Bold as a Lion: How Belief in Jesus Builds a Bold Church in Yountville (Acts 3–4)

Discover how bold faith is born from deep belief in Jesus. From Acts 3–4, learn how ordinary people receive extraordinary courage—and how Yountville Community Church can live boldly for Christ in Napa Valley today.

We Are Church… and God Is Calling Us to Bold Faith

What does it look like to “be the church” in 2026—right here in Yountville and throughout Napa Valley? In this message, Pastor Ted Max reminds us that church isn’t just a place we attend. It’s a people redeemed and chosen, devoted to Christ, serving with open doors, and shining light in dark places.

As Yountville Community Church steps into a new year, we’re asking a defining question: Will we live timidly, shaped by fear and approval, or will we live boldly, shaped by what we truly believe?

Pastor Ted put it simply: “Your boldness is born out of your belief.” What you believe—deep down, fully—will eventually show up in how you live, speak, and love.

What “Bold” Means in the Bible

In Scripture, boldness isn’t arrogance or loudness for its own sake. The Bible uses a word often translated as boldness—parrēsia—meaning outspoken courage, assurance, and confidence to act without fear.

Fear can quietly drive a lot of our lives: fear of rejection, fear of conflict, fear of being misunderstood, fear of what people might think. But the story of the early church shows us a different way. God forms a people who are courageous—not because they’re naturally fearless, but because they are convinced Jesus is alive and worth following.

Peter’s Transformation: From Timid to Courageous

Peter is a perfect example of how God changes ordinary people.

Before the resurrection, Peter made big promises but crumbled under pressure. He swore he would never abandon Jesus—and then denied even knowing Him three times. Yet after Jesus’ death and resurrection, something in Peter fundamentally shifted. The same man who once feared a question in a courtyard later stood before thousands and proclaimed Christ openly.

That’s the power of belief becoming real.

A Miracle at the Beautiful Gate

In Acts 3, Peter and John walk to the temple at the hour of prayer. A man who had been lame from birth is carried daily to the gate called Beautiful, where he begs for help. When he asks Peter and John for money, Peter does something unexpected: he stops, looks directly at him, and says, “Look at us.”

Then Peter speaks words that still challenge us today:
“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you… In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

The man is healed immediately—standing, walking, leaping, praising God—and the crowd is stunned. The miracle becomes a megaphone for the message: Jesus is real, Jesus has power, and Jesus changes lives.

Why Peter and John Were Arrested

It’s easy to assume Peter and John were arrested for performing a miracle. But Pastor Ted highlighted something important: they were arrested because they preached the resurrection. That message confronted the religious power structure—especially leaders who rejected the idea of resurrection.

And yet, Peter doesn’t back down. When questioned by the very council connected to Jesus’ condemnation, he boldly declares:

• The man was healed by Jesus Christ of Nazareth

• Jesus was crucified—but God raised Him from the dead

• Salvation is found in no one else

This is boldness with a backbone: not attitude, not aggression—just clarity, conviction, and courage.

We Proclaim Loudly What We Believe Fully

Here’s a line that hits home: “We will proclaim loudly what we believe fully.”

We see it everywhere—especially online. People speak passionately about what they’re convinced is true. And that raises a personal question: If we truly believe Jesus is Lord, does our life reflect that conviction?

Bold faith doesn’t mean being rude or forceful. It means being faithful. It means loving people enough to speak truth with grace—and trusting God more than we fear people.

Three Truths About Boldness for the Church Today

Pastor Ted gave three powerful reminders for anyone who feels intimidated, unsure, or “not spiritual enough.”

1) God Gives Ordinary People Extraordinary Boldness

You don’t need a microphone to be bold. Boldness can look like:

• choosing integrity when compromise is easier

• walking away from conflict instead of escalating it

• loving someone difficult with patience and prayer

• giving generously and serving faithfully

• opening a sincere conversation about faith

God doesn’t wait for you to become “impressive.” He works through ordinary people who say yes.

2) Your Boldness Will Astound Those Around You

When believers live differently—loving, forgiving, serving, speaking with conviction—it gets noticed. Boldness often produces one of two reactions: amazement or resistance. But either way, it shines a light.

The goal isn’t to shock people. The goal is to faithfully reflect Jesus in a world that’s often confused about what love and truth actually look like.

3) Boldness Comes from Knowing Jesus

This may be the most important point: the goal isn’t boldness—knowing Christ is the goal. Boldness is a byproduct.

Pastor Ted described the difference between simply going to church and truly having a relationship with Jesus. Religious routines can exist without intimacy with Christ. But when someone spends time with Jesus—praying, listening, obeying—faith grows. And when faith grows, boldness follows.

A simple pattern emerges:

Time with Jesus → stronger faith → boldness → spiritual fruit

And the opposite can also be true:

Less time with Jesus → stagnant faith → timid living → little impact

A Bold Church Can Change the Valley

What would it look like if Yountville Community Church became known—quietly, consistently—as a bold people?

Not loud for attention. Not divisive. Not performative.

But courageous in love. Courageous in truth. Courageous in serving. Courageous in sharing hope with friends, neighbors, coworkers, and our wider Napa Valley community.

Pastor Ted closed with Proverbs 28:1:
“The righteous are bold as a lion.”

God is calling His church to live that kind of life—where belief in Jesus becomes visible courage.