THE EARLY CHURCH (10)

THE SLANDER OF CHRISTIANS

Pray

Recap of the seven men that was chosen to help.

Acts 6:8–10 CSB

Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

Full of grace and power (grace or faith)

Great signs and wonder, he is not an apostle

There is power in the name of Jesus

Are GOD is a miracle

All theses people came to argue with Stephen.

They were unable to because what? (wisdom and the Spirit)

How do I witness lean on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit

Cilicia with a city called Tarsus.

Saul of Tarsus

Acts 6:11–14 CSB

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

Secretly persuaded, So how do you think Luke found out about this? Maybe Saul of tarsus told him.

The Lies they stared to tell to try to turn the people against Steven. (Jesus is greater than Moses and the temple)

Jesus came to fulfill the law.

How are Christians slandered?

Narrow minded- one way

Cruel - The teaching of Hell

anti-science - God created to world

Hateful - Marriage and Gender

Controlling - Not letting a woman control her own body. ( Fruit of the Spirit is Self-Control)

Maybe if they practice self-control there wouldn’t be a unwanted pregnancy.

Why do people want to slander Christians?

People love their Sin!

John 3:19–21 CSB

This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

They are angry when light is shown on them.

John 15:18–20 CSB

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

John 15:25 CSB

But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.

Matthew 10:16–22 CSB

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Acts 6:15 CSB

And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

He spoke truth without hating them.