How to share your faith like Stephen

1. Be in the word (6:18-7:50)

The wisdom of Stephen (6:8-15)

Acts 6:8–15 (NKJV)

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.

They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Stephen calls on the prophets for his defense (7:1-50)

Abraham (7:2-8)

Acts 7:3–5 (NKJV)

and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.

And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.

faithfulness

How has God shown faithfulness to you in your life?

Joseph (7:9-16)

Acts 7:9–10 (NKJV)

“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

God’s mercy

How does God’s mercy affect you when you have been doing wrong?

Moses (7:17-38)

Acts 7:35–37 (NKJV)

“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

“This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’

The stiffneckedness of the Israelites

Why do you think the Israelites refuse to believe in God despite seeing all the miracles?

Rejection (7:39-50)

Acts 7:42 (NKJV)

Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,O house of Israel?

God’s righteous judgement of unbelievers

Do you believe God has been patient or impatient with the Israelites?

Then is God’s judgement good or bad? Why?

Acts 7:49–50 (NKJV)

‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?’

Idolatry of the temple

How can we take things that are good in our lives too far? (Idolatry)

Proverbs 2:1–6 (NKJV)

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

Yes, if you cry out for discernment,And lift up your voice for understanding,If you seek her as silver,And search for her as for hidden treasures;Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,And find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Does anyone remember the wisdom of Stephen? According to Proverbs where does Stephen get his wisdom?

The wisdom of Stephen (6:10) and God giving Him wisdom according to Proverbs

2. Call people to come to Jesus (7:51-53)

Acts 7:51–53 NKJV

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

What does exhortation mean?

Hebrews 3:13 NKJV

but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

3. Love others (7:54-60)

Acts 7:54–60 (NKJV)

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans 12:19–21 (NKJV)

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Has there been a time where someone has wronged you and you were extremely upset? How did you react?

How can reacting with kindness change the game?