Luke 12:1

Luke 12:1–21

4/16/2012

Click here to read today's passage on Bible Gateway.

Do Not Fear
There is so much that I could write on this topic. I think that the best I can do is provide you with some resources. For me, the best examples of this principle are stories of martyrs. The most "traditional" book telling some of these stories is "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" (read it for free at ccel.org). The language is older and can be difficult for some people, so I would also suggest "The New Foxe's Book of Martyrs" for an updated version. I've mentioned two other books before, either on this blog or in a sermon. Check out:

Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus

By Their Blood,: Christian Martyrs from the Twentieth Century and Beyond

I have all of these books, so if you'd like to borrow any of them, please do.

Finally, I'd like to recommend another sermon. This is a sermon title "Persecution and Christlikeness" given by Josef Tson, a Romanian pastor who endured a lot of persecution. It was delivered at my home church back in 2000, and it has definitely been one of the greatest, if not THE greatest sermon to influence my life and thinking. I know I just gave you another one to listen to, but this one really also is a must-listen:

Andrei

4/16/2012 06:08:16 pm

Thanks for the book and sermon recommendations.

Can you tell us more about why that was sermon the greatest sermon to influence your life and thinking?

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These two verses jumped out at me:

3: 'Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.'

21: 'So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.'

Greg

4/17/2012 02:53:10 am

I grew up in a "Christian" home, but didn't really believe any of it. I ended up coming to know Jesus in High School, but most of what I had experienced of Christianity, was a "cultural" type of Christianity, not a clear, growing, rooted-and-built-up in Jesus type faith. About 6 months after I came to know Jesus, I felt a very strong call from God to do missions (I won't get into that story now). I started researching and reading and praying, and right about that time the book "Jesus Freaks" came out. I had never really heard or considered ANYTHING about the persecuted church before I read that book. It made a HUGE impact on me. My reasoning was (and still is) "If Jesus gave His life for me, how could I not be willing to do the same thing for His name?" My call became more specific - I now want to do missions in a persecuted country. About a month after I was thinking and praying about these things, I heard Josef Tson's sermon. It was on a topic I had been thinking about A LOT, so it caught my attention. Beyond catching my attention, it really provided the theological and Biblical foundation for a lot of what I'd been thinking, as well as giving me a clear, personal example of those principles being lived out in Josef's life. I also purchased his book/dissertation "Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven" - I pretty fatty and weighty book for a high schooler, but I loved it. That sermon and book have been the foundation for a lot of my understanding of suffering and martyrdom. When I preach on those things, I almost always use extensive quotes from the sermon or book. It's clear, Biblical, and practical - not on a topic we consider very much, but we should! That's just a quick overview, though I could say MUCH more. Make sure you listen to the sermon.

Andrei

4/17/2012 06:15:29 pm

Thanks for sharing! Wow

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Luke 12:1–21

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