ACTS SERIES Week 6 -Stephen

Scripture: Acts 6-8:3

The Big Idea: As the church our attitude should be: “It’s not about me”. We can’t afford to have a consumer mentality which is “ I want”, “I like” “I don’t like”. Our attitude needs to be “I Will”.

5 LESSONS WE LEARN FROM MR. ORDINARY: Stephen

Acts 6:1-8 (NKJV) 6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Stephen Accused of Blasphemy 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

  1. THE CORE OF CHRISTIANITY IS SERVING
  • Internal problems developed.
  • The church rapidly multiplied and there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek speaking believers complained about the Hebrew speaking believers.
  • They assigned motives.
  • They didn’t bring it to the Apostles.
  • Satan attacks through distrust and resentment.
  • A spirit of grumbling and complaining kills more churches than persecution.
  • The Apostles led by example – they were servants.

MSF Core Values:

  1. All About Jesus
  2. Here for Others
  3. Sacrificially Generous
  4. Here to Serve
  5. United in Purpose

Are you using your gifts, talents and abilities for the Lord?

ALL OF US ARE CALLED TO SERVE

  1. THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR PRIORITY

In chapter 7 Stephen preaches the longest recorded sermon in the book of ACTS

  • Are you building your life on God’s Word?
  • The Holy Spirit can bring things to your memory, but only things you have committed to memory.
  • You can’t fire bullets that you haven’t loaded.
  1. GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE
  • Stephen wasn’t an Apostle, he was a man full of the Holy Spirit.

ACTS 6:8-11A (NKJV) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

  • His preaching ultimately led to the conversion of Saul who became Paul.

Mark 9:23 All things are possible to those who believe.

John 16:7 (NKJV) Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, The Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

  • Every believer is a minister; are you sharing who Jesus is to you?

Have you received the fullness of the Holy Spirit?

  1. CHRISTIANITY IS A CONTRADICTION TO OUR WORLD/CULTURE
  • Stephen speaks Truth & Grace (the Christian Formula)
  • Truth without grace is fundamentalism and is easy to dismiss.
  • Grace without Truth is sentimentality with no power.
  • Eyes wide open: If we speak Truth AND Grace our culture will hate us (No matter how much grace you have).

John 15:18-25 …Jesus said: If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own…

  1. SOMETIMES GOD CALLS US TO GIVE OUR ALL
  • Stephen did everything right and he ended up dead.

Acts 6:15 (NKJV) And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel…

Acts 7:54-59 (NKJV) Stephen the Martyr 54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Saul was one of the witnesses; he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging our men and women to throw them into prison.” Acts 8:1 & 3

  • Stephen’s most effective contribution to the kingdom of God came through his martyrdom.
  • Stephen’s life screams: “It’s not about me!” – it’s pointing people to Jesus.
  • He didn’t say, “I want, I like, I don’t like.” Stephen said: “I Will!”

Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Acts 8:55

In JESUS’ affirmation we see:

  • The religious leaders reject him;but Jesus declares Stephen is mine!
  • Earth was condemning him; but heaven was commending him.
  • Earth was rejecting him; but heaven was receiving him.

Right now Jesus is sitting & standing in love and victory at the right hand of God. The degree to which we understand Jesus’ love AND victory is the degree to which we will be able to endure suffering.

Action Step:

God wins the world through His people who say: “I will! It’s not about me. Jesus Christ is worth it all. We will serve, whatever the cost.

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