On Sunday morning, March 1, 2026, Cole Tuck continued his sermon series examining the difficult and often misunderstood subject of Christians and violence. Building on the previous week’s lesson, he reminded the congregation that followers of Christ are called to live lives characterized by peace, gentleness, and restraint rather than retaliation.
While the world often equates strength with power, aggression, and dominance, Scripture reveals a very different definition of strength. The Christian calling to turn the other cheek, love enemies, and repay evil with good can appear weak from a worldly perspective. Yet the Bible teaches that true strength is found in self-control, humility, and faithfulness to God even in the face of suffering.
Drawing from passages such as Psalm 73 and Proverbs 16:32, the sermon explored the temptation believers may feel when they see the apparent success of the wicked. From a human viewpoint, those who pursue power, wealth, and personal freedom without moral restraint seem to prosper. However, Scripture reminds us that what appears to be victory in the world is often spiritual defeat.
Cole emphasized that restraining anger, refusing retaliation, and walking away from conflict require far greater strength than responding with violence. Anyone can lash out in anger, but mastering one’s spirit and submitting to God’s will requires discipline, faith, and courage.
Through biblical examples such as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the lesson demonstrated that faithful obedience does not always mean fighting back. Instead, courage is often displayed through steadfast trust in God even when suffering may follow.
Christians are not weak, nor are they losing in the game of life. Rather, they are engaged in a different kind of battle, one that is not fought with physical weapons but with spiritual faithfulness. True victory is not measured by worldly success but by remaining faithful to Christ.
The sermon encouraged believers to reject the world’s definition of strength and instead pursue the kind of strength that God values: self-control, humility, courage, and unwavering obedience.
Key Talking Points
- Review of Part 1: Christians are called to live peaceful and non-violent lives.
- The world often views Christian non-retaliation as weakness.
- Scripture defines strength differently than the world does.
- True strength is demonstrated through self-control and restraint.
- It is easier to retaliate than to walk away from conflict.
- Psalm 73 warns believers not to envy the prosperity of the wicked.
- Proverbs 16:32 teaches that ruling one’s spirit is greater than conquering a city.
- Biblical faithfulness sometimes requires enduring suffering without retaliation.
- Examples of courage in Scripture show that obedience to God is true strength.
- Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle, not a physical one.