong & Courageous (Joshua 1:9)
Instead of embracing F.E.A.R., which stands for False Evidence Appearing Real, we have been embracing another four-letter word: B.O.L.D. – Brave, Obedient, Loyal, and Determined.
Brave
We started off the series talking about BOLD Courage and being as bold as a lion. Remember Proverbs 28:1, “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” If we are going to be bold believers then we must be courageous when called upon to do so. Courage is not about having more strength, power, or money. It’s about having more HEART.
Obedient
Last week we discussed BOLD Strength and looked at the story of Gideon and the strength to obey. Judges 6:1 reads, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.” God will allow other forces to overpower us when we persist in our disobedience. However, just like the Israelites, we are not without hope. Judges 6:7-8 reads, “When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.’” God sent the Israelites a prophet with a word. Likewise, God is with you in your weakness and persecution. This is why 2 Corinthians 12:10 reads, “for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Our bold strength doesn’t come from our own power. Our BOLD Strength comes from God working within us, working through us, and working in spite of us!
Loyal
If we are going to be BOLD we must not only be Brave and Obedient but we must also be Loyal. Our Great Dane, Coca, is loyal to my wife, Amber. Coca sticks by her side and longs for her attention and affection. If anyone comes close to my wife, Coca will instantly become a fierce protector. Similarly, God is loyal to His children and He is a promise keeper. 2 Timothy 2:13 reads, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown himself.”
Are you determined to remain loyal to God when faced with adversity, or does your loyalty waver when challenges arise? Accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is not a passive act—it is an intentional choice to embark on a narrow path that may be arduous at times. The commitment we make to follow the teachings of the Bible is not always an easy one, but it is precisely during challenging moments that our determination is tested. When it comes to being loyal to God or loyal to others, we must choose God. We must be Loyal to Him first.
Determined
If we are going to be BOLD we must be Brave, Obedient, Loyal, and lastly, Determined. When I think of determination I am reminded of professional athletes and the persistence, hard work, and focus it takes to achieve a goal no matter how long it takes or how challenging it becomes. Last year professional NBA player Lebron James made history by becoming the NBA’s all-time top scorer surpassing 40,000 points for his career. Wow! Can you imagine the determination it took to achieve such a feat and become one of the greatest of all time? There were probably countless times when the challenge seemed insurmountable. In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
If you are going to be as BOLD as a lion, then you must stop fleeing and persevere. Courage is not only a mindset, but a mandate. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” When you are disciplined like a soldier, you are more confident and more BOLD.
BOLD Faith
Next week, Kevin Turpin ll at Columbia and Minister Juan Delgado at Owings Mills/Reisterstown will close the series with BOLD Faith. My prayer is that you are filled with BOLDNESS and that this series has truly encouraged you.
Love,
Dr. David Anderson
We encourage you to use the BOLD series to engage in conversation with your family and friends. Here are some suggestions below. Remember: comprehension begins with conversation.
- How does the concept of embracing being BOLD (Brave, Obedient, Loyal, Determined) contrast with the notion of succumbing to F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real)? How can individuals actively apply these principles in their daily lives to combat fear and anxiety?
- The BOLD sermon series draws from biblical passages such as Joshua 1 and Judges 6 to illustrate the qualities of strength, obedience, loyalty, and determination. How do these ancient stories resonate with contemporary challenges and struggles faced by individuals and communities today?
- Loyalty to God is highlighted as a crucial aspect of being BOLD. How does one navigate the tension between loyalty to God and loyalty to other aspects of life, such as family, career, or personal desires? What practical steps can individuals take to prioritize their loyalty to God amidst competing allegiances and pressures?
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