Key Verse:
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep amid wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." — Matthew 10:16
Introduction: The Soft-Hearted Warrior
Church, let me tell you, I used to think Jesus meant something different when He said, "Shake the dust off your feet" (Matthew 10:14). I believed it was a hard-cutting command—if they reject the Gospel, move on, and don't look back, their fate is sealed. There are no second chances.
But the longer I've walked with Jesus, the more I've learned that His heart is deeper, richer, and more compassionate than I had ever imagined.
Yes, He told us to move on when people reject the truth. But He never told us to do it with a cold heart. No, sir. He wants us to move forward with tears in our eyes, compassion in our hearts, and prayers still on our lips.
That's what I call "Becoming a Teddy Bear Warrior."
A warrior—bold, unshakable, unwavering in truth. A teddy bear—tender, affectionate, and brokenhearted for the lost.
Because Jesus was both.
He stood against sin like a lion, yet He wept for Jerusalem. He rebuked the Pharisees with fire and cradled little children in His arms. He overturned tables in the temple with righteous fury, yet He knelt to forgive a woman caught in adultery.
Church, that's the balance we need—unyielding in truth but overflowing with love.
1. The Boldness of a Warrior
Scripture:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." — 2 Timothy 4:2
The Gospel is not a suggestion—it's a mandate. Truth is not up for a vote. Shaking the dust off our feet does not mean watering down the message to make it palatable.
Illustration:
Imagine a doctor who refuses to tell a patient they have cancer because he doesn't want to hurt their feelings. That's not kindness—it's malpractice!
If we genuinely love people, we will tell them the truth even when it's uncomfortable.
2. The Compassion of a Teddy Bear
Scripture:
"Jesus wept." — John 11:35
That's the shortest verse in the Bible, but how powerful it is! Jesus didn't just preach the truth—He felt the weight of human suffering.
Even when He was rejected, He grieved—not for Himself, but for them.
Illustration:
Picture a hardened soldier holding a fragile infant. That's strength wrapped in tenderness.
We must carry the Gospel the same way—firm in conviction, yet overflowing with love.
3. Balancing Boldness with Compassion
Scripture:
"Speak the truth in love." — Ephesians 4:15
A Teddy Bear Warrior is:
✅ Unshakable in truth—never compromising.
✅ Gentle in delivery—always speaking in love.
✅ Soft-hearted, not hard-hearted—grieving over rejection, not growing cold.
Illustration:
Think of a lighthouse in a storm. It doesn't chase ships. It doesn't shout or argue. It just shines. It stands firm, guiding those who are willing to see.
That's our job.
4. The Right Way to "Shake the Dust Off"
Scripture:
"And when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." — Acts 18:6
Paul moved on—but he did not rejoice in their rejection. He didn't argue endlessly. He spoke, loved, and left it in God's hands.
Illustration:
A farmer sows seeds. Some take root; some don't. The farmer doesn't curse the soil—he keeps praying for rain and planting.
And that's what we do—we keep planting, praying, and trusting God.
5. The Essence of a Teddy Bear Warrior
Scripture:
"I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my relatives according to the flesh." — Romans 9:2-3
Paul didn't just preach—he wept. He didn't just share the Gospel—he yearned for souls to be saved.
A Teddy Bear Warrior is:
✅ Fearless in sharing.
✅ Broken for the lost.
Illustration:
A firefighter doesn't stop warning people because they refuse to leave a burning building. He doesn't argue—he pleads. He doesn't get angry—he remains desperate to save them.
That's how we share the Gospel. Not out of pride but out of love.
Conclusion: The Call to Be a Teddy Bear Warrior
Gunner, my Partner in Ministry, and I have become "Teddy Bear Warriors." Welcome to the "Deep in of Ministry." We know that shaking the dust off" doesn't mean wiping our hands clean and walking away with a smirk.
It means we leave with tears, prayers, and faith in God's timing.
The Value of the Cross…The reality of eternity…They demand more than indifference!
🔹 I will preach boldly but with a broken heart.🔹 I will stand firm but remain tender.🔹 I will walk away if needed, but my prayers will never stop.
That's what Jesus did.
Will you join Gunner and me in becoming a Teddy Bear Warrior?
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