“Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” (Matthew 10:15–25, ESV)

1. Be courageous as you go into the world because you go as an ambassador of God (vv. 16, 20).
2. Cruel hatred is often a part of a faithful witness (vv. 17-18).
3. Through great trials will come great opportunities for the gospel (v. 18).
4. In the pain and fear, never forget that God has not left you (v. 19).
5. Faithfulness to Christ can drive a wedge in a family (vv. 21-22), but you must stand firm with Christ.
6. In the midst of persecution, don’t lose sight of the Second Coming of Christ (v. 23).
7. Being like Jesus is not only reflected in love and holiness, but it also includes great suffering (vv. 24-25).