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AfterThoughts: May 3, 2026

 

May 3, 2026
When The World Pushes Back
John 15:18–16:4

This week, Dr. David Eldridge continued the series from the Gospel of John.

GOING DEEPER: 

  • Pastor David explained that according to Open Doors USA, over 35 million Christians around the world face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. This isn’t new. At the inception of Christianity, there was opposition to it. As Christians in America, however, religious liberty has been the bedrock of our country for 250 years. How are you grateful for the religious freedom we experience? How can you change your schedule this week to make more time to pray that God would continue to raise up future generations of elected officials, judges, legislators, and citizens who understand that religious liberty is not merely a political privilege to preserve, but a God-given freedom to steward with humility and courage? How can you make more time to pray for persecuted believers in other parts of the world?
     
  • Pastor David taught that followers of Jesus should not be surprised by opposition (John 15:18–23). We read the “if” with a bit of uncertainty, but Jesus assured His followers that there will be direct opposition to them (John 15:19). In less than 24 hours after this conversation, Jesus would be arrested, tried for crimes He didn’t commit, mocked, spat upon, beaten, and executed on a Roman cross. He was hated by the religious leaders, but He doesn’t name them. Instead, Jesus is referring to all of us who are sinners and shake our fists in opposition to God through our attitudes and actions. We are “the world.” What does opposition look like in this season of your life?
     
  • The good news is that while we were in opposition to Him, God chose us out of the world, purely because of His grace and mercy. While we were in rebellion, He made us His own (1 Peter 2:9). We may still live in the world, but we no longer belong to it. We have a different authority (Jesus) and a different set of values than the world. We live in the light of Jesus, which exposes the darkness of our world that resists His light. How do you see the world pushing back against the truth of Jesus about our sin and His absolute authority in our lives? How can you respond with gentleness, kindness, and compassion to those who disagree with your convictions? Even when costly, how can you stand firm without blending with or bowing down to the pressures of the world?
     
  • Despite the opposition we may face, Pastor David encouraged us not to lose hope because God has given us His Spirit—the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of God is with you and within you as you bear witness about the grace and truth that is found in a relationship with Jesus. The Spirit gives us strength and courage to tell the truth and to stand in the truth, even when it cuts, convicts, and confronts. What issue in our culture tempts you to be silent about or to soften the truth of God’s Word? Whose acceptance matters most to you? How can following in the footsteps of Jesus—the One who was truly rejected—help you not live in fear or lose hope when you face opposition in your own life?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 

  • To view past sermons, please click here.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26

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