Courageous Christians

Two Reasons Why Believers Are Brave

Aaron Lee | February 6, 2026 | FCBCW Awana | John 10:12-15

Introduction

What are you most afraid of? I was scared of junior high!

Here are two reasons why believers are brave:

1. God knows us

9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

I’m using the word “know” like how the Bible uses the word “know.” It doesn’t just mean to know the facts about a person, but it means to know the person intimately – to have a relationship with the person. It seems repetitive to say the LORD your God, but when we see LORD in all capital letters, it’s God’s personal name YHWH. And then we see the name God meaning his powerful and authority and control as our creator. We have a personal relationship with the most powerful!

There are people in my life who sometimes treat me in a mean way. I wonder why they have to act or behave a certain way. It’s good to remember that these people I’m talking about don’t know Jesus. But I do – and God is more powerful and stronger than them. So it helps me be brave and have courage when I interact with them.

As New Testament believers, we have God’s Word. This is one of the most personal ways that God can communicate with us. He speaks to us through his word.

2. God goes with us

9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

God goes. This is just a simpler way of saying that God is with you wherever you go. God is always with you. His presence is with you.

My family went on vacation recently, and it’s tempting to think that God is not with me because I am away from church or home. That’s not true. God goes with us – on vacation, at school, at the doctors, at your music lessons, at your sports games.

Every year I get checked for cancer because of my family history. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, my inner heart should say that I trust God no matter what and that he is with me.

As New Testament believers, we have the Holy Spirit. With the presence of the Holy Spirit, we have the power of God dwelling within us.

Gospel

And these promises that God knows us and God goes with us are made possible because of Jesus! In fact, Jesus is our most courageous captain of us all. In a sense, he was forgotten and alone on the cross when he bore the penalty for our sins. In matters of Satan, sin, and death – Jesus knows (he has experienced them) and goes with us (he has conquered them).

As a challenge to those who are Christians, you can begin sharing the gospel to your family and friends who do not know Jesus. Maybe God will make you into a missionary, some of the bravest of us all.

Big Idea

Christians are courageous because God knows us and God is always with us.

Conclusion

Whether you are afraid of junior high or something more serious, you can be brave because God knows you and is always with you.

Notes

Adapted from Awana: Agents of Grace.