Podcast Summary: Times Square Church - Sermons
Episode: How Do You Live in a World That Will Murder Truth
Date: September 14, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Tim Dilena
Host: TSC.NYC
Overview
This sermon, delivered by Pastor Tim Dilena at Times Square Church, confronts the challenges of living and speaking truth in a world increasingly hostile to it. Anchored in biblical narratives, current events, and Times Square Church’s international vision, Pastor Tim encourages the congregation not to be discouraged by darkness but to anticipate the miraculous and continue standing for truth, even amid opposition and tragedy. The message responds directly to the shocking assassination of Christian leader Charlie Kirk, drawing parallels with the murder of Stephen in Acts. Throughout, Pastor Tim unpacks how spiritual opposition often signals an impending move of God and calls the “broken, burdened, and burned” to step into their destiny as rebuilders and restorers.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Worldwide Community & Welcome
- Pastor Tim and his team warmly greet over 68 nations and 45 states tuning in (03:24), highlighting the church’s global reach.
- A heartwarming anecdote: A child viewing the service asks, “Is this heaven?” reflecting the palpable presence of God in their worship (03:29).
2. Preaching Truth Amid Opposition
- Pastor Tim addresses the increasing difficulty of preaching biblical truth, noting that for every person who walks out in protest, more are drawn in (05:11).
- The church expects and prepares for opposition, explaining their practice of overcoming disruptions by worship rather than confrontation:
“At that moment, we will out sing your protest. If you’re loud, we’ll out sing you.” — Pastor Tim (07:03)
“We’re not gonna let you take the glory that belongs to Jesus Christ...” — Co-Pastor (07:28)
3. Personal Cost, Calling, and Crisis Leadership
- Pastor Tim relates being called to lead TSC through seasons of sustained crisis—pandemic, civil unrest, volatile elections, wars, shootings—affirming that “we need God more than ever” (09:04).
- Pastoral mentorship: Carter Conlon prophesied years earlier that Tim would be “deepen[ed]” by hardship to lead through crisis.
4. Breaking News: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
- The sermon’s central event is the killing of Charlie Kirk, a well-known evangelical Christian and conservative voice, shot at a university in Utah (12:59).
“Truth is not complex.” — Pastor Tim, quoting Kirk (13:02)
- Pastor Tim emphasizes that Kirk’s murder represents not just an attack on a person, but on truth itself:
“What was murdered was more than a man, but a nation that did not want to hear truth.” — Pastor Tim (14:26)
- He expresses a renewed sense of personal risk and resolve: “I knew…myself, my family…we become a bigger target…hell is trying to silence truth from the pulpit” (15:46).
5. Standing in Truth Confronts Spiritual Attack
- An intercessor sends Pastor Tim a prayer for protection and boldness, bringing comfort and strengthening Tim against fear (16:26).
“It’s always easier and safer…to retreat from our convictions than to stand out for what truth is.” — Pastor Tim (16:46)
- Recent violent incidents near the church reinforce the atmosphere of spiritual and physical danger (15:46).
6. The Biblical Pattern: Murdering Truth Precedes Revival
- Drawing from Acts 7–10, Pastor Tim shows a biblical pattern: the killing of Stephen (a truth-teller) is immediately followed by explosive growth and miracles in the church.
- “Hell will kill a Stephen. Hell will ravage the church because it sees something coming.” — Pastor Tim (22:28)
- The message: When hell attacks truth, it signals heaven is “around the corner” with revival, conversion, and transformation (17:38).
7. Historical and Current Parallels
- 9/11 is cited as Satan’s reaction to spiritual breakthroughs in the Middle East (24:23).
- Ironically, Iran now hosts the fastest-growing church in the world, with mosques closing as thousands of Muslims convert to Christianity (24:20).
