Let me ask you something: When was the last time you felt embarrassed about your faith?
Maybe someone at work made a snide comment about Christians. Maybe you saw a viral tweet mocking believers. Maybe you opened your mouth to share the gospel and suddenly felt your palms get sweaty, worried about being labeled a bigot.
You’re not alone. And you’re definitely not the first.
In a powerful sermon on 2 Timothy 1:8-12, Alex Kremer from Atlantic Gospel Chapel in Atlantic, Iowa, tackles this head-on. The apostle Paul, writing from a Roman dungeon, tells Timothy something that seems almost ridiculous: “Be not ashamed of the gospel.”
Wait—ashamed of the good news? Why would anyone be ashamed of that?
Because the world has always hated it. And it still does.
Why the World Hates the Gospel Message
The Scandal of a Crucified God
Here’s the thing about Christian persecution and shame: it’s not new. In Paul’s day, preaching a crucified savior was absolutely humiliating. The cross was Rome’s most degrading form of execution—reserved for the worst criminals, slaves, and rebels.
Imagine trying to start a religion by saying, “Hey, worship this guy who got publicly executed naked on a cross!”
The Greeks thought it was stupid. The Jews thought it was blasphemous. And everyone thought Christians were crazy.
One of the earliest pieces of graffiti ever found shows a man worshiping a crucified donkey, with the caption: “Aleximos worships his god.” Even back then, people were mocking Christians for their “shameful” beliefs.
Nothing’s Changed (Except the Insults)
Fast-forward 2,000 years, and the strategy is exactly the same. The world still tries to shame Christians into silence—just with different words.
Christopher Hitchens, the famous atheist, used to mock the gospel like this: He’d say that for 98,000 years, God watched humanity suffer and die horribly, then suddenly decided to intervene by having someone killed in “the less literate parts of the Middle East.”
His goal? Make you feel like an idiot for believing it.
Or take the accusations of homophobia that churches face today. Alex Kremer shared that shortly after Atlantic Gospel Chapel launched their Facebook page, their very first review was from a young woman who’d never attended. She wrote: “Would not recommend to anyone who is a part of or cares for the LGBT community. Atlantic Gospel Chapel is a homophobic church.”
Are they homophobic? Of course not. But that’s how the world characterizes any church that believes what the Bible teaches about sexuality.
How to respond when Christians are called hateful? First, understand this: You will never be accused of “loving Jesus too much” or “standing too firmly on the Bible.” Instead, you’ll be called a Nazi, a bigot, a misogynist, a hater—anything to shame you into shutting up.
Finding Courage to Share Your Faith: Remember What You Believe
So how do you develop boldness in gospel preaching when the stakes feel so high?
Remember: You’re Not Ashamed of What but Who
Paul doesn’t just say “don’t be ashamed of your beliefs.” He says, “Be not ashamed of the witness about our Lord.”
This isn’t about defending a set of ideas. It’s about a Person. Jesus Christ.
And here’s what makes Him so offensive to the world:
1. Salvation by Grace, Not Works
The gospel says you can’t save yourself. You can’t earn it. You can’t work for it. You can’t be good enough.
God’s sovereignty in salvation means He does it all—from choosing you before the foundation of the world to completing the work He started in you.
As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:9, God “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.”
That’s scandalous to human pride. We want credit. We want to contribute. But the gospel says: You’re bankrupt. Spiritually dead. And only God can resurrect you.
2. God’s Eternal Purpose in Salvation
Even more offensive? Paul says this was decided “from all eternity.”
Before you were born. Before the earth was formed. Before anything existed—God chose you.
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).
The world hates this because it puts God in charge, not us. It means the most wicked sinner can be saved by grace alone, and the most “moral” person can be lost without Christ.
3. Christ Abolished Death
And here’s the ultimate good news that makes everything else worth the shame: Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).
You don’t have to fear death. You don’t have to wonder if you’ve done enough. You don’t have to work yourself into exhaustion trying to please God.
Why? Because Jesus did it all.
Standing Firm in Faith Under Pressure: Practical Steps
Okay, theology is great. But how do you actually do this when you’re facing pressure to compromise?
