Week 7: Physical Opposition: Peter, John, and the Sanhedrin

Memory Verse

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:39)

Introduction

At the entrance to the Colosseum in Rome stands a huge iron cross. It was erected to commemorate the countless number of Christians who were killed for sport in that place and throughout the Roman Empire. Scary as it may seem, throughout history people have given their lives just for claiming to be Christians ad refusing to deny Jesus. And while the Colosseum may seem millions of miles away from your daily life, persecution and death are a present-day reality for many Christians around the world today.

Peter and John knew this kind of persecution. In Acts 4:1-12 they were thrown in jail just because they were preaching the gospel. And that was just the beginning.

Our lives may never be at risk simply because we're Christians. But one of the things we'll have to deal with is opposition. Jesus said that since people hated him, they'd also hate us for not other reason than because we love God. It seems odd, but it happens.

You've probably already experienced people excluding you or making fun of you just for your beliefs. This week we're going to look at some responses to physical threats and how we can best use these situations to be witnesses for Christ.