Acts 6:8-7:60

Introduction

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I’ve shared this with you all before. When I was in high school, I worked at Salsarita’s in Kingsport, TN. The owner was a Christian. She was very Charismatic. And she did not live like a Christian. Very sinful, mean, un-Christlike personality. One day after school, I brought my Bible into work to read it during break. Since I always had my Bible with me in my backpack, the cover had a big crease in it. So, when I brought it into the restaurant, I put it on one of the counters with all these heavy pans on it. A few hours later, Donna, came in and started yelling at everyone. She wanted to know who put all that stuff on my Bible (she didn’t even ask whose Bible it was). I had to tell her that no one did that to disrespect the Bible. I did it because it had a crease in it.

Need

Sometimes, we care more about the social constraints and appearances than we do the actual purpose of things. This morning, we are going to be reminded that we don’t need to appear religious, we need true religion.

Referent

Acts 6:8-7:60

Organization

The Imposters (vs. 8-15)

The Persecuted (vs. 1-60)

Sermon in a sentence:

I don’t want to appear religious, I want to accept true religion.

Context

The accusation against Stephen is two-fold. First, Stephen is accused of blaspheming the temple. Second, Stephen is accused of trying to overthrow the law - the OT.

The Imposters (vs. 8-15)

Luke contrasts the elders, scribes, and synagogue of the Freedmen with Stephen.

Stephen is described in terms of Moses and the apostles. Where the religious leaders are described as the ones that put Jesus to death.

Exodus 34:29-35 Moses’ face shines

Stephen is full of grace and power - descriptions of the apostles’ miracles and attitude.

Stephen is speaking like the apostles and Jesus before them.

They secretly gathered false witness for Stephen about the temple like they did with Jesus.

The imposters can’t actually refute Stephen. So, they have to attack him and lie about him.

Saints, let us guard our hearts and minds from these false appearances of godliness. Let us seek to truly be godly.

The Message of Acts Chapter 5. Stephen the Martyr (6:8–7:60)

At first there is serious theological debate. When this fails, people start a personal campaign of lies. Finally, they resort to legal or quasi-legal action in an attempt to rid themselves of their adversary by force. Let others use these weapons against us; may we be delivered from resorting to them ourselves!

The Persecuted (vs. 1-60)

Context

Remember, the accusation against Stephen was two-fold. Temple and Theology. Stephen’s sermon is going to address these two concerns.

The Message of Acts a. The Temple

What Stephen did was to pick out four major epochs of Israel’s history, dominated by four major characters. First he highlighted Abraham and the patriarchal age (7:2–8); then Joseph and the Egyptian exile (9–19); thirdly Moses, the Exodus and the wilderness wanderings (20–44); and lastly David and Solomon, and the establishment of the monarchy (45–50). The connecting feature of these four epochs is that in none of them was God’s presence limited to any particular place. On the contrary, the God of the Old Testament was the living God, a God on the move and on the march, who was always calling his people out to fresh adventures, and always accompanying and directing them as they went.

Abraham (1-8)

v. 3, 4, 5 - He was a pagan, called from a foreign land, and still didn’t see the fulfilment of all of God’s promises.

Egyptian Exile [Joseph and Moses] (9-44)

Stephen uses the word Egypt 8 times in verses 9-18.

Joseph was used by God in a pagan household (Pharoah, prison, and all of Egypt) with no temple or land of his own.

Moses was under Egypt’s house and a foreigner with no land.

Moses’ own people rejected him and despised him.

v. 33- God revealed himself to Moses on holy ground in no temple!

v. 39 God gave Moses “living oracles” but the people still rejected him!

David and Solomon (vs. 44-50)

Even when there was a tabernacle, God’s people rejected him and worshipped falsely.

David, a man after God’s own heart, was not permitted to make the temple.

Luke compares the peaceful death (sleep) of Stephen with the hatred of the people. We see that in the midst of all this, Paul is approving Stephen’s martyrdom. What the world used as sin, God used to spread the gospel and begin the conversion of the apostle Paul.

True religion will be hated by this world, and often times, hated even more by those that bear the name of Christian. Do not fear! We will not make it into heaven by appearances. No! The Lord says he does not see as man sees. No, he sees the heart. I want my heart to be radically changed that I don’t just look religious. I want true religion.

Conclusion

Mitch’s view of preaching from an iPad. Good heart, but blind spots in his own time.

Application

Turn to Christ. Do not harden your hearts and reject his messengers.

Strip off the appearances of religion and put on a heart ready for persecution and action.

Plan how you will preach the gospel this week.

Plan how you will serve Colgate Baptist Church.