Bold Faith In A Broken World
Sunday, September 14, 2025
John 16:33
INTRODUCTION:
Good morning, everyone! What a joy it is to be here with you today.
As we begin, I want to acknowledge that this has really been a challenging — and even sobering week for our nation. It has reminded us yet again, just how broken our world really is.
- On Thursday, we paused to remember September 11th, that day (24 years ago), when terror and tragedy struck our nation, testing our faith.
- And it was Wednesday, when we were shaken by the heartbreaking news of Charlie Kirk — a young believer who, at just 31 years old, was boldly proclaiming Christ on university campuses, across our nation — and in just a moment his life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
Listen these are tragic moments. And they seem to be happening more and more often. And when they do, they often leave us with questions. They stir us with sorrow. And can even lead us to fear.
They remind us that we live in a broken world (fractured by sin). And yet, in the middle of that brokenness, Jesus speaks. He doesn’t call us to retreat in despair — but to rise up in faith! A bold faith — established upon His promises, and His divine power, and the triumphant work of His cross.
Listen to His words from John 16:33. He says:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Let me read that again. Jesus says:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I think it’s helpful to know the context of this verse. It comes at the end of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse. After spending four chapters preparing His disciples for his death, resurrection, and departure — on the night before His crucifixion, in the Upper Room (after the Last Supper), He speaks these words, to encourage them to STAY THE COURSE!And to live boldly…in spite of their circumstances.
His purpose was to prepare them. And encourage them. But, I also believe, these words were given to encourage us as well!
So, listen to them again Jesus says:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Notice three things:
- He acknowledges the reality of trouble (not a pain-free life).
The Greek word used here for trouble — means pressure, affliction, or distress. He’s reminding us that following Him often involves opposition. But notice the second thing in this verse.
- He offers us peace in Himself. He said, “take heart.”
- He declares His victory over the world, when he says—“I have overcome!”
These are all promises — promises that we can count on! And in times of sorrow, fear, or uncertainty, we must fix our eyes on Jesus.
As the writer of Hebrews emphasizes, “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2).
MESSAGE:
So, in the time remaining — I want to talk about the content of this week within the context of our calling. To do that, I want to give you three directives from God’s Word, for LIVING BOLDLY IN A BROKEN WORLD. And the first is this, GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO:
1. Run to Jesus as Your Refuge
In Psalm 46:1 (the writer) declares: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
He’s our refuge! Refuge is not a common word we used today. So let me define it for you. A refuge is a place to shelter, a place of safety (a real place, not an abstract idea). In the ancient world, when an enemy would advanced, or a threat would be felt — a person (or village), would run to the nearest WALLED CITY or fortified stronghold. A refuge was a place of protection and defense.
That’s the picture the psalmist paints: That God Himself is our safe place, our stronghold, and defense. He’s a reliable sanctuary in times of adversity and threat.
John Ortberg (one of my favorite authors), captures this well when he writes: “Finding ultimate refuge in God means you become so immersed in his presence, so convinced of his goodness, so devoted to his lordship …”
Refuge is not just about protection from what’s around us; it’s about the presence of the One who is within us.
Refuge isn’t the absence of trouble — it’s the nearness of God.
Chuck Swindoll tells the story of an old country preacher who once said, “I may tremble on the Rock, but the Rock don’t tremble under me.” What a vivid reminder of the security we have in Christ. Even when our knees shake, He does not!
And that Rock of our faith is Jesus! He is steady. Scripture tells us He does not change — the writer of Hebrews says,
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
The apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians that,
“He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
He is above all, sustaining all, and sovereign over all.
He stands firm no matter what. The world may shake, feelings may shift, and circumstances may collapse — but Jesus remains unmoved. He is our solid foundation, He’s our strong tower, our unshakable refuge.
And here’s the application for us: We find refuge in Him as we put our trust in His power. We find refuge in Him, when we acknowledge His authority over all. We find refuge in Him when we come to grips with His sovereignty (even when we don’t understand it completely). When we trust in His goodness even when life is bad!
