How should we live?

What are you

FULLof?

Opening Question . . .Opening Question . . .

What are you

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How should we live?

What are you

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Opening Question . . .

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz,

_________.

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Opening Question . . .My baloney has a first name, it’s

___________.

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Opening Question . . .Sermon Stickiness

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Opening Question . . .Sermon Subject . . .

THE STORY OFTHE STONING OF

STEPHEN

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Opening Question . . .Today’s Theme . . .

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Opening Question . . .Outline

• START• FINISH

How should we live?

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Opening Question . . .

START

How should we live?

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Opening Question . . .

SETTING

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Opening Question . . .1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian

Jews among them complained against the

Hebraic Jews because their widows were being

overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

(All scripture quotations from the New International Version®)

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Opening Question . . .

Squabble

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Opening Question . . .2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right

for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order

to wait on tables.

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Opening Question . . .3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over

to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the

ministry of the word.”

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Opening Question . . .5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose

Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor,

Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch . . .

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Opening Question . . .7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem

increased rapidly . . .

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Opening Question . . .

SevenServants

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Opening Question . . .

Stephen

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Opening Question . . .Stephen

• Stephanos = “crown”• One of 72? 120? 3,000?

• Full of the Spirit, wisdom and faith

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Opening Question . . .

SEIZURE

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Opening Question . . .8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power,

did great wonders and miraculous signs among

the people.

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Opening Question . . .

Signs

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Opening Question . . .9Opposition arose, however, from members of

the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was

called) — Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as

the provinces of Cilicia and Asia.

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Opening Question . . .These men began to argue with Stephen, 10but

they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

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Opening Question . . .

Synagogue

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Opening Question . . .Synagogue• Sunagoges = “gathering”

• Synagogue of the Freedmen – former slaves• Stephen’s superior Spirit-filled wisdom

stumped ‘em all

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Opening Question . . .11Then they secretly persuaded some men to

say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of

blasphemy against Moses and against God.“

12So they stirred up the people and the elders and

the teachers of the law.

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Opening Question . . .

Slander

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Opening Question . . .Slander• Secretly spoke against Stephen

• Stirred ‘em up• Said spoke against Temple and

Law

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Opening Question . . .They seized Stephen and brought him before

the Sanhedrin.13They produced false

witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops

speaking against this holy place and against the law.

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Opening Question . . .14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of

Nazareth will destroy this place and change the

customs Moses handed down to us."

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Opening Question . . .

Sanhedrin

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Opening Question . . .Sanhedrin

• Supreme Court of seventy • Same old scene

• Subornation• Full of SELVES

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Opening Question . . .15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the

face of an angel.

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Opening Question . . .

Shining

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Opening Question . . .Shining

• Just like Moses and Jesus• Reflecting God’s glory

• Let your light SHINE!

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Opening Question . . .

SERMON

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Opening Question . . .

Summary

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Opening Question . . .Summary

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Opening Question . . .

Specifics

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Opening Question . . .48[T]he Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the

prophet says:

49”'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my

footstool . . . 50Has not my hand made all

these things?’

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Opening Question . . .Specifics

• God in a box• God in us

• God in the world

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Opening Question . . .51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts

and ears!You are just like your fathers:

You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a

prophet your fathersdid not persecute?

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Opening Question . . .They even killed those who predicted the coming of the

Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered

him . . .

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Opening Question . . .

Stiff-neckedSpirit Suckers

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Opening Question . . .Stiff-necked Spirit Suckers• Stiff-necked?

• Uncircumcised hearts and ears?• Like father, like son: “You always resist

the Holy Spirit!”• From accused to accuser: You

murdered God!

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Opening Question . . .54When they heard this,they were furious and

gnashed their teeth at him.

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Opening Question . . .

SteamedSavages

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Opening Question . . .55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven

and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he

said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of

God.”

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Opening Question . . .

SONOF

MAN

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Opening Question . . .Son of Man

• Stephen: “full of the Holy Spirit”• Son of Man?

• Stand!

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Opening Question . . .[M]y dear brothers, stand firm.Let nothing move you.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;be men of courage; be strong.

(1 Corinthians 16:13)

Be patient and stand firm,because the Lord's coming

is near.(James 5:8)

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Opening Question . . .

STONING

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Opening Question . . .57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of

their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.

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Opening Question . . .Stoning 101• Shunned: dragged outside city

• Shoved: into 11-foot hole• Stoned: witnesses go first, then all Israel

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Opening Question . . .59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed,

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on

his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin

against them." When he had said this, he fell

asleep.

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Opening Question . . .

Sacrifice

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Opening Question . . .Sacrifice

• Stephen: the Church’s first martyr• Martus = “witness”

• We are ALL witnesses• “Crown of life”

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Opening Question . . .Seeds“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” (Tertullian)

“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 14:24)

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Opening Question . . .

SCATTERING

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Opening Question . . .1bOn that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and

all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea

and Samaria . . .

4Those who had been scattered preached the word

wherever they went.

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Opening Question . . .

SAUL

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Opening Question . . .[T]he witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a

young man named Saul. (7:58b)

And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. (8:1)

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Opening Question . . .Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house

to house, he dragged off men and women and put

them in prison. (8:3)

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Opening Question . . .

STRIKING SIMILARITIES

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Opening Question . . .Striking Similarities

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Opening Question . . .Follow the example of

CHRIST(1 Corinthians 11:1)

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Opening Question . . .

FINISH

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Opening Question . . .

Full?

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Opening Question . . .Full of . . .

• Spirit: where it all starts• Power: plug in

• Wisdom: know the Word• Grace: spread it

• Faith: trust God 1,827%

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Opening Question . . .

Free?

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Opening Question . . .

Fearless?

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Opening Question . . .

Forgiving?

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Opening Question . . .

Fruitful?

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Opening Question . . .Fruit of the Sinful Natureimmorality impurity debauchery idolatry hatred discord drunkenness jealousyfits of rage factions dissensions envyselfish ambition . . .

“Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

(Galatians 5:21)

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Opening Question . . .Fruit of the Spirit

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

(Galatians 5:25)

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Opening Question . . .How will

YOUfinish?