1. Remember WHO You Know
Paul’s confidence wasn’t in what he knew but whom he knew.
“I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
Notice he doesn’t say, “I know what I believe.” He knows a Person. Jesus Christ.
Trusting Christ to guard your soul means your salvation doesn’t depend on your perfect understanding, your flawless defense, or your ironclad arguments. It depends on Jesus—and He’s not going to drop you.
2. Expect Shame and Suffering
Here’s something we don’t talk about enough in American Christianity: standing firm in faith under pressure means you’re going to face opposition.
Paul doesn’t say, “Hey Timothy, if you do this right, everyone will love you!” He says, “Join with me in suffering for the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8).
Alex Kremer pointed out that Peter said he’d never deny Jesus—then did it at the first hint of public ridicule. We’re not better than Peter.
But here’s the crazy part: Paul says suffering for Christ is actually a blessing.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great” (Matthew 5:11-12).
3. Don’t Water Down the “Problem Verses”
One of the biggest temptations is to avoid the parts of the Bible that make people uncomfortable.
Defending biblical truth with confidence means you don’t squirm when someone brings up Leviticus. You don’t apologize for what God said about sexual ethics. You don’t explain away the exclusivity of Christ.
As Charles Spurgeon wrote about Paul: “The great apostle, because he was persecuted, found himself despised by some of the very people who owed their souls to him.”
You think you’re going to escape that?
4. Remember: This Is According to God’s Plan
One of the most encouraging truths from biblical teaching on boldness from Atlantic Iowa church is this: When you’re suffering for the gospel, it’s not outside God’s plan. It’s part of it.
Paul calls himself “the Lord’s prisoner”—not Nero’s prisoner, not Rome’s prisoner. He acknowledged that God had sovereignly delivered him into the hands of sinful men, just as He did with Jesus.
Your persecution isn’t catching God off guard. He’s using it.
5. Know That It’s Worth It
Finally, remember the eternal weight of what’s at stake.
When you share the gospel—even when you’re mocked, dismissed, or called hateful—God uses it to save His elect. People you’ll meet in heaven will thank you for being bold enough to tell them about Jesus.
Alex Kremer shared the beautiful truth that people you supported through missions, kids you taught in Sunday school, prisoners who read materials you donated—they’ll find you in heaven and say, “Thank you. Because of you, I’m here.”
The Atlantic Gospel Chapel Example: Living This Out
Here’s what I love about this sermon from Atlantic Gospel Chapel: Alex didn’t just preach theory. He addressed a real situation.
Their church got publicly labeled “homophobic” on Facebook. How did they respond? By continuing to preach what the Bible says—not with hatred, not with anger, but with conviction.
That’s responding to accusations of homophobia with grace and truth: You don’t compromise, but you don’t become what they accuse you of being either.
You keep preaching that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. You keep saying that salvation is by grace alone. You keep inviting everyone—EVERYONE—to come to Christ.
Your Move: From Shame to Boldness
So here’s where the rubber meets the road. What are you going to do with this?
Action Step 1: Identify one area where you’ve been ashamed of the gospel. Is it at work? On social media? With your family? Write it down.
Action Step 2: Memorize 2 Timothy 1:12: “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
Action Step 3: Next time you face an opportunity to share your faith, pray this simple prayer: “God, help me care more about Your opinion than theirs.”
Action Step 4: Find one person this week and tell them about Jesus. Not in a weird, pushy way—just honestly. Share what He’s done for you.
The Bottom Line
The world wants to shame you into silence. They’ll call you hateful. They’ll mock your beliefs. They’ll make you feel stupid for believing in a crucified God who rose from the dead.
But here’s the truth: Salvation by grace, not works is the most beautiful news in the universe. God’s eternal purpose in salvation means He chose you before time began. And trusting Christ to guard your soul means your eternity is secure—not because you’re perfect, but because He is.
So be not ashamed.
Because you know whom you have believed.
Want to hear the full sermon? Check out Alex Kremer’s teaching on this topic at Atlantic Gospel Chapel in Atlantic, Iowa. You can find more biblical teaching on boldness and practical Christian living at their church.
