CCA Sunday Service 6-28-2026 BE LIKE JESUS

Luke describes Stephen as a man who received the biggest deliverance, not a long life, not escape from suffering, but a life made like Christ. The book of Acts shows that Stephen’s short life had the testimony of heaven upon it, full of grace, full of power, and full of the Holy Spirit. Christ calls the church not merely to receive something in his name, but to become like him, because if a person does not become like Christ, there is no point in all other deliverances.

Stephen’s life points to Jesus in clear ways. The Spirit empowered Stephen like Jesus, and the Spirit gave Stephen unanswerable wisdom like Jesus. Luke shows that when the rulers could not defeat Stephen’s wisdom, they moved into lies, deception, false witnesses, and character assassination. The same thing happened to Jesus. When truth could not be answered, the enemy tried to bruise the person.

Acts shows Stephen enduring trial like Jesus. The council accused Stephen of dishonoring Moses, but his face shone like the face of an angel. That shining face becomes a sign of real growth. It is not only how a person behaves in church that matters, but how that person stands in family, job, school, and pressure. Stephen’s face testified that Christlikeness is not a Sunday brightness, but a life that shines under accusation.

Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 preached the Old Testament like Jesus. The speech showed that God’s presence was never locked into one place. God appeared to Abraham among idols, God was with Joseph in Egypt, and God met Moses in the wilderness. The history of God’s people is filled with God appearing, God speaking, God sending, God promising, God punishing, and God rescuing. History is his story, filled with the work and sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stephen suffered and died like Jesus. While stones were falling, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” That prayer had no demand for deliverance and no cry for enemy elimination. It had heaven in view, surrender in the spirit, humility in the posture, and forgiveness in the heart. That prayer was not wasted, because Saul was included in it, and Jesus later saved the worst of sinners.

God is sovereign over persecutions. Stephen’s death brought sorrow, but it became a catalyst for the gospel’s advancement. The enemy cannot destroy God’s plan. Christlikeness is tough, but the most fortunate experience in life is to live like Jesus, minister like Jesus, and leave the world with the spirit secure in the hands of Jesus.

##

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Christlikeness is the biggest deliverance The book of Acts does not present Stephen’s deliverance as escape from death. Stephen received something deeper, a life so joined to Christ that even a short span became fruitful for the kingdom. The church loses its main goal when Jesus becomes only a name for getting things, instead of the Lord who makes a person like himself. [44:47]
• 2. A shining face under accusation Stephen’s face shone when false witnesses accused him of dishonoring Moses. That moment shows growth that cannot be measured by church behavior alone, because real maturity appears when pressure, injustice, and hostility rise. Christlikeness is not brightness in a safe place, but grace visible when the whole environment turns against a person. [57:57]
• 3. God’s presence is not contained Stephen’s history shows God appearing to Abraham among idols, staying with Joseph in Egypt, and meeting Moses in the wilderness. The presence of God is not trapped in a holy location, even though the gathered church remains precious. God goes with his people into dry places, hostile places, and ordinary places, and speaks there also. [74:33]
• 4. Prayer can forgive while bleeding Stephen prayed while stones were striking him, and his prayer did not center on escape or revenge. His eyes were on heaven, his spirit was surrendered to Jesus, his knees showed humility, and his mouth carried forgiveness. Such prayer may look weak to people, but heaven receives the prayer that carries a broken heart and a Christlike spirit. [83:15]
• 5. Persecution cannot stop God’s plan Stephen’s death scattered the church, but that scattering carried the gospel into new places. Saul looked like the destruction of the church, yet God had already appointed a day for Saul’s conversion. The enemy may burden the church with suffering, but the sovereign God can turn even persecution into mission.
  
