Do You Defend Jesus?
How do we stand firm in our faith?
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"
- 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people."
- Jude 1:3 (NIV)
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
- 2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NIV)
Additional Scripture Verses
Ephesians 6:10-12
John 15:18-19
Romans 12:2
Actions You Can Take
1. Immerse Yourself in God’s Word Daily
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Develop a daily habit of reading the Bible to build a strong foundation. Memorize key scriptures that strengthen your faith when challenged. Study the full context of passages so you can confidently stand on truth.
2. Commit to Prayer and Spiritual Growth
Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
Pray daily for wisdom, strength, and perseverance in your faith. Ask God for discernment when facing doubts, opposition, or cultural pressures. Use fasting, being still, and journaling to deepen your relationship with Christ.
3. Surround Yourself with Strong, bible view Believers
Hebrews 10:24-25 – "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together..."
Join a biblically grounded church, discipleship group, or small study group. Seek mentors and accountability partners who encourage bold faith. Engage in discussions that sharpen your understanding of God’s Word.
4. Refuse to Compromise Biblical Truth
1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."
Do not bend to cultural trends that contradict scripture. Stand firm on biblical truth, even if it is unpopular. Be respectful but unwavering when facing opposition to your beliefs.
5. Put on the Full Armor of God
Ephesians 6:13 "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
Daily equip yourself with faith, righteousness, truth, peace, salvation, and God’s Word. Recognize that spiritual battles require spiritual preparation. Stand firm not in your own strength or understanding, but in the power of God.
How do I equip and disciple others?
"He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
- Titus 1:9 (NIV)
"Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’"
- Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."
- 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
Additional Scripture Verses
Colossians 1:28-29
Hebrews 10:24-25
Proverbs 27:17
Actions You Can Take
1. Study and Teach Biblical Truth Regularly
2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Deepen your own understanding of scripture before leading others. Start or join a Bible study group to discuss and teach God’s Word. Learn how to answer difficult faith questions with biblical wisdom.
2. Be a Mentor to a New or Growing Believer
Titus 2:7-8 "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned..."
Find someone new in faith and commit to walking alongside them. Lead by example in speech, actions, and decision-making. Encourage spiritual habits like prayer, Bible reading, and community involvement.
3. Encourage Others to Boldly Share Their Faith
Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Challenge others to live out the Great Commission. Equip them with confidence and tools to share Jesus effectively. Model what it looks like to talk about Jesus in everyday life.
4. Pray for Those You Are Discipling or are supporting
Colossians 1:9-10 – "We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way..."
Pray that God strengthens their faith and gives them wisdom. Ask for opportunities to disciple and encourage them in their walk. Trust that God is working in their hearts, even when progress seems slow.
How do we advance the Gospel together?
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God."
- Philippians 1:27-28 (NIV)
"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
- Acts 4:29-31 (NIV)
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)
Additional Scripture Verses
Matthew 5:14-16
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Isaiah 6:8
Actions You Can Take
1. Unite with Other Believers to Spread the Gospel
Philippians 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel."
Partner with local churches, ministries, or mission organizations to reach more people. Support missions, evangelism efforts, and Gospel-centered initiatives. Stand firm together in truth, avoiding division over non-essential issues.
2. Engage in Evangelism as a Community
Acts 1:8 – "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Organize or participate in outreach events, evangelism teams, or street ministry. Host Gospel-sharing discussions, home groups, or public Bible studies. Use modern technology (social media, podcasts, videos) to share the Gospel widely.
3. Strengthen the Church by Equipping Others
Ephesians 4:11-12 – "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Train others to defend and articulate their faith confidently. Invest in discipleship programs that develop future leaders. Support and encourage pastors, missionaries, and ministry workers.
4. Defend Biblical Truth in the Public Square
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Speak boldly but lovingly against cultural falsehoods that contradict Scripture. Stand firm in faith-based political, social, and educational discussions. Support Christian media, apologetics ministries, and thought leaders who defend the Gospel.
5. Pray and Ask God to Expand Gospel Reach
Matthew 9:37-38 – "Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’"
Pray for missionaries, evangelists, and church leaders who are sharing the Gospel. Ask God for opportunities to bring more people to faith. Pray for revival and boldness among believers to stand for Christ.
Spiritual Growth is God's Timing...
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
- Hebrews 5:12-14 (NIV)
Keep Going...
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I keep going toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:13-14