Sermon preached by Matthew DelValle on May 4, 2025 at First Baptist Church in Delphi, Indiana. First Baptist Church is an evangelical church in Delphi, Indiana helping people find and follow Jesus. Our mission is to declare God’s truth, disciple God’s people, delight in God’s Son, and display God’s glory. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10:30am. Sunday School begins at 9:30am. We gather at 103 S. Indiana Street, Delphi, Indiana 46923.
Learn more about First Baptist Church.
Introduction
Big Idea: Jesus provides the plan, power, perseverance, and pattern to face persecution with courage and hope.
1. The Plan: Commissioned by Christ [Mt. 10:16]
- Sheep Among Wolves [Mt. 7:15; 9:36; 10:6; Acts 20:29; Rom. 8:36]
- Shrewd as Serpents [Gen. 3:1; Col. 4:5]
- Innocent as Doves [Prov. 15:1; Eph. 5:1–2, 15–16; 1 Pet. 4:15–16]
2. The Power: Confident in Christ [Mt. 10:17–20]
- The Command: Beware the Wolves [Mt. 10:17a]
- The Consequence: Brought Before Authorities [Mt. 10:17b–18a]
- The Cause: Because of Christ, to Bear Witness [Mt. 10:18b; Acts 5:40–41]
- The Counsel: Be Dependent on the Spirit’s Help [Mt. 10:19–20; 1 Pet. 3:15]
3. The Perseverance: Continuing in Christ [Mt. 10:21–23]
- Even Family Will Turn Against You [Mt. 10:21, 35; Mic. 7:6; Jn. 7:5]
- Everyone Will Hate You [Mt. 10:22a; Jn. 15:18–19; 1 Jn. 3:13; 2 Tim. 3:12]
- Endure to the End [Mt. 10:22b; 24:13; Jn. 8:31; Heb. 3:14; Rom. 5:3–5]
- Escape Persecution If You Can [Mt. 10:23; Acts 9:25; 22:25; Dan. 7:13]
4. The Pattern: Conformity to Christ [Mt. 10:24–25]
- Student/Teacher [Mt. 10:24a; Lk. 14:27]
- Servant/Master [Mt. 10:24b; Jn. 15:20–21]
- Head/Members of Household [Mt. 10:25; 5:11–12; 12:24, 27; 1 Pet. 2:19–23]
Conclusion