The Wound from Within.
Nick Johnson
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5:10
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. — 1 John 3:12
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? — Acts 7:52
A man's enemies will be those of his own household. — Matthew 10:36
The Lord stood by me and strengthened me. — 2 Timothy 4:17
Discussion Questions
1. The sermon describes persecution coming not from enemies outside the church, but from people closest to us — family, friends, and fellow believers. Has there been a moment in your own life when standing for what was right cost you a relationship or caused conflict with someone you love? How did you navigate that?
2. Peter didn't deny Jesus in front of soldiers — he crumbled in an ordinary courtyard because of a servant girl's question. What are the "small courtyards" in your daily life where you feel the pressure to stay silent about your faith, and what makes those moments so difficult?
3. Paul guarded his heart with the breastplate of righteousness by trusting that his vindication came from God — not from people. When someone in the church has disappointed or hurt you, where did your faith actually go? What does your honest answer reveal about where your trust is truly anchored?
4. The sermon asks: "You are a letter, read by everyone who meets you — what are they reading?" If the people closest to you described what your life is reconciling them toward, what would they say — and how does that compare to what you would hope they'd say?
5. Jesus frames the Beatitudes with the same promise at the beginning and the end: "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." How does knowing the kingdom is already yours — present tense, not future — change the way you respond when you face criticism or rejection for living out your faith?