The Aftermath of Charlie Kirk's Assassination
Matthew Maher
• The Word of God doesn't just tell us what happens; it tells us why it happens.
"Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" — Galatians 4:16
• A nation at war with truth will soon be at war with itself.
"...it is a stiff-necked people!" — Exodus 32:9
"...do not be stiff-necked...but yield yourselves to the LORD." — 2 Chronicles 30:8
He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. — Proverbs 18:13
• Suspicion is not a spiritual gift. Discernment is.
Test all things; hold fast what is good. — 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• The Church doesn't echo culture or conspiracy—it bears witness to Christ.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." — John 8:31-32
"For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." — John 18:37
• We are not called to be safe. We are called to be steadfast.
• Bold in Truth. Bowed in Repentance. Bound in Faith.
Discussion Questions
1. The message contrasts distrust with discernment, stating "distrust does not equal discernment." What is the difference between the two, and how can you tell which one is driving your response to information you encounter?
2. Proverbs 18:13 warns against answering a matter before fully hearing it. Can you think of a time when you formed a strong opinion before having the full picture? What did that cost you, and what would it look like to practice this differently?
3. The sermon calls the Church to "bear witness to Christ" rather than echo culture or conspiracy. What are some practical ways your small group or local church can stay anchored to truth in Christ when cultural noise is loud?
4. The closing call is to be "Bold in Truth. Bowed in Repentance. Bound in Faith." Which of these three is most challenging for you personally right now, and why?
5. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). What does it look like in everyday life to abide in His Word deeply enough that His truth — not fear, suspicion, or cultural pressure — shapes how you see the world?