Sermon Tone Analysis

Christians unsure they’ll be welcomed by Jesus into God’s New Creation

[some think that is humility, others just afraid]

[Athanasian Creed? - do good to be saved…]

Those who have done good will enter eternal life

Those who have done evil will enter eternal life

Sounds similar.

Maybe it’s just Paul

But this is Jesus now.

Here’s a further insight - the righteous do things for Jesus’ people - for other Christians.

In our account - Stephen is someone who knows he’s getting into God’s kingdom.

He does things for Jesus’ people.

Be like Stephen?

To get into God’s kingdom?:

A method of looking at characters in the Bible to be examples - be like x, y, z...

(to get the confidence he has - imitate him)

That’s not the solution - by the way - not that these characters are not good examples - but their stories are here for a much bigger picture -

Will look at Stephen’s God - and then we will

RECAP

where are we?

increasing conflict, challenge to powers, word spreading, church growing (10,000+)

still in Jerusalem

7 chosen - Stephen one of those: but does signs and wonders, a preaching role too (not limited) - but he also preaches, gets arrested, dragged before SAnhedrin, gives a sermon, enrages the Jews and gets stoned to death.

[becomes first Christian killed, church scatters finally to Judea and Samaria, we meet Saul as persecutor]

God’s Holy Spirit gives power and wisdom

Impressive - but this is God at work through Stephen

notice this is not the role of widow care - they were never restricted to this

wisdom: where from? - the Spirit gave him this

he’s a proclaimer of Jesus

you can be too

you don’t need to be a minister, or even educated, it is God’s wisdom, not human wisdom - by God’s Spirit

(nor do we need to be worried or ashamed of clever people)

He’s one of God’s messengers.

God makes it plain that he is at work in Stephen.

God will make it plain he is at work through you.

Stephen relies on God.

It is here God who is powerful, who is wise.

(the people who glow in the Bible are people who’ve spent time in God’s presence - Moses, Jesus -Stephen).

[church in a classroom, around a tree || where is God, where can I meet God?]

The Rescuing God is WITH his people

God comes to humans.

God takes the initiative in approaching humans.

God shows up with his people.

With Joseph.

In Egypt.

There’s no Holy Place Joseph needs to go to to get to God.

God - the promise making God - is with his people.

Again, God approaches his people.

Holy Ground is wherever God shows up.

God is the God who cares for his people and will rescue his people.

God gives living words.

Words of life.

Again it is God speaking to Moses outside of Israel.

All this that Stephen knows leads him to his conclusion, quoting from Isaiah 66

Stephen knows how awesome God is.

He also knows the danger of turning places and practices and processes into the things to be worshipped rather than the God who set those things up.

And the danger of getting caught up in procedure and actually neglecting God.

You can be in a holy place, doing a holy process - and not be connected with God.

Stephen starts his sermon by calling the group brothers and fathers - and ends with:

You can be in the holy family, with godly parents, and not be connected with God.

Isaiah 66 continues straight after heaven being God’s throne with the same warning and judgment on those who do religious things without loving God and his word.

God has a heart for rescue and forgiveness - but equally is holy and expects his followers, those who trust him to also obey him and love his word.

The rest of the Isaiah passage is a word of blessing for those who love God’s word, judgment for hypocrites - and a message of those saved carrying the news to all nations (like is about to happen in this passage see 8:4),

The persecution which comes will cause the entire church to be scattered - but Jesus actually knows what he is doing:

[Don’t judge a book by its cover - don’t count your chickens -

Ruth: “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong” - living like Stephen is not a recipe for immunity

Barnabas Fund - Jesus’ own experience as an innocent sufferer

The Ruling Lord Jesus is FOR his servants

standing to receive him,

Stephen already knows that Jesus is alive from the dead, and in charge - but he gets a vision of Jesus - on his side - standing up for Stephen, ready for action.

Death not a threat worth making when you worship the God who raises the dead.

If God is for us - who can be against us?

Jesus is with you as you go about your day amongst maybe even people who look down on Christians and Jesus.

not delivered from stoning, but received into kingdom

God who is a rescuing God - did not rescue Stephen.

Stephen did not seem to expect it.

But comitted himself to a God who is just, who raises the dead, and who brings right judgment in his good time.

understands God’s forgiveness and wants it for his murderers (like Jesus)

This is Jesus-like.

God-like.

The deeper we know the God of glory, the more we will long for rescue not vengeance.

[Finally - Stephen understands that Jesuss has brought forgiveness - he trusts in the Risen Jesus - and he does good after because that is simply what trusting in the risen Lord Jesus requires - obedience to Jesus to love his neighbour - it’s what the Athanasian creed lays out - you don’t enter eternal life because you’ve done good - you do good because you know Jesus and trust him - it’s the fruit of a Christian life -

you get into God’s kingdom by trusting in the same Jesus who Stephen trusted in...

The Holy Spirit gives power to God’s people for wisdom and witness to Jesus in our lives

The Rescuing God is with his people wherever they are

The Ruling Lord Jesus is FOR his servants.