True Follower of Jesus - Acts 6-7

A man had dozed off to sleep during the sunday morning service.

The Pastor asked:

“Will all who want to go to heaven stand up now.”

All stood up, except the sleeping man.

After they sat, the pastor continued, “Well, will all who want to go to the other place please stand?” Somebody suddenly dropped a Bible to the floor with a loud thud, and the sleeping man jumped to his feet and stood facing the preacher.

The sleeper mumbled confused. “Well, preacher, I don’t know what we’re voting for, but it looks like you and I are the only ones for it.”

I don’t know about you, but I want to go to HEAVEN! I guess we better pay attention in church.

The book of Acts is a roadmap of how God intends for the church to operate. We have examples of how the Spirit of God has moved in the past. If we study this we can build a community empowered by the Spirit of God to change our world. More than anything else I want people to be saved. I want people to know the Jesus who gave His life for them.

Theme: Faithfulness in the face of opposition; bold witness for Christ

Aim: Encourage believers to live with boldness and faith, even when it costs everything.

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Have you ever wondered what it really means to follow Jesus?

Not just go to church, sing the songs, or say the right words—but to follow Him when it’s hard, when it costs you something?

The church was growing really quickly in the early chapters of Acts. The original twelve weren’t enough to do all the work. So, they decided to add leaders and people to serve the church.

In Acts 6–7, we meet a man named Stephen. He wasn’t an apostle. He wasn’t a pastor. He was a servant. He was chosen to help feed the widows in the church.

God used Stephen to work miracles and wonders. He was given supernatural wisdom as he spoke to people about Jesus. No one could out argue Stephen. This upset non-believers. They agreed to tell lies about him that got him arrested.

When Stephen stood before the high priest, he took the opportunity to preach about Jesus. He gave a POWERFUL argument that took them down a journey through their history as a people. He taught them about how God used everything that the chosen people experienced to bring them to the point of repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah. He accused them of killing the Messiah that had be prophecied about for hundreds of years.

Well, this upset the council members and they attacked him. They stoned him to death.

Stephen is an example to us today. He was faithful in the face of opposition and a bold witness for Christ

His faith, boldness, and vision of Christ changed the world.

Stephen’s story ends in tragedy by human standards—but in heaven, it ends in glory celebration.

Let’s walk through his story and ask ourselves: Am I willing to live, and die, like Stephen?

Character Matters

Stephen’s Character: A Man Full of the Spirit

Acts 6:3–5 CEV

3 My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God’s Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things. 4 We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching.” 5 This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish people in Antioch.

Stephen was chosen to help serve widows—not because he was flashy, but because he was faithful.

He was full of faith: Not part-time trust. He lived in surrender to God.

He was full of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit didn’t just visit Stephen occasionally; He dwelt in him.

He was full of wisdom: His decisions were shaped by the Word and Spirit of God.

He was full of grace and power (v. 8): He served tables, yes, but he also performed “great wonders.”

Application: You don’t need a title to live powerfully for God.

What matters is not your position, but your submission to the Holy Spirit.

Truth Matters

Stephen’s Courage: Speaking Truth to Power

Acts 6:9–15 CEV

9 But some men from Cyrene and Alexandria were members of a group who called themselves “Free Men.” They started arguing with Stephen. Some others from Cilicia and Asia also argued with him. 10 But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him. 11 So they talked some men into saying, “We heard Stephen say terrible things against Moses and God!” 12 They turned the people and their leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses against Stephen. Then they all grabbed Stephen and dragged him in front of the council. 13 Some men agreed to tell lies about Stephen, and they said, “This man keeps on saying terrible things about this holy temple and the Law of Moses. 14 We have heard him claim that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses gave us.” 15 Then all the council members stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s wisdom couldn’t be contested, so his enemies lied about him.

They accused him of blasphemy—of speaking against the temple and the law.

But notice verse 15: “…his face was like the face of an angel.” In other words, even when surrounded by hate, Stephen radiated peace and glory.

He stands before the religious leaders, the Sanhedrin, and he doesn’t back down.

Do we back down? We should live with boldness and faith, even when it costs everything.

Instead, he preaches one of the most powerful sermons in the Bible (Acts 7).

He tells the story of Israel from Abraham to Moses—and then he says this:

Acts 7:51 CEV

51 You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.

“You stiff-necked people…You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

Application: Boldness is not rudeness. Stephen wasn’t angry—he was honest.

Real love tells the truth, even when it’s unpopular.

Will you speak up for Jesus when it might cost you your reputation—or more?

Eternity Matters

Stephen’s Crown: Seeing Jesus at the Finish Line

Acts 7:54–60 CEV

54 When the council members heard Stephen’s speech, they were angry and furious. 55 But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. 56 Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” 57 The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen 58 and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” 60 He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.

When the crowd heard this, they were furious.

They covered their ears, dragged him out, and stoned him.

But listen to what Stephen saw:

Acts 7:55 CEV

55 But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side.

Usually, Scripture says Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.

But here, Jesus is standing. Why?

This is just my thought here…Jesus is WATCHING with anticipation to what we are doing. He cares. It shows that He’s not taking a passive position with how we are working in His Kingdom Stephen mattered to Jesus.

You matter to Jesus. But that didn’t stop the stones from coming. Jesus could have stopped the pain and suffering but He did not.

Stephen was murdered for Jesus.

Even as the rocks flew, Stephen prayed:

Acts 7:59–60 CEV

59 As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” 60 He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.

Just like Jesus on the cross, he forgave his killers.

Put yourself in his shoes. Is this the prayer you would pray? Honestly, think about your life. Are you living a life of surrender to Jesus that causes the world to see your love for them?

EVEN when you are right. Even when they are wrong, do you choose to love?

Application: The world may reject you.

But Jesus stands to receive you when you live faithfully to the end.

Eternity Matters - it’s coming. Life is nothing compared to eternity. Let’s forgive, forget, and move forward.

Why does this story matter to us? It teaches us about character, truth, eternity, but it also teaches us something else.

People were watching the early church leaders, and people are watching you too. You have a Testimony.

Testimony Matters

Stephen never wrote a book. He never planted a church.

He served food, told the truth, and died with his eyes on Jesus.

But his death sparked something powerful:

The Bible tells us that there was someone there watching. A young man named Saul watched Stephen die.

And one day, that same Saul would become Paul, the greatest missionary the world has ever known.

Stephen’s death was not in vain.

Theme: Faithfulness in the face of opposition; bold witness for Christ

Aim: Encourage believers to live with boldness and faith, even when it costs everything.

Are you full of the Spirit—or full of fear?

Are you willing to tell the truth even when it costs you something?

Are you living for the applause of men—or the approval of Jesus, He is watching.