Everyday Mission: “Waiter, to Witness, to Martyr” (Acts 6:8–7:60)

Devotional

Day 1: Emptied of Self, Filled with the Holy Spirit

Stephen’s life is a powerful example of what it means to be emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit. Rather than relying on his own strength or clever arguments, Stephen allowed God to work through him, displaying both humility and confidence as he served others and proclaimed the gospel. This posture of surrender enabled him to perform great wonders and speak with wisdom that could not be refuted. When we lay down our self-importance and open ourselves to the Spirit’s leading, God fills us with grace and power to participate in His mission, even in the ordinary moments of life. [02:24]

Acts 6:8-10 (ESV)
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 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. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God inviting you to lay down your self-reliance so that you might be filled with His Spirit’s grace and power today?

Day 2: The Aroma of Christ—Bearing Witness in Word and Deed

Every life preaches its own funeral, and the story we tell is shaped by what fills us. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives begin to bear the aroma of Christ—marked by grace, humility, and boldness. This is not about perfection, but about allowing the gospel to shape us so that others see and sense Jesus through us. Whether in service, conversation, or facing opposition, the Spirit enables us to reflect Christ’s character, inviting others to encounter Him through our words and actions. [06:56]

2 Corinthians 2:15 (ESV)
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

Reflection: Who in your life might “smell” the aroma of Christ through your actions or words this week, and how can you intentionally reflect Jesus to them?

Day 3: Humble Boldness—Speaking Truth with Grace and Power

Stephen’s defense before the religious leaders was marked by both respect and conviction. He addressed his accusers as “brothers and fathers,” honoring them even as he spoke hard truths. This humble boldness was not rooted in pride or a desire to win arguments, but in the gospel’s assurance that we are both deeply flawed and completely accepted in Christ. The Spirit produces in us a courage that does not shrink from difficult conversations, yet is always seasoned with grace and love, pointing others to Jesus rather than ourselves. [17:55]

Acts 7:51-53 (ESV)
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Reflection: Is there a conversation you need to have where you are tempted to choose either harshness or silence? How can you approach it with both humility and boldness, relying on the Spirit?

Day 4: Filled with Self—The Danger of Manipulation and Rage

The religious leaders in Stephen’s story were filled with themselves, and what overflowed was manipulation, slander, and ultimately rage. Their fear of losing customs and control led them to violate God’s law and resist the Spirit’s work. This progression warns us of the insidious nature of self-centeredness, which can masquerade as religious zeal but ultimately opposes God’s purposes. The text holds up a mirror, inviting us to examine what is filling our hearts and what is overflowing into our relationships and witness. [27:11]

James 3:16-18 (ESV)
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Reflection: What is currently overflowing from your life—grace or manipulation, peace or rage? What does this reveal about what you are filled with, and how might you invite the Spirit to change that?

Day 5: Christ Our Advocate—Confidence in the Face of Opposition

As Stephen faced death, he gazed into heaven and saw Jesus, the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God—interceding for him. This vision gave Stephen unshakable confidence and peace, even as he forgave his killers. The good news is that Christ is our advocate, confessing His own merits on our behalf before the Father. No matter what opposition or fear we face, we can rest in the assurance that Jesus stands for us, interceding and welcoming us into the story of God’s redemption. [37:46]

Romans 8:31-34 (ESV)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Reflection: When you face fear, accusation, or uncertainty, how might the reality of Christ interceding for you change the way you respond or the peace you experience today?

Sermon Summary

The story of Stephen in Acts marks a pivotal moment in the spread of the gospel, not just as a historical event, but as a living example for us today. Stephen, originally chosen for humble service, becomes the first Christian martyr, embodying what it means to be emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit. His life and death challenge us to consider what truly drives our mission as followers of Jesus. The gospel did not advance because of clever arguments or winning debates, but through the power of God working in ordinary people who surrendered themselves to Him.

Stephen’s story is a mirror for our own lives. Just as he bore the aroma of Christ, so too are we called to reflect Jesus in our words, actions, and even in the way we handle opposition. The text invites us to ask: What does my life smell like? What overflows from my heart when I am pressed? The contrast between Stephen and the religious leaders is stark—Stephen, emptied of self, is filled with grace and power, while the leaders, filled with self, overflow with manipulation and rage. This is not just a story about martyrdom, but about the everyday mission of every believer: to lay down our self-rule and be transformed by the Spirit.

The temptation in our cultural moment is to love being right more than loving Christ, to win arguments rather than bear the aroma of Jesus. But the mission of God’s people is not to win a culture war, but to be so shaped by the Spirit that our lives point to the beauty and truth of Jesus. This means engaging with the world around us with both courage and humility, not shying away from hard conversations, but always doing so with the grace and power that comes from the Spirit.

Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God is a powerful reminder that Christ Himself intercedes for us, bearing witness to our faithfulness before the Father. Even in the face of death, Stephen’s confidence and peace came from knowing that his life was caught up in the story of God’s redemption. We are invited into that same story, to be emptied of self and filled with the Spirit, so that our lives might bear witness to the good news of Jesus in our city, our nation, and our world.

