Stephen: Willing To Go Were No Christian Had Gone Before
Acts 6:1-8:1
Introduction
A. One of my favorite expressions to make fun of is “it is to die for”
B. The old cook at the Lighthouse loved to use this one
C. These cookies are to die for
D. This quiche is to die for
E. (Some how it always related to food)
F. This fish is to die for
G. The question is what really is to die for
H. Certainly Cookies are good, and we all know that I like cookies, but are they do die for?
I. So what is to die for
J. Stephen had to answer that question in his life
K. He decided that it was worth dying for Jesus
L. We are going to look at his life today and we are going to see how Stephen persevered in his Character, his speech and his death.
I. Persevering Character (6:1 – 6:10)
A. Explanation
1. There was an argument about not receiving equal amounts of food among everybody
2. The Apostles realized that this was a problem, however they were just overextended and did not have the time to be able to deal with this
3. They put there brains together and created a position to deal with the problem
4. Now understanding that this was important task they wanted to make sure that the ones chosen for this meant a couple of qualifications
a) Full of the Sprit. – They must show evidence of living for God
b) Wisdom – There was going to see some tough choices that would have to be made, and therefore must have wisdom
5. So after the apostles were done making the job description it was time to fill the positions
6. Notice what it says about Steven
7. He was a man of faith and of the Holy Spirit (6:5)
8. Also in Verse 6:8 we find that he was a man full of God’s Grace and power
9. Stephen accept this job and began doing the work that God called him to do
10. There were people he offended along the way,
11. However he constantly persevered and his Character was never questioned
B. Application
1. What can we learn from this?
2. Reputations are not always deserved
3. Reputations can be completely wrong
4. However, we base a lot of things we do on reputations, right or wrong that is how we do it
5. Stephen was a man with a good reputation
6. To gain a good reputation does not happen over night
7. Stephen had a good reputation
8. he was known as a person who was full of faith and the holy sprit, filled with God Grace and power
9. How did he do that?
10. He did that with his persevering Character.
11. Folks this is something that does not happen overnight. This is something that takes a lifetime to develop
C. Illustration
1. I hate to always use myself as a example but When I came hear 2 ½ years ago I came here as the little kid that crawled underneath the pews. That was the reputation that I had. I had to use my persevering Character to change that reputation. It does work. But it takes time
2. What about you? Are you modeling a persevering Character?
II. Persevering Speech (7:1 – 7:53)
A. Explanation
1. First of all you should be really happy that I am your Pastor and Stephen is not
2. Look at the length of this sermon. Imagine having to listen to all that J
3. Yes it is a long sermon, however he was pleading for his life here.
4. He knew that they were going to kill him.
5. But he took the opportunity to try and change their minds
6. During this speech he goes through the entire history of Israel.
7. Reminding them how they got to this point in life
8. Then he gets to the conclusion
9. Now this is not a conclusion were they join hands and start singing Kumbiyah
10. Not even close (Read 7:51-53)
B. Application
1. What can we learn from this?
2. It would have been real easy for Stephen to deny the charges
3. It would have been real easy for Stephen to say I am sorry
4. It would have been real easy for Stephen to get out of this mess
5. What does Stephen do?
6. He Preservers with speech
7. He hangs in their and delivers a blow to the Sanhedrin
8. He convicts them of their wrong doing
9. Anyone can say what people want them to hear
10. The question comes is when you have to tell them what they do not want to hear.
C. Illustration
1. There was a preacher in the Squirrel Hills who was fired from his Church in 1998. This would have not caught the media attention but he did not want to leave. He felt he was being kicked out unfairly. That still would have not caught the Media’s attention. What caught there attention was he received $250,000 to leave. The reason that he was being kicked out was because he was not afraid to talk about sin. Several members of the church said that he would leave them feeling bad about sin. They wanted someone to come in there give them a little pep talk and make them happy every week. Not someone who was going to talk about sin
2. He refused to compromise his speech and it cost him his job
3. Stephen refused to compromise his speech and it cost him his life
4. Yes there is a cost to persevering speech
5. Are you willing to pay it?
III. Persevering Death (7:54-8:3)
A. Explanation
1. The Sanhedrin did not like his whole response
2. Ok so the correct response would be that they were (Read 7:54)
3. At this point Stephen did something a little different then most people would do in a situation like this
4. He looked up at Heaven and Saw Jesus
5. Now the bible does not recorded this but I am going to assume that at the moment he felt a comfort and peace all around him
6. Once Stephen said this look at verse 7:57-58
7. I can just picture these people covering their ears. Wouldn’t that be fun to see?
8. Look at verse 59-60
9. Wow, This is in the middle of having huge stones wailed at him and look at what he says
10. Lord do not hold this sin against them
B. Application
1. What can we learn from all of this
2. First of all we need to remember to rejoice that we are not Stephen
3. We sit here and say what a great man he was, but lets be honest none of us would want to be Stephen
4. Put notice Stephen how he persevered even in his death
5. WE do not face death every day like that
6. But what about at work on Monday Morning (That is pretty close to death) do we preserver then?
7. What about when someone is insulting you? Do you persevere then?
8. When does persevering end for you?
C. Illustration
1. Speaking of preserving even when facing death. When I am driving the van Wednesdays there are times when I think I am about to die. However my Dad taught me a secret to be able to handle those situations. Start Singing in my head. Wow you would not believe how meaningful “Soon and Very Soon” Becomes while you are driving done the road
2. yes there will be times when you will face a difficult situation
3. But will you still model the life that you model while things are good?
Conclusion
A. Stephen was a fascinating person
B. Read that passage about Stephen a couple of time and understand what all happens, it is good stuff
C. Stephen was the first Martyr
D. This happened because of his perseverance
E. He persevered with his charter
F. He persevered with his speech
G. He persevered with his death
H. What about you?
I. Would you be willing to live this Christian life we always talk about out if it meant death
J. Or do you lack perseverance
K. WE are going to close with Ill obey
L. There is a line in the song that says “If I cost me everything”
M. Well it did cost Stephen everything
N. Are you willing to do that same?
