Sermon Tone Analysis

Stephen - a deacon remembered for his TESTIMONY

Testimony is a word used in some church contexts.

It’s a good and fitting word, but depending on ones background, the word “testimony might not be readily understood.

First Baptist Church, Essex - person whose testimony impacted you most this year.

Testimony - How do we use the term?

Court of law - Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Church or any other context - Do you promise to live, tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?

This morning we are going to study one man’s testimony as it is recorded in the Scriptures.

This man’s testimony is comparatively long - one chapter in the Book of Acts.

Before we turn to that chapter, we need to underscore in our minds the importance of a good clear testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ.

A second hand story will help us here.

In its first hand account the story is not mine, but I have experienced the details related myself.

Because the theology of the initial teller of the story has gone somewhat askew, I will not mention his name.

I do not want to seem to affirm his few areas of unbiblical theology.

What happens in some Black/Afro-American evangelical churches is worth remembering.

“In my church back home we have a student recognition day once a year, and all the kids come in who are going to the university.

And the old folks in my church love to hear them as they say, "I'm studying literature at Yale." "I'm studying music at Juilliard."

"I'm studying science at Harvard."

And they love to hear these kids, and at my church they're very responsive.

They go, "Mama, thank you Jesus.

Beautiful, thank you Lord."

It's a really nice feeling.

And when they were all finished and sitting down, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, my pastor got up and he said, "CHILDREN!",

YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE! YOU'RE GONNA DIE!" It's a good thing to tell kids.

He said, "You don't think you're going to die, But you're going to die.

They're going to drop you in a hole.

They're going to throw dirt in your face and they're going to go back to the church and eat potato salad!"

He said, "When you were born, you were the only one that was crying - everybody else was happy.

More important is this.

When you die, will YOU be the only one that's happy?

And everybody else will cry."

"It depends," he said, "It depends on what you live for.

Do you live for titles or Testimonies?"

Then he did what only my pastor can do, he swept through the entire Old Testament in just five minutes.

He said, "There was Moses, and there was Pharaoh.

Pharaoh had the title - Ruler of Egypt.

That's a good title.

Good title - Ruler of Egypt.

Moses, on the other hand, had no power.

But when it was over, Pharaoh may have had the title, but Moses had Testimonies!"

He said, "There was Daniel and there was Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar was King of Babylon.

Good title - King.

King Nebuchadnezzar.

But when it was over, that's all he had.

He had the title, but Daniel (who emerged unscathed from the lion’s den) had the Testimonies!”

He said, "There was Jezebel, the Queen.

Good title - Queen.

Every woman would love to be Queen Jezebel.

And there was Elisha - the prophet of God.

She was going to kill him, but when it was over, that's all Jezebel had, was a title.

She had the title, but Elisha had the Testimonies.”

People of God, I tell you the truth, one of these days you are going to die, and they're going to drop you in a hole, and they're going to throw dirt in your face, and they're going to go back to the church and eat potato salad.

But the only question is, What do you leave behind?”

The man whom we will consider this morning, did not have title, BUT he did have and leave behind a very clear powerful testimony that probably impacted another man who after this first man’s death was converted.

Today, we will consider the testimony of Stephen.

Stephen’s testimony is recorded for us in .

Some might ask how or who recorded Stephen’s testimony.

Witnesses - Saul - ;

Other believers

Oral culture, memorized OT Scripture, studied with local synagogue leaders.

Holy Spirit brought to memory and imbedded in hearts

Dr Luke - ;

Stephen, whose testimony we will consider, is listed in as one of the seven men - full of the Spirit and wisdom - that 12 recommended and the believers affirmed to deacon/serve/wait on tables for the widows.

In the listing of those 7, Stephen was the first listed.

For him and the others, it was noted that they were all full of faith.

For those men, the deaconing table as an expression of their faith -