Expect Opposition Series

Expect Opposition

Acts 6:8-15

Rev. Brian Bill

February 15-16, 2020

Play Clip from “Bible Project”

That clip comes from “The Bible Project.” If you’d like to watch the entire video covering the first twelve chapters of Acts, you can find it on Sermon Extras on our app.

Have you ever been unfairly criticized or judged by someone? Me, too.

Recently, I was in Chicago and came across two guys holding signs attacking some Christian leaders I respect. The words on the signs were in black capital letters and were caustic and unkind. At first, I just walked by but I couldn’t get these angry guys out of my mind. After lunch, I circled back and engaged one of them in conversation.

After asking him why he was holding his sign, he went into a diatribe calling these leaders liars and Satanists, questioning their salvation and motives. I listened politely and then asked a few questions. As far as I could tell, my motives were good, as I engaged respectfully. The longer we talked however, the more I felt myself getting enraged. When I asked him why he was being so unkind, he called me a liar and told me I wasn’t saved! I’m not sure if it was righteous anger rising within me or if my flesh was getting ready for a fight. I tried to defend myself but disengaged before it got ugly.

A couple days later someone told me a person who visited Edgewood accused us of preaching the prosperity gospel. When I heard this, I laughed because it’s so far from the truth. If anything, we preach the persecution gospel, just like Jesus did.

How do you handle unfair accusations? What’s your response when someone attacks your faith or questions your motives? Do you get livid or do you laugh it off?

Let’s listen to how Stephen responded when something worse happened to him. Grab your Bible and meet me in Acts 6:8-15. This text is found on page 914 in the Bible located in the rack in front of you: “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.’ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

Here’s what I want us to get today: Don’t be surprised when people push back. Last weekend Pastor Tim did a super job unpacking the opening verses of Acts 6 to help us see that Spirit-filled servants seek godly solutions to conflict.

1. We learned about different factors that led to conflict within the early church – rapid change, grumbling, discrimination, blind spots and unmet needs.

2. Then he walked us through a process for resolving conflict – keep godly priorities, enlist the help of others, choose a spiritual servanthood mentality and create a workable godly solution. Among the seven deacons selected was a servant named Stephen. BTW, our EBC deacons are true servants as well. Let me share an example. A couple months ago, they surprised me by gifting me with a sabbatical for the month of March. You’re in for a treat when I’m gone because the following men will be preaching – Ray Pritchard, EBC missionary Mike Hillhouse, Jason Crosby, Pastor Kyle Parks, and Cisco Cotto.

3. Pastor Tim concluded by pointing out three results – servants were empowered, the Word of God was elevated, and discipleship increased.

As we dive into the second half of Acts 6, we’ll see a fourth result – opposition from the enemies of the gospel. After being a key player in resolving internal conflict in the church, Stephen is about to find himself in severe opposition with those outside the church.

The first thing to learn from Stephen’s example is to...

1. Cultivate your character. We see in verse 8 some of his distinctive character qualities: “And Stephen, full of grace and power…” The word “full” means, “complete and filled with abundance.” This word is also used in verse 3 to describe all the deacons who were: “full of the Spirit and of wisdom” and in verse 5 to describe Stephen in particular: “…and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” Again, Acts 7:55 tells us Stephen was “full of the Holy Spirit.”