Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Emotion Tone
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Witness: Stephen
Acts 7
INTRODUCTION
Each of us also has people who have invested in our lives that have helped shaped us into who we are today.
-Telling my grandfather of my call.
-Grandfather’s advice for me.
Billy Graham has preached at some of the largest observed funerals the world has known including JFK.
He always preached Jesus.
- Funeral service for fallen police officer.
–Chase Whitebird (23)
Largest group I've ever preached to.
Over 1,000 in our building- many state dignitaries-
and hundreds more at other churches across town.
Broadcast live on the internet on the website of the 3 TV stations in OKC.
(This was 16 to 18 years ago)
I preached Jesus.
– because I already made up my mind to be faithful.
Stephen was an early believer.
He was not an Apostle.
It doesn’t appear he is a trained leader of any kind.
He was a Hellenistic Jew (name- as was all first 7 deacons).
He had just recently been given a responsibility to serve the widows.
He gets arrested and has a chance to speak to the religious leaders.
Talk about intimidating.
How does he respond?
6 Characteristics of Stephen's Witness
Opportunistic (1)
Acts 7:1
Took advantage of the opportunity
Seems like a hardship, not an opportunity.
Acts 6:8-14
Will you preach Jesus or preach self preservation?
In most settings it takes a risk.
ILL-I learned why my grandfather made a big deal of preaching the gospel at funerals.
It is easy to think your job is to please the family.
How do you please an unchurched family?
Impress dignitaries?
ILL-Many preachers have been on major news talk shows.
Some compromise and some get criticized for taking a stand.
Relevant (1-8)
Acts 7:1-8
He was speaking to educated Jews.
Religious leaders.
This message does not work with a Gentile audience who doesn't have a clue who he is referring to.
Paul- when he was preaching to Gentile pagans at Athens he spoke about the Temple to the Unknown God.
In America it is important to tell people the importance of not making up own rules for salvation.
Telling them they need Jesus goes nowhere for someone who believes that they are good and going to heaven as they are.
In African village who has never heard of Jesus- you start with Creation.
Revealing (35-50)
Jesus was light in darkness – We are to be too.
John 3:19-22
Showed them Failure in Rejection (35-43)
Acts 7:35-43
Showed Them Failure in the System (44-50)
Acts 7:44-50
Bold (51-53)
Acts 7:51-53
Consequence of actions.
He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by talking to them.
“Right to remain silent.
Boldness to tell them what they did not want to hear.
But need to hear.
Different in large group setting- compared to one on one.
Hopeful (54-60)
Pointed them to the forgiveness through Jesus.
(54-60)
Acts 7:54-60
7:60- he didn't take their sins personally.
Acts 7:60
Sermon did not come from a heart of hate but of love.
He showed them something better than the way they were living.
Never preach condemnation without giving hope to those condemned.
We were all condemned because of our sin.
We received the hope of eternal glory.
Jesus paid the price for that sin.
Point to the cross.
Fruitful (58)
Acts 7:58
Saul is there to hear this sermon and witness the miraculous face of Stephen.
Unintended consequences
At the end of this event it appears Stephen dies and no one changed because of his message.
It even appears that a negative change happens against the church
Acts 8:1-3
But in reality the next great godly leader has been introduced.
seeds were planted in a hard heart- Saul.
Road to Damascus- not the first Saul heard of Jesus.
He was persecuting them not out of ignorance.
He had seen Stephen’s face glow.
He heard the message of forgiveness and the vision of Stephen of heaven.
You may never know the impact of your witness.
Even when it seems to have no fruit- you may have planted seeds in the heart of the next Saul, or Billy Graham.
CONCLUSION
It is not our place to determine if it is worth the risk.
It is our place to take advantage of every opportunity to witness, whether one or millions.
Are you faithful in every opportunity?
What opportunity have you been missing?
Today is an opportunity.
An opportunity to surrender.
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