8. The Cost of Truth and the Price of Silence
- Pastor Tim challenges listeners:
“What is your price to stop speaking the truth?...If your price is not your life, then you are for sale.” (20:13)
- He declares, “If you want to be a truth-teller, your price has to be your life…This is worth laying down our lives for today.” (20:23/21:00)
9. Progression of Breakthrough After Persecution (Acts 7–10)
- Stephen’s death precedes:
- Revival in Samaria (29:13)
- Expansion into Africa through the Ethiopian eunuch (29:23)
- Salvation of Saul/Paul, a persecutor turned apostle (29:28)
- Resurrection miracles (Dorcas/Tabitha, 33:48)
- The baptism of Gentiles, bringing Pentecost beyond the Jewish world (34:06–36:00)
- The theme: “Don’t get discouraged. Get ready. When hell is fierce, it’s because heaven is close.” (21:00)
10. Application: Living in a World That Murders Truth
- Isaiah 61 is proclaimed as both prophecy and promise: God gives “beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise for heaviness” to the broken, burdened, and burned (39:53–41:49).
“He will take the broken, the burdened, and the burned and transform them for his glory…The broken, burdened, and burned will rebuild, restore and repair.” — Pastor Tim (41:53/44:49)
- The church, filled with imperfect people, is called to be restorers and rebuilders (42:49–45:24).
- A rousing affirmation: “Jesus is the judge…the lawgiver…the king. He will save us.” (46:34–47:12)
11. Invitation and Altar Call: Born Again by Grace
- Pastor Tim presents the gospel simply and powerfully, quoting Charlie Kirk:
“Jesus took my place. Him for me. Substitutionary atonement. Grace…What is different about Christianity is that it is a gift to all humanity.” (51:17–52:15)
- He calls people to be “born again”—not through religion, race, or performance, but through faith in Christ’s finished work (56:42–57:02).
- The traditional “ABC” call: Admit you’re a sinner, Believe Jesus saves, Confess Him as Lord (57:02–57:27).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Preaching Amid Opposition:
“When we preach truth, we’re going to face opposition…for every 25 that walk out, 50 new people walk in.” — Pastor Tim (05:11)
-
On Responding to Attack:
“We will out sing your protest…we’re not going to let you take the glory that belongs to Jesus Christ.” — Pastor Tim (07:03/07:28)
-
Charlie Kirk’s Gospel Summary:
"Here's the gospel in four words: Jesus took my place. Three words: Him for me. Two words: substitutionary atonement. One word: grace." — Quoting Charlie Kirk (51:17)
-
The Cost of Truth:
"If your price is not your life, then you are for sale." — Pastor Tim (20:13)
-
Preparing for Revival:
"When hell is fierce, it's because heaven is close." — Pastor Tim (21:00)
"Don’t get discouraged. Get ready for what God is going to do." — Pastor Tim (33:48)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- (03:24–04:09) – Global greeting and “Is this heaven?” moment
- (05:11–07:28) – Addressing church opposition and protest
- (09:04–10:32) – Personal calling to crisis leadership
- (12:59–15:48) – The news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and its implications for the church
- (16:26–16:55) – A prayer of protection and boldness against fear
- (17:38–22:26) – The pattern: Murder of Stephen, persecution, and the explosion of revival
- (24:20–24:23) – After 9/11: Revival in Iran and the Middle East
- (29:13–29:28) – Why hell fights: Before every awakening, there is opposition
- (39:53–42:49) – Isaiah 61: The transformation of the broken, burdened, and burned into rebuilders
- (46:34–47:12) – Jesus as the fulfillment of all authority (“judge, lawgiver, king”)
- (51:17–53:01) – Charlie Kirk’s gospel summary and the call to grace
- (57:02–59:54) – “ABC” altar call and prayer of salvation
Final Encouragement
Pastor Tim’s message rings with hope and resolve, insisting that believers must not be discouraged by today’s violence and hostility to truth. Instead, such opposition means heaven’s miracles and revival are closer than ever. He calls ordinary, broken people to receive grace and become God’s agents of restoration—rebuilding cities, families, and hearts.
For Those Who Haven’t Listened
This sermon is a rousing, compassionate exhortation to stand firm in truth, embrace God’s transformative grace, and participate in His work—precisely because the world resists His truth. It answers the question of how to live in such a world: expect opposition, receive grace, and rise up as rebuilders, knowing that spiritual attack is often the prelude to spiritual breakthrough.