Boldness

“God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to our Lord”

— 2 Timothy 1:7-8

1) Boldness in the Spirit is resolve to overcome fears & difficulties, and constancy in the proclamation of the Gospel.
- You say, “But, I’m not that bold”? Neither where the Apostles! It took the transformation of the Spirit to change the fear-ridden disciples into the fire-breathing Apostles of Pentecost. “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to our Lord.” (2 Tim 1:7-8) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe…” (Rom 1:16)

2) Afraid to evangelize?

Fear of the unknown: Perhaps we haven’t evangelized before, or we don’t feel qualified.
The Call of God: “It is precisely because he is ‘sent’ that the missionary experiences
the consoling presence of Christ, who is with him at every moment of life – ‘Do not be
afraid . . . for I am with you” (Acts 18:9-10)…” (RM 88)
- We are not doing our own thing!
We are acting as God’s representatives with access to His power and authority.

Fear of rejection: “What will people think of me, if I evangelize?”
Love: Our love for God’s people must be stronger than our fears.
“Perfect love [that] casts out all fear.” (1 John 4:18)
“God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self control.
So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to our Lord.” (2 Tim 1:7-8)
- We find our identity in Christ, and not in what others think of us.

Fear of failure: What if I turn someone off to the Gospel? No one seems to be responding.
Hope: “We ought not to become discouraged or cease to witness even when we are
called to manifest our faith in an environment that is hostile or indifferent… For we
know that we are not proclaiming a human truth, but the ‘word of God,’ which has an
intrinsic and mysterious power of its own (cf. Rom 1:16).” (RM 45)
“God asks for our faithfulness, not success.” (Mother Teresa)
Freedom from fears is the freedom to be who we are.

Download this PDF handout on Boldness ›

 

PRAYER: Ask for the grace to overcome fear and be a bold witness of the gospel. Download a PDF on Lectio Divina ›

ACTION: Ask the Lord to bring one person to mind who you could approach for a coffee date, to share with them your testimony.

The theme 'Developing an Evangelical Heart' was inspired by the Companions of the Cross course on Evangelization. To order the full course, or to order the 2011 Companions calendar 'Developing an Evangelical Heart' call our office:
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