Sermons By Antioch Community Church in Beverly, MA (Boston Area)

Five Circles of Church: Witness In The World (Ben Hanchett)

·36 min·3 clips

Malala Yousafzai survived a Taliban assassination at 15, showing how being an ambassador for a cause involves great personal risk.

This episode is part of a series on the five circles of church, focusing on witness in the world. Ben Hanchett, the speaker, begins by recounting Malala Yousafzai's advocacy for girls' education and her survival of a Taliban assassination, drawing a parallel to Christians as ambassadors for Christ. He transitions into the biblical foundation from Acts 1:4-8, where Jesus commands the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit and then be witnesses globally. Hanchett highlights the Holy Spirit's role in empowering ordinary people, using Peter's transformation from denial to bold proclamation as an example. He shares a personal story of obeying the Holy Spirit's prompting at a gas station, leading to a meaningful encounter with a former church attender. The sermon defines local witnessing, with Beverly as 'Jerusalem,' and encourages starting where one is through actions like having dinner with neighbors or feeding the food-insecure. Hanchett mentions global outreach, referencing EG's missionary work and digital evangelism initiatives like Trip9's vision for smartphone-based outreach. He discusses 2 Corinthians 5:20 on being God's ambassadors for reconciliation, tying it to Nelson Mandela's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. Practical steps for effective witnessing include praying for opportunities, knowing one's testimony, engaging with compassion, and serving others. The episode concludes with a call to trust God's timing and respond to His leading, reinforced by a congregant's vision of a clock symbolizing God's perfect timing.

As heard by us

A sermon turns witness into the next faithful step, from Beverly tables to the ends of the earth.

Ben presents Christian witness through the image of an ambassador, moving from Malala Yousafzai's advocacy for girls' education to the call to represent Christ by the Holy Spirit.

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Why you'd press play

You can start with a table in Beverly and still keep the ends of the earth in view.

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