What to do When You're Canceled for Being a Christian | John 15:18-16:4 | Darien Gabriel
Series: Signs & GloryTitle: What to Do When You’re Canceled for Being a ChristianScripture: 📖 John 15:18-16:4 NIVCf. Matthew 10:16-25Bottom Line: Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate & oppose his followers. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of persecution & rejection.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXT📖 SERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTIONMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTION“The Student Who Spoke Up”A few years ago, a high school student in California stood up during a class discussion on morality. The teacher asked what determines right and wrong, and the student quietly said, “For me, I believe what Jesus teaches in the Bible.”The class went silent. Then came laughter. Someone videoed it and posted it online. Comments poured in — “bigot,” “brainwashed,” “religious nut.” The student didn’t argue back. He just said later, “It hurt, but I’d rather be known for following Jesus than for fitting in.”We live in a world where you can be canceled just for believing what Jesus said. That’s not new — Jesus told His disciples 2,000 years ago, “If the world hates you, remember it hated Me first.”Transition: Jesus wasn’t shocked by this. He prepared His disciples for it. The night before His crucifixion, He told them what to do when the world turns against them.So the question for us today is: What do we do when the world turns against us for following Jesus?Bottom Line: Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate & oppose his followers. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of persecution & rejection.CONTEXTIn the wake of teaching the disciples about the coming community of faith he was building in and through them, he warned them that the world would hate and oppose them because they hated and opposed him. This would rattle them but also prepare them from what was to come. This was why Jesus was telling them. SERMON OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT, Matt Carter, Hughes, Johnston)What do we do when we're being canceled for following Jesus Christ? 1. Expect Opposition, Not Acceptance 📖 John 15:18–20“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”➡️ Jesus prepares His followers by showing that persecution is not a sign of failure but of faithfulness. The world’s hatred is rooted in its rejection of Him.2. Remember Your Identity and Mission 📖 John 15:19“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.”➡️ Our calling and identity come from Jesus’ choice of us, not the world’s approval. This gives courage to stand firm when we’re misunderstood or opposed.3. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength and Witness 📖 John 15:26–27“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father… he will testify about me. And you also must testify.”➡️ The Spirit empowers believers to bear witness even in hostile conditions. We are never alone in our suffering or mission.4. Persevere in Faithfulness 📖 John 16:1–4“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away… They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.”➡️ Jesus’ warning is meant to build resilience. Opposition will come—even from religious people—but forewarning strengthens faith rather than fear.“The Quiet Faith of Coach Joseph Kennedy”High school football coach Joseph Kennedy used to kneel and pray for 15 seconds after each game. No speeches, no shouting — just quiet thanks to God. When the school district ordered him to stop, he refused. They fired him. The story made national news, and years later the Supreme Court ruled in his favor.But when asked what he learned through it all, Coach Kennedy said:“Faithfulness is never wasted. Even if I’d lost everything, I’d still do it again — because I wasn’t kneeling for the crowd. I was kneeling for Christ.”That’s what Jesus was preparing His disciples for — not comfort, but courage. When the world cancels you for following Him, you don’t lose your value — you prove your loyalty. You may be canceled by culture, but you are chosen by Christ. And that’s what matters most.TertullianThe famous quote from Tertullian (early church father, c. 160–225 A.D.) is:“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”Tertullian wrote this line in his work Apologeticus (Apology), Chapter 50. He was defending Christians against Roman persecution and pointing out that the more Rome tried to destroy the Church through violence, the more it grew.Here’s the fuller context from his argument:“We multiply whenever we are mown down by you;the blood of Christians is seed.”(Apologeticus, ch. 50)In essence, Tertullian was saying: Persecution doesn’t stop the Church — it strengthens it. Every act of violence against believers becomes a testimony that draws more people to faith.Have we not witnessed this in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination?“Canceled Before Cancel Culture”In 1555, two men were chained to a stake in Oxford, England — Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. Their “crime”? Preaching that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. As the flames were lit, Latimer cried out to Ridley, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.”The world tried to cancel them, but God used their courage to ignite revival.Cancel culture isn’t new. The world has been trying to silence faithful followers of Jesus since the first century. Jesus told His disciples this would happen — not to frighten them, but to prepare them.“The Backlash and the Blessing”In 2017, when a Christian baker in Colorado refused to design a custom cake celebrating something that violated his Biblical convictions, he faced lawsuits, death threats, and nationwide scorn. He lost income, reputation, and peace of mind — but he didn’t lose his faith. Years later, he said, “If I had to do it all over again, I would still follow my conscience. I would still follow Jesus.”Jesus said, “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.” When the world cancels you, don’t crumble — stand firm, speak truth, and trust the Spirit. The world may cancel you, but Christ has already chosen you. And that can never be undone.Bottom Line: Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate & oppose his followers. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of persecution & rejection.Jesus didn’t call us to comfort; He called us to courage.The same Spirit who empowered the disciples empowers us today.When you’re “canceled” for Christ, remember — He chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last.Challenge:Don’t retreat. Reveal Jesus. When the world cancels you, keep pointing people to the cross — because that’s where true freedom begins.Closing Line:You may be canceled by the world, but you are chosen by Christ.INVITATIONWhat about you? Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:36-39 NIVHow do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTESNoneQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTIONTitle: What to Do When You’re Canceled for Being a ChristianScripture: John 15:18–16:4 NIVPreacher: Darien Roger GabrielSeries: Signs & GloryWhen you stand for Jesus, don’t be surprised if the world stands against you.In this message, Pastor Darien Gabriel unpacks Jesus’ words from John 15:18–16:4, where He warned His disciples about opposition, rejection, and persecution — and gave them the key to stand strong through it all.Bottom Line:Because the world hated Jesus, it will also oppose His followers — but the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of rejection.If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, mocked, or “canceled” for following Christ, this message will remind you that you’re not alone, and you’re not without help.Watch now and learn what it means to stay faithful, courageous, and Spirit-empowered when the world pushes back.👉 Subscribe for more messages and short clips from Grace Christian Fellowship.📍 Visit: gracetoday.net#John15 #Persecution #Faith #HolySpirit #Jesus #Discipleship #DarienGabriel #GraceChristianFellowship🖼️Thumbnail Text Ideas(Choose one bold main line with a short subline)CANCELED for CHRISTHow to Stand Strong When the World Turns Against YouWhen Faith Costs YouJesus Warned Us About ThisRejected — But Not AloneThe Spirit Gives Courage When the World Hates YouFollowing Jesus Isn’t Always PopularBut It’s Always Worth ItMAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonLet's Study John, Mark JohnstonThe Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT AIGrok AIPerplexity.aiGoogle Gemini AI
