Living out Loud
Living a life of authenticity
The Bible does not directly command us to make our “private lives public”, but it does invite believers into a life of transparency, testimony, and service to others especially when it serves to glorify God, edify those around us, and point people to Jesus.
From the very beginning1, humanity was introduced to the weight of sin through an act of disobedience in the Garden. When Adam and Eve chose to go their own way, their decision broke the perfect communion they had with God and introduced a ripple effect that still touches every life today. That moment ushered in four significant consequences: spiritual separation from God, a deep sense of shame and guilt, the painful reality of toil and suffering, and the certainty of physical death.
Yet even in the midst of that fall, God initiated a plan of redemption. From the covering He provided for their shame to the promise of a future Redeemer in Genesis 3:152, God has been at work ever since—calling us back to Himself, restoring what was lost, and rewriting our story through His grace.
Jesus’ life, ministry death, burial, and resurrection was for the purpose of eliminating the ‘wages of sin’3
We are called as disciples of Christ to do the same.
Trauma, heartbreak, disease, sin, and loss are all examples of deaths that God originally intended for us to live without and by sending Jesus to die for our sins He makes us whole and righteous.4
Our mandate is to accept His Grace, receive the Holy Spirit, be healed, become Healers (disciples), and follow in His footsteps5 which are to bring health and reconciliation6 to our family, our community, and the rest of the world.
Here’s a breakdown of how this concept plays out scripturally and theologically:
3 Ways we live out loud as disciples or followers of Jesus
1. Confession in Community – Transparency with Purpose
Confession demands a level of vulnerability with trusted others—not necessarily public exposure, but a shared life within community that fosters healing and growth. This requires vulnerability and that requires trust. Vulnerability is risky. Not everyone can handle your whole self. But little by little we can test the waters with those we trust. This level of trust and vulnerability lived out in front of others actually brings healing. 7
We heal best and develop further in community. Life is never a straight line. There are many ups and downs, curves, walls and pitfalls. There are things we’ve done were not proud of as well there are things that have been done to us that have marked us for the rest of our lives. As we share these burdens8 that we carry we are not only healed but we are living out the commands of Jesus to love one another. To bear one another’s burdens, we must first be willing to share our loves with a curated list of trusted friends and find true connection.
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection."
—Johann Hari
Discussion Questions:
What makes confession difficult, even among people we trust?
Follow-up: How can we create environments—within our friendships or our church—that make confession and prayer feel safe and healing rather than shameful?
Who do you have in your life that helps you carry your burdens—and whose burdens are you helping carry?
Follow-up: How can we become better at discerning who we can trust with our vulnerability, and how can we grow into someone others feel safe confiding in?
2. Sharing Our Testimony – Public Witness of God’s Work
Sharing our testimony or more simply sharing our life’s story brings Glory to God by correctly assigning credit to where He saved us and is saving us while also encouraging others. Have you ever witnessed someone telling their story and they get to a point in their retelling and say something like, ‘I thought I was the only one’. That is because many people are not accustomed to sharing their story or hearing the story of others. We have surface relationships and often when things do go a bit deeper we shrink back for fear of being ‘the only one’. It is ok to name our fears and validate our emotions however we should commit to working towards being open and honest about what we’ve experienced.
Your story is important and it matters. When you share your story, even the messy parts, it still points to His goodness9 because you’re still here to tell the tale. Sharing your story—especially how God has worked in your life—is a biblical way of advancing the Kingdom. There is public benefit to what God has done in private.10 Jesus often invited people to share their personal stories to reveal God’s mercy and power and we should go and do likewise.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Jesus calls us “the light of the world”?
Follow up: What might it look like in your everyday life to “let your light shine before others”?
What are some reasons people might hesitate to share their testimony?
Follow up: Have you ever struggled with sharing your story? What helped you move past that?
In Mark 5, Jesus told the healed man to return to his community and share what God had done.
Where is your “Decapolis” (an area of 10 cities) today—who might God be asking you to share your story with?
3. Living in Service to others – Displaying Integrity & Wholeness
[5] But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
[6] For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:5–7
Paul is writing the above passage from His prison cell, He could in that moment only encourage the church from afar to “be sober, endure suffering, and do the work of sharing the Good News” - Paul was imprisoned in Rome because he was a leader of the Christian community and was seen as a target of persecution. He could have given up and settled into his circumstances but He pushed forward and persisted in his mission.
His life was literally poured out as a sacrifice so that others would be pointed to Jesus. Paul did not want the work of the good news of Jesus to fall short or to be stopped. He chose to live his life out in the service of others. Being a disciple means living your life in such a way that you are aligned more and more with the life and teaching of Jesus that eventually you look more like HIM than you look like yourself. He wants the best for us and for us to bear fruit not only for our benefit — but for others to partake from and be blessed by.11
[12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
[14] Do all things without grumbling or disputing, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world
Philippians 2:12–15
God is working in His followers and it is His power that makes us “blameless and innocent” It is not us that we are pointing to but HIM. The world needs to see something that is different when they look at The Church and when they look at us. We are called to love and it is through the world seeing this example12 that they are able to see His nature and ultimately be turned towards HIM.
Genesis 3:5–7
[5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. [7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (ESV)
Genesis 3:15 is considered the first prophecy of the coming Messiah, declaring that though sin entered the world, God’s plan for redemption began immediately. Jesus, born of a woman, would come to crush the serpent’s head and restore what was lost in Eden. The phrase “he shall bruise your head” points to a fatal blow — Christ’s victory over Satan through His death and resurrection. “You shall bruise his heel” speaks to the suffering Jesus would endure (e.g., the crucifixion), but not a permanent defeat.
Romans 6:23
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:18–19
[18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (ESV)
2 Corinthians 5:20
[20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (ESV)
2 Corinthians 5:18
[18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (ESV)
James 5:16 (ESV)
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Matthew 5:14–16 ESV
[14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Mark 5:18–20 ESV
[18] As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. [19] And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
John 13:35
[35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV)