Wednesday 20190313

INtro- Snapshots

** Ordinary people—see self in them

Acts 6:8 ESV

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Hard to call ordinary—cf unauspicious beginning, but perfet equip

*** At some point, [potential][ must be activated

Cf whole life redemption

Acts 6:9–7:1 ESV

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. 1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

acts 6

The measure of the disciple is not who anyone thinks you are but what you bring to the moment

Look at --

Acts 6:5 ESV

5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

FAITH & Holy SPIRIT become WISDOM AND POWER

*8 cf knife to giun fight

*** ordinary man affected by extraordinary God

Power of God brings two effects--

power in the purpose

resentment in the opposition

** Look at 3 possible concerns--

-personal

organizational

eternal

** which is Stephen caring for

what happens to the other two

is that often a concern?

What does simple stephen bring?

history

theology

society

***It’s where these coincide (3 circles)

“w/ Christ

That’s where Jesus is

Luke 9:23–24 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Revelation 12:11 ESV

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Galatians 6:14 ESV

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Cf Heb re: not afraid to die

*** 1,000 ways to die

*** “Noah got a rainbow)

Joh the Baptist

Rich young Ruler

*** Sacrifice becomes activation—Cf whole life restoration—you don’t know what purpose life is until activated—not “laid down” in terms of dropped, but yielded

twp places--

1- preparation

2- activation

Calls to us tonight