Hebron church of ChristDon’t Forget:•Announcements: Stanley Barnes•Nursing Home @ 2:00•VBS, June 6-9

Welcome to the

May 30, 2009

The First Christian Martyr

I. His ServiceII. His SermonIII. His Stoning

Stephen

Stephen’s Service• The necessity of his service

– Acts 6:1-4 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration…look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business…

What is needed around here?

Stephen’s Service• The nature of his service

– Acts 6:5-8, 10 …and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…And Stephen, being full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people…and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spake…

– Stephen was a respected man– Stephen was a ready man– Stephen was a remarkable man

Would we be

chosen?

Stephen’s Service• The negation of his service

– Acts 6:9-14 Then there arose certain of the synagogue…disputing with Stephen…then they suborned men…And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses…

– They argued– They undermined– They arrested

What if we faced

similar attacks?

Stephen’s Sermon• The crux of his sermon

– Stephen’s sermon is an apology•Acts 7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

– He emphasized God’s dealing with man•7:2-7, 8, 9-10, 17, 30-34, 37, 45

– He emphasized man’s dealing with God•7:35, 41-43, 48-49

Has man really changed?

Stephen’s Sermon

• The characteristics of his sermon– It was knowledgeable– It was to-the-point (7:51-53)– It was motivational

How would we have reacted?

Stephen’s Stoning

• The motivation for the stoning:– Conviction (7:54a-b)– Malice (7:54c)– Stubbornness (7:57)– Ignorance (7:58, I Timothy 1:13)

Have we ever been guilty of stoning?

Stephen’s Stoning

• The magnificence of the stoning:– Jesus’ interest (7:55-56)– Stephen’s intervention (7:60)

Will we take positive lessons from

this tragic event?

Consider During Lord’s Supper:

Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: