Rise Up From Offence

Have you noticed how offended our world is these days? Say one thing, post one opinion, make one wrong move—boom, offence. It’s everywhere. And if we’re honest, it’s not just “out there.” Offence sneaks into our churches, families, friendships, and even our own hearts. It’s subtle but powerful—and if we’re not careful, it can block the flow of God’s blessing in our lives.

That’s why, as we close out this powerful Rise Up From… series, it’s time to get real about something every single one of us has battled: offence.

Why We Must Rise Up From Offence

If we want to see revival, if we want to see lives transformed, chains broken, and the Gospel impact our communities, then we must rise up from the things that hold us down—comparison, fear, trauma, imposter syndrome… and especially offence.

The enemy loves an offended Christian. He loves a divided church. He knows that an offended heart leads to bitterness, isolation, division, and eventually, destruction. When we stay offended, we give Satan exactly what he wants—a distracted, defensive, divided body of believers, rather than a unified, Spirit-filled church on mission.

What Offence Really Does

Offence isn’t just a bad feeling. It’s spiritual warfare. To be offended means to feel hurt, angry, or resentful because of a perceived wrong—intentional or not. And once offence takes root, it shapes how we see people, how we speak, how we serve, and how we hear from God. It distorts our vision and keeps us imprisoned.

As Proverbs 18:19 puts it:
“An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.”
That’s powerful. Offence builds walls that shut out healing, reconciliation, and sometimes even God’s voice.

A Biblical Case Study: Acts 6

Let’s look at how the early church handled offence. In Acts 6, the church was growing fast—daily salvations, miracles, revival! But even in this move of God, division crept in. The Greek-speaking believers felt their widows were being overlooked in food distribution. That feeling of neglect created discontent.

Sound familiar?

Neglect—whether real or perceived—is a breeding ground for offence. But instead of ignoring it or letting it explode, the apostles addressed it with wisdom. They didn’t deny the issue or defend themselves. They listened. They responded. They delegated.

And the result? Unity was restored. The church grew even more.
What had the potential to divide them actually made them stronger.
When we deal with offence God’s way, it doesn’t just bring peace—it leads to growth and breakthrough.

The Offensiveness of the Gospel

Now here’s the other side of offence—because we’re not only called to rise from offence, but we also need to understand that the message we carry is, by nature, offensive.

The Gospel isn’t a comfortable message. It challenges pride, exposes sin, and calls people to surrender. And as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:18-23, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. To the proud, it’s offensive. To the world, it’s nonsense.

But to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.

Take Stephen in Acts 6. He wasn’t an apostle. He was a servant, running the food programme. Yet the Bible says he was full of faith, wisdom, grace, power, and the Holy Spirit. He preached the truth boldly. And that truth offended the religious leaders so much that they launched a smear campaign, twisted his words, and had him arrested.

He didn’t deserve it. But he didn’t fight back with rage. He didn’t get petty. He didn’t post a defensive rant on Facebook. He stood firm, full of the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaiming Christ.

The Glow of Someone Who’s Been With God

When Stephen stood before the high council, falsely accused and surrounded by hostility, Acts 6:15 says:
“His face became as bright as an angel’s.”

Sound familiar? Moses came down from Mount Sinai with his face glowing after being with God. And now here’s Stephen—surrounded by rage, yet radiating peace, grace, and divine confidence. He didn’t carry the look of offence—he carried the presence of God.

Offence didn’t twist his heart. He reflected God’s glory instead. And that’s the challenge for us: When people offend you, what do they see in you?

Eyes Fixed on Jesus

In Acts 7, Stephen is given a chance to defend himself. Instead, he preaches a sermon. It’s bold. It’s convicting. It’s full of truth and love—and yes, it offends. He calls out the hardness of their hearts and points to Jesus as the Righteous One.

Stephen knew this message could cost him his life. And it did.

But even in death, with rocks flying toward him, Stephen lifted his eyes and saw Jesus. His final words? Not bitterness. Not blame. But grace and forgiveness.

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
(Acts 7:60)

Sound like anyone else you know?
Jesus said the same on the cross.

Final Thoughts

You can’t carry the cross and carry offence at the same time.
You can’t walk in freedom and be chained by resentment.
You can’t reflect God’s glory and stay trapped in bitterness.

If we’re going to rise up and be the church this generation needs, then we have to rise above offence.

So, let’s rise up—not with defensiveness, not with pride, but with grace, boldness, and the presence of God.

5 Applicational Questions

1. Where in your life have you allowed offence to take root?
   What conversations or relationships do you need to revisit with a spirit of grace?
2. Are you more concerned with defending your pride or reflecting God’s glory?
   What would change if you chose humility and forgiveness?
3. When faced with conflict or offence, do you respond like the apostles—with wisdom, grace, and structure?
   How can you create space for reconciliation?
4. Do you carry the kind of faith that offends pride but draws people to Jesus?
   Are you willing to stand boldly for truth, even if it costs you?
5. What would it look like for you to fix your eyes on Jesus right now—especially in the middle of being misunderstood, hurt, or mistreated?
   How can you radiate His presence in the pressure?