Running to Jesus as your refuge means you place your faith over your feelings — remembering that God is in control, even when life feels out of control.
As Isaiah 40:8 reminds us: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
In other words, everything around us is temporary. Seasons change. Life is fragile. People disappoint. Circumstances will shift. But God’s Word (and the God who spoke it), shall remain unshakable.
- His promises don’t expire.
- His truth doesn’t fade.
- And His character won’t change.
So when the storms rage, when the headlines shake you, and when grief feels too heavy to carry — remember the invitation of Jesus. He says, “Come to Me. Run under My wings. I will cover you. I will keep you. I will be your refuge.”
So make the decision today — that when chaos comes and hard days happen (and they will), that you’ll going to RUN TO JESUS!
Along with that, the Bible offers us another directive. It calls us to:
2. Hold Fast to the Hope of Christ in You
Jesus is not only our refuge. He also gives us hope. Not a shallow, flimsy hope — but a deep, living hope that sustains us when life feels unbearable.
One of my favorite verses comes from Paul’s letter to the believers in Colossae. From house arrest in Rome — chained to guards day and night — he declared a truth that cuts through every lie of the enemy. Facing false teaching and cultural pressure, he reminded the church of this life-changing reality:
“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Those six words capture one of the most profound truths of the Christian faith. Our hope is not grounded in favorable circumstances or an easy life. It is not the shallow optimism of wishful thinking.
No — our hope is a living reality, anchored in the living Christ who dwells within us by His Spirit.
And here’s what that hope means:
- When sorrow comes, glory is still ahead.
- When loss hits, resurrection is still promised.
- When death itself stares us down, eternal life still awaits.
That’s why Paul also wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13:
“We do not grieve like those who have no hope.”
Notice — he doesn’t say we avoid grief. We still grieve. We still hurt. We still cry. But our grief is infused with hope. Our pain is held by a promise. And that promise is our hope in Christ.
Over the years, I’ve stood at dozens of gravesides — probably fifty or more. Some losses were sudden, the pain almost unbearable. Yet time and again, I’ve watched families of faith shed tears while lifting their voices in trust, confident they would see their loved one again. Their hearts were broken, but they were not without hope.
And that’s the difference Jesus makes!
Even in the circumstances of this week — I’m reminded of this hope we have in Jesus.
So, while Charlie Kirk’s death was undeniably tragic, there is still a victorious hope that death cannot destroy. Because Christ was his Savior, so his story doesn’t end with a bullet! While his earthly life is over, his eternal life — has just begun!
Application: In light of this promise, I challenge you — when your soul feels overwhelmed, speak the Word of God to yourself. Proclaim this truth:
“Christ in me, the hope of glory!”
Say it out loud. And say it often. Say it until your heart believes it. And then hold on to that promise. Cling to it when sorrow rises up, and fear presses in. In those moments, remember, Christ is in you! You are not alone. And if He is with you, then you have HOPE!
And if Christ is your hope, then that hope should give you courage. Which leads us to one final call from scripture, and it’s this:
3. Live Boldly and Unashamed of the Gospel
Paul declared in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”
To live unashamed is not easy. It requires courage. And courage is not the absence of fear — it is the presence of faith.
The early church understood this well. In Acts 4, after Peter and John were threatened and ordered to stop preaching the gospel, the believers came together to pray.
Now, you might expect them to ask God for safety, for protection, or for the threats to go away. But that’s not what they did. Instead, they prayed for even greater boldness — for courage to keep proclaiming Christ no matter the cost. And God answered by filling them with His Spirit, empowering them to speak His Word with power.
In the same way, we are living in a culture that pressures us to be quiet about our faith, to compromise, or to blend in. What we need is not greater comfort or an easier path — what we need is greater courage.
We need the same Spirit who filled the early church to fill us today, so that we too will live and speak boldly for Christ.
Again, I feel compelled to go back to the story of Charlie Kirk — because that’s how he lived his life. He was bold for his faith. You may not have agreed with his political positions, but if you’re a Christ-follower, you cannot deny the fact that he courageous and unapologetically declared his faith in Jesus to young people across America.
His life was a testimony — and even his death is a witness that continues to speak for Jesus.
I watched an interview with him a couple days ago, and he was asked by the reporter — “how do you want to be remembered?” And without hesitation, he said: “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith. That would be the most important thing. Courage for my faith!”
By the way — do you know what the name, Charlie Kirk, means? It means — “Strong and Courageous Church.”
How fitting. His name, his message, and his legacy all point to the same truth: Jesus is still good news, and His Church is still the hope of the world.
And that is not just Charlie’s legacy — it is our calling. We ought to see this as a divine summons and a fresh reminder: as the Body of Christ, as His Church, we must live boldly and courageously proclaim the message of Jesus to our world. This is not the time to shrink back. This is not the hour to go silent. This is the moment to rise in faith.
Because understand this: the true measure of faith is not whether it shields us from threats or trouble, but whether it sustains us in the midst of them. Genuine faith in Jesus doesn’t collapse when tested. It doesn’t fade when challenged. Instead, it grows deeper, it stands taller, and it shines brighter when the darkness tries to overshadow it.
Application: So church, let’s rise up! Because, this world doesn’t need a silent church; it needs a strong and courageous one. It needs the hope of Jesus shining through us, now more than ever.
Conclusion
Well, I want to bring us back to the verse we began with — and the powerful words of Jesus in John 16:33. To His disciples (and to us), he says:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
While trouble may be inevitable! So also is our victory in Jesus!
His words remind us that His life, His sacrifice, and His resurrection have secured the ultimate triumph over sin and death all evil. Again, He proclaims:
“I have overcome the world.”
Yes — the cross looked like defeat. And the tomb looked final. But on the third day, the stone was rolled away. That grave was opened, and Jesus walked out — fully alive!
So don’t miss this: Jesus is alive — and He has won the victory (for you and for me)!
We don’t place our faith in a dead religion or even some historic figure. Our faith and our hope is in Jesus! The living, giving, Savior of the world!
So, when you think about your life, think about it this way:
This life is like a championship ball game where the scoreboard is already settled (already lit up).
— Yes, the players may still take some hits.
— Though they may stumble and even get knocked down at times.
— No matter what happens on the field can change the outcome of the game.
— Because the score has already been settled!
And that’s the story for every believer. Our victory has been won in Jesus!
So take heart. And lift your eyes. Look to Jesus, and let His victory encourage you to LIVE BOLDY IN THIS BROKEN WORLD!
Closing Prayer
As we close today, would you pause where you are and take a moment to reflect on the things we’ve been reminded of in God’s Word?
And maybe the most important — the most critical has to do with the promise of Jesus to change our lives, to forgive our sins, and to live in us.
If you’re here this morning and you can’t say (with confidence), that your sin has been forgiven and your eternity is certain — that when this life ends, you will forever reign with Jesus.
If you can’t say that (with absolute certainty), but you’d like to — would you pray with me now, and invite Jesus to save you?
If that’s you, pray this prayer with me? Repeat after me:
Heavenly Father, I admit that I have sinned and chosen my way over yours too often. But all that changes today. Because, I confess my sin before you (I’ve blown it and missed the mark).Today I turn to You. I put my faith in Jesus. I believe He came from heaven, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for me, and rose again. And because He lives, I can be forgiven and made new. So Lord, forgive me, save me, and fill me with Your Spirit. From this day forward, I choose to follow You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you just prayed that prayer — I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! That’s the greatest decision you’ll ever make.
And now, for the rest of us…let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, we turn our eyes upon You. You are our strong tower, our hope of glory, our risen Lord. Today we ask You to comfort those who mourn, strengthen those who fear, and embolden Your people to live unashamed of the gospel. Help us to take heart — not because we are strong, but because You have overcome the world. We declare today: You are our refuge, our hope, and our victory. We pray this, in Jesus name, Amen.