  ## [96:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [42:11] - Be Like Christ Continued
• [43:16] - The Biggest Deliverance
• [46:54] - Two Questions For The Church
• [47:53] - Stephen Empowered Like Jesus
• [49:29] - Unanswerable Wisdom By The Spirit
• [50:30] - Stephen Endured Trial Like Jesus
• [54:30] - Lies, Deception, And False Witnesses
• [57:57] - A Face Like An Angel
• [64:27] - Stephen Preached The Old Testament
• [74:33] - God’s Presence With His People
• [81:17] - Stephen Suffered And Died Like Jesus
• [88:35] - A Prayer With Heaven In View
• [96:44] - God Is Sovereign Over Persecution
• [103:33] - The Table And Christlike Life

Bible Reading

Acts 6:8–7:60

Acts 6:8 — And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. [43:16]

Acts 6:9 — 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. [47:53]

Acts 6:10 — But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. [49:29]

Acts 6:11 — Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” [54:30]

Acts 6:12 — 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. [54:30]

Acts 6:13 — And they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law.” [54:30]

Acts 6:14 — “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.” [54:30]

Acts 6:15 — And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. [57:57]

Acts 7:1 — And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” [01:04:27]

Acts 7:2–53 — And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran...” Stephen continues his speech through Acts 7:1–53, showing God’s work with Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Israel, the tabernacle, and the temple. [01:04:27] [01:14:33]

Acts 7:54 — Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. [01:21:17]

Acts 7:55 — But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [01:21:17]

Acts 7:56 — And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” [01:21:17]

Acts 7:57 — But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. [01:21:17]

Acts 7:58 — Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. [01:21:17]

Acts 7:59 — And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [01:28:35]

Acts 7:60 — And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. [01:28:35]

Observation questions

1. What words and phrases does Luke use to describe Stephen before the opposition against him becomes violent? [47:53]
2. When Stephen’s opponents could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke, what actions did they take next? [54:30]
3. What details in Acts 6:15 and Acts 7:55–60 show that Stephen’s life and death were pointing to Jesus? [01:21:17]
4. In Stephen’s speech, what places are highlighted to show that God’s presence was not trapped in one holy location? [01:14:33]

Interpretation questions

1. Stephen was not delivered from death, but his life was made like Christ. Why can Christlikeness be called a greater deliverance than simply escaping suffering? [43:16]
2. Stephen’s face shone while he was being falsely accused. What does that reveal about real spiritual growth and maturity?
3. Stephen’s speech shows God appearing to Abraham in Mesopotamia, being with Joseph in Egypt, and meeting Moses in the wilderness. How should this shape the way believers think about God’s presence in dry, hostile, or ordinary places? [01:14:33]
4. Saul was present when Stephen prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” What does this show about forgiveness, prayer, and God’s sovereignty over what looks wasted? [01:28:35]

Application questions

1. Christlikeness is the biggest deliverance. When praying for God’s help, is the heart mainly asking for easier circumstances, or also asking to become more like Jesus in the middle of them? What would that kind of prayer sound like this week? [44:47]
2. Stephen’s face shone under accusation, not only in a safe place. Where is character most tested right now—family, work, school, church, or private pressure? What would it look like for grace to be visible there? [57:57]
3. When truth could not be answered, Stephen’s enemies moved into lies and character assassination. How does a believer respond when misunderstood, misrepresented, or treated unfairly without becoming bitter or sinful in return? [54:30]
4. God’s presence is not contained in one place. Are there places in life where it feels like God is far away? How might Stephen’s speech help someone look for God’s presence and voice even there? [01:14:33]
5. Stephen prayed with heaven in view, surrender in his spirit, humility in his posture, and forgiveness in his heart. Which of those is hardest right now: looking to heaven, surrendering to Jesus, humbling oneself, or forgiving someone? [01:28:35]
6. Stephen’s prayer did not demand revenge or enemy elimination. Is there anyone difficult to pray for honestly and mercifully? What would it look like to begin praying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” without pretending the hurt was not real? [01:23:15]
7. Persecution scattered the church, but God used the scattering to spread the gospel. What painful or unwanted situation might God be using for witness, growth, or mission, even if it does not look good right now? [01:36:44]