Last Sunday, as I was tucked into the pews of my own local church, Pastor Bobby Linkous—my former shepherd at Corner‑stone Church in Jefferson, GA, and a leader I still deeply admire—was teaching from Acts 18 a county over. When I later sat down to watch the livestream replay, there he was, Bible open, declaring to the congregation:
“Messy Brave… that’s kind of biblical.”
I wasn’t even in the building, yet his words found me across county lines and sent the happy‑sob signal straight to my heart. A pastor who helped shape my faith was proud of the very story I once tried to hide. WOAH.
The moment reminded me—again—that the bravest saints are a holy mash‑up of fear and faith. So let’s unpack his sermon and ask what it means for our own shaky steps today.
Context: Paul Arrives in a City That Makes Vegas Blush (Acts 18:1–4)
Corinth was Sin City on steroids—temples to Aphrodite, 1,000 cult prostitutes, money, power, and zero moral compass. Paul walks in battered from Athens, still bruised from previous beatings (Acts 16:23; 14:19). No wonder his knees knock.
“He was with them in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.” – 1 Cor 2:3
Quick Timeline
| Chapter | Pain Point |
|---|---|
| Acts 14 | Stoned and left for dead in Lystra |
| Acts 16 | Beaten with rods, thrown in prison Philippi |
| Acts 17 | Mocked on Mars Hill, Athens |
| Acts 18 | Enters Corinth—sex‑soaked, idol‑soaked, dangerous |
If you limped into Vegas after that résumé of trauma, wouldn’t you feel shaky too? I mean, isn’t this the ultimate walk of shame?
The Vision: Jesus Speaks to a Man on the Edge (Acts 18:9‑10)
“Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking; do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” – Acts 18:9‑10
Greek Nuggets
- “Stop being afraid” – Present imperative with a negation. Paul was already scared; Jesus commands a halt.
- “Keep on speaking” – Continuous action; courage is a verb.
Jesus gives Paul three anchors:
- Presence – I am with you.
- Protection – No one will harm you. (Opposition, yes; harm, no.)
- Purpose – I have many people in this city.
Messy Yet Brave: Paul Stays 18 More Months (Acts 18:11)
“So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.”
Fear didn’t evaporate; purpose outranked it. Paul plants a church, disciples new believers like Priscilla & Aquila, and writes letters that shape half the New Testament.
Reflection
- Bravery ≠ absence of fear. It’s choosing obedience while your hands still shake.
- Spirit‑filled ≠ drama‑free. The same Spirit that parts seas also leads us into spiritual street fights.
Where Pastor Bobby Dropped Messy Brave Into the Story
After walking us through Paul’s “resume of pain,” Pastor Bobby paused:
“Courtney Cash wrote Messy Brave about parenting, addiction, single‑mom chaos. Folks, that’s Paul in Acts 18. He wades into the mess and keeps moving. Messy Brave—that’s kind of biblical.”
Cue my tears. Because the book wasn’t born from tidy victories; it was birthed in jail cells, divorce court, and late‑night panic attacks. Just like Paul, I needed a Do not be afraid; I am with you.
Three Take‑Home Truths for Our Own Messy Mission Fields
1. Stop Hiding Your Humanity
Paul’s fear is recorded in Scripture. If the Bible doesn’t Photoshop his trembling, why should we airbrush ours?
Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Seeking precedes deliverance.
2. Speak Anyway
Withdrawal + silence are the twin reflexes of fear. Jesus commands the opposite: keep talking. Your testimony might unlock someone else’s prison.
2 Tim 1:7 – “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self‑control.”
3. Trust the Hidden Harvest
“I have many people in this city.” You can’t see them yet. Obey first; fruit follows.
Gal 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary of doing good… in due season we will reap.”
My Own “WOAH” Moment
When Pastor Bobby said he was proud of me, I flashed back to all those years ago. Same girl, different grace. I wasn’t even in the building—I was sitting at home, watching the livestream on my laptop, when Pastor Bobby paused, read my book title out loud, and said, “Messy Brave—that’s kind of biblical.” In that instant my heart flipped back to those nights in a cold, lonely jail cell, convinced my story would always stay hidden. And yet here he was, across county lines, claiming that very journey as something to celebrate. WOAH—the same Spirit who steadied Paul in Corinth was steadying me, giving me the courage to share the chapters I once thought no one would ever read.
Questions this sermon made me reflect on this past week:
- Where am I tempted to go silent because fear screams louder than purpose?
- Who are the “many people” God is positioning around my obedience?
- What would change if I believed Jesus is with me as tangibly as He was with Paul?
Feel free to journal your own answers. Bravery grows when we name our fear and then drag it into Jesus’ light.
Want More?
- Watch Pastor Bobby’s full sermon 👉 Do Not Be Afraid
- Read Chapter 1 of Messy Brave – “A Letter to My Younger Self”
- New blog: 3 Reasons Your Marketing Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It) – because sometimes your business feels like Corinth too. Read it here
If this post encouraged you, share it with a friend who’s wobbling under the weight. Let’s be messy—and brave—together.