Key Takeaways

1. Emptied of Self, Filled with the Spirit: True participation in God’s mission requires a continual emptying of self—our pride, our need to be right, our self-rule—so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is not a one-time event, but a daily posture that allows God’s grace and power to flow through us, making us vessels of His presence in the world. [10:45]
2. The Aroma of Christ: Our lives inevitably preach our own funerals; what we love most will be evident to those around us. Bearing the aroma of Christ means that, even in our imperfections, the grace and love of Jesus become the defining characteristics of our story, inviting others to see and know Him through us. [06:56]
3. Humble Boldness from the Gospel: The gospel uniquely produces a humble boldness—a confidence rooted not in our own righteousness, but in Christ’s acceptance of us. This humility keeps us from arrogance, while the assurance of God’s love empowers us to speak truth with courage and compassion, even in the face of opposition. [18:34]
4. The Danger of Being Filled with Self: When we are filled with ourselves—our fears, our need for control, our love of customs or ideas—we are prone to manipulation, rage, and even violence. The text warns us to examine what overflows from our lives, as it reveals what we are truly filled with, and calls us to repentance and surrender. [27:11]
5. Christ Intercedes for Us: Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God is a profound assurance that Christ Himself is our advocate, interceding for us before the Father. In moments of trial, suffering, or even death, our confidence rests not in our own performance, but in the finished work and ongoing ministry of Jesus on our behalf. [37:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - Acts and Everyday Mission
[01:09] - Stephen’s Calling and Martyrdom
[03:46] - Remembering a Legacy: Grandpa’s Funeral
[06:18] - Bearing the Aroma of Christ
[08:11] - Deed, Word, and Prayer Ministry
[10:45] - Emptied of Self, Filled with the Spirit
[12:44] - Stephen’s Humble Boldness
[14:08] - Israel’s Story and Resistance
[17:55] - The Gospel Produces Humble Boldness
[19:52] - The Toddler Heart: Full of Self
[23:43] - The Religious Leaders’ Manipulation
[27:11] - What Overflows from Our Lives?
[29:59] - The Danger of Winning Arguments
[32:02] - The True Mission of God’s People
[35:18] - Stephen’s Vision of Christ
[39:34] - Stephen’s Last Words and the Aroma of Christ
[41:31] - Prayer for Humility and Spirit-Filled Mission

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Story of Stephen and Everyday Mission

Bible Reading

Acts 6:8–7:60 (ESV)
> 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
> ...
> 7:54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
> 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.
> 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
> 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
> 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.
> 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
> 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.

Romans 8:31–34 (ESV)
> 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
> 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
> 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
> 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Observation Questions

What qualities does the text say Stephen was “full of” as he served and spoke to others? (Acts 6:8)
How did Stephen respond to the false accusations and hostility from the religious leaders? ([12:02])
What did Stephen see in his vision right before his death, and why is this detail significant? (Acts 7:55-56; [35:18])
According to the sermon, what was the difference in what “overflowed” from Stephen’s life compared to the religious leaders? ([26:30])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says Stephen was “emptied of self and filled with the Spirit.” What does it mean to be emptied of self in the context of everyday mission? ([10:45])
Why do you think the religious leaders, who were supposed to be spiritual, responded with manipulation and rage instead of grace and power? ([26:30])
The pastor mentioned that “our lives will preach our own funerals.” What does this mean, and how does it relate to the idea of bearing the aroma of Christ? ([06:56])
How does Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God encourage believers facing opposition or suffering? ([35:18])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to ask, “What does my life smell like? What overflows from my heart when I am pressed?” Think about a recent time you faced stress or opposition—what came out of you? What does that reveal about what you’re filled with? ([27:11])
The temptation in our culture is to love being right more than loving Christ. Can you think of a recent conversation or online interaction where you cared more about winning an argument than showing the aroma of Jesus? How could you approach it differently next time? ([29:59])
Stephen’s humble boldness came from the gospel, not from his own strength. Where do you tend to find your confidence—in your own abilities, or in Christ’s acceptance of you? How can you shift your confidence to be rooted in the gospel? ([18:34])
The religious leaders were motivated by fear of losing their customs and control. Are there traditions, preferences, or ideas in your life that you hold onto so tightly that they keep you from being open to God’s work? What would it look like to surrender those to God? ([25:03])
Stephen’s last words were a prayer of forgiveness for his killers. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive, even if they haven’t asked for it? What would it look like to pray for them this week? ([39:34])
The sermon says the mission of God’s people is not to win a culture war, but to be so shaped by the Spirit that our lives point to Jesus. What is one practical way you can reflect the beauty and truth of Jesus in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? ([32:02])
Stephen’s vision reminds us that Christ intercedes for us. When you face trials or feel alone, how can you remind yourself that Jesus is your advocate before the Father? ([37:46])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to empty you of self and fill you with the Holy Spirit, so that your life would bear the aroma of Christ in every situation. Pray for humble boldness, grace, and power to be witnesses to Jesus in your everyday mission.

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