Steven vs. Sanhedrin

Intro

Play a communication game.

Have 2 students leave then put an orange airhead in my pocket. No one can say the words orange, airhead, or candy. The goal is for them to guess what’s in my pocket.

Give them both a note. 1 says “It’s from Sam’s” and 1 says “It’s from the Cafe”. They cannot show anyone their note.

Both side try to explain what it is.

Communication diagram

The Sender

Who’s sending?

How are they sending?

The Message

Is it clear?

Is it known already?

Is it relevant?

The Receiver

Who’s receiving?

How are they receiving?

The Noise

Who/what’s affected?

Sender?

Message?

Receiver?

All 3?

How powerful?

Stephen’s Obedience

In Acts 6 we read about Steven’s service to the Lord through the ministry of the church.

We also see that the things he was doing were offensive to those around him. Not by his intentions but by their understanding.

Acts 6:8-15 “8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 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. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 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, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 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.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

Communication diagram?

Stephen’s Opportunity

Stephen did not shrink or cower at the opportunity.

He stood before the council with confidence (even if he was scared) because he knew the Gospel.

Acts 7:1-2a “1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me...”

Stephen’s Speech

Stephen considered the influences and “noise” around the situation and adjusted accordingly.

He communicated the Gospel in a way that it fit in the noise.

Acts 7:2-53

Jewish audience deserves Jewish message

Abraham (Not Adam)

Joseph (Egypt captivity)

Moses (Exodus, the highlight of Jewish history)

Joshua (land)

David (Israel’s great king)

Solomon (built temple = presence of God)

The Gospel never changed but he changed his approach to sharing.

Their problem with Stephen was that he was “blasphemous against Moses and God” and “speaks words against this holy place and the law”.

Stephen walked them through their experience and still arrived at the Gospel!

Stephen’s Love

Stephen did not say these things to win an argument or to save his life.

He said these things because he loved Jesus and the people.

Acts 7:54-60 “54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, 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 he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Application

Are we obeying in a way that is evident?

Galatians 5:19-25 “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Are we seeing the opportunities before us? Are we responding or cowering?

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Are we stepping into the context and communicating the Gospel?

1 Corinthians 9:19-27 “19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Do we love God and people enough to sacrifice our comfort and preferences to tell them about Jesus?

Jude 17-23 “17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”