Faithfulness Amidst Persecution: Lessons from Stephen

 

Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we are diving into week three of our series, "Build Your Church," where we are exploring the book of Acts. We began this journey by discussing the incredible event of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, enabling them to speak in various languages, thus breaking the barrier of language for the spread of the Gospel. Thousands decided to follow Jesus that day, marking a sweet season for the early church, where they enjoyed the favor of all people ([18:37]).

However, as we move forward, we encounter a less pleasant season in the life of the early church, marked by intense persecution. This difficult season reminds us that the gates of hell will not overcome Jesus's church. We are the church, and this story is our story. Despite the hardships, the wisdom and spirit with which Stephen spoke could not be resisted by his adversaries. They resorted to lies, accusing him of blasphemy against Moses and God, leading to his arrest and trial before the High Council ([19:55]).

Stephen, standing before the High Council, did not simply deny the accusations. Instead, he delivered an incredible speech, recounting the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. Abraham's faithfulness to God, despite years of waiting for a son, exemplifies the faithfulness we are called to exhibit. God’s promises to Abraham were fulfilled in ways beyond human expectation, demonstrating that God’s faithfulness is often better than we can imagine ([22:00]).

Stephen continued by recounting the story of Joseph, Abraham’s great-grandson, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Despite this, God used Joseph to save his family from famine, fulfilling His promise to Abraham. This narrative highlights that God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways, and even those who seem rejected can be pivotal in God’s grand design ([24:47]).

Moving on to Moses, Stephen reminded the council of Moses' significant role in delivering Israel from Egyptian slavery and receiving the Ten Commandments. Despite Moses' importance, he too faced rejection from the people of Israel. Stephen’s recounting of these stories served as a subtle reminder that God’s ways often defy human expectations, and rejection of God’s messengers is a recurring theme in Israel’s history ([26:47]).

Stephen then addressed the issue of the temple, emphasizing that God does not dwell in temples made by human hands. He criticized the religious leaders for their attachment to the physical structure of the temple, equating it with God Himself. Stephen pointed out that God is far greater than any building and that their focus should be on God’s presence and His commandments, rather than on the temple ([28:15]).

As Stephen’s speech reached its climax, he directly confronted the religious leaders, accusing them of being stubborn and resistant to the Holy Spirit, just like their ancestors who persecuted the prophets. This bold declaration enraged the council, leading them to drag Stephen out of the city and stone him. In his final moments, Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. He prayed for his spirit to be received by Jesus and for his persecutors to be forgiven, mirroring Jesus’ own words on the cross ([34:10]).

In the face of persecution and death, Stephen’s unwavering focus on Jesus serves as a powerful example for us. We are called to keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. By surrounding ourselves with fellow believers, devoting ourselves to God’s teachings, and pouring our hearts out in prayer, we can endure the trials of this broken world and remain faithful to our calling ([39:07]).

As we reflect on Stephen’s story, we are reminded that our hope is not in this world but in our Savior, who has conquered the grave and continues to build His church. Let us pray for the strength to stay focused on Jesus and to follow in Stephen’s footsteps, valuing God above all else and remaining faithful even in the face of adversity ([40:27]).

### Key Takeaways

1. God’s Faithfulness Transcends Human Expectations: Abraham’s story teaches us that God’s promises are fulfilled in ways beyond our understanding. Despite years of waiting, God’s faithfulness to Abraham was unwavering, reminding us that God sees the bigger picture and His plans are always for our good. [22:00]

2. God Uses the Rejected for His Glory: Joseph’s journey from being sold into slavery to becoming a savior for his family illustrates that God can use even those who are rejected and marginalized to fulfill His divine purposes. Our setbacks can be setups for God’s greater plan. [24:47]

3. God’s Presence is Not Confined to Physical Structures: Stephen’s critique of the religious leaders’ attachment to the temple underscores that God is not bound by buildings. Our focus should be on God’s presence and His commandments, recognizing that we are the church, His hands and feet, wherever we go. [28:15]

4. Rejection of God’s Messengers is a Recurring Theme: Stephen’s recounting of Israel’s history highlights a pattern of rejecting God’s messengers, from the prophets to Jesus Himself. This serves as a warning to remain open to God’s guidance and to not let pride or tradition blind us to His truth. [26:47]

5. Endurance Through Focus on Jesus: Stephen’s unwavering focus on Jesus, even in the face of death, exemplifies how we can endure the trials of this world. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, surrounding ourselves with fellow believers, and devoting ourselves to prayer and God’s teachings, we can remain faithful and hopeful. [39:07]

### Youtube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[18:37] - The Day of Pentecost
[19:55] - Stephen’s Arrest and Trial
[22:00] - Abraham’s Faithfulness
[24:47] - Joseph’s Journey
[26:47] - Moses and Rejection
[28:15] - The Temple and God’s Presence
[34:10] - Stephen’s Martyrdom
[39:07] - Endurance Through Focus on Jesus
[40:27] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 6:8-15 - Stephen's Arrest and Trial
2. Acts 7:1-60 - Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin and Martyrdom
3. Hebrews 12:1-2 - Endurance Through Focus on Jesus

#### Observation Questions
1. What event marked the beginning of the early church's sweet season, and what was the result of this event? ([18:37])
2. How did Stephen respond to the accusations against him before the High Council? ([21:19])
3. What were the key points Stephen made in his speech regarding Abraham, Joseph, and Moses? ([22:00] - [26:47])
4. How did Stephen’s speech conclude, and what was the reaction of the religious leaders? ([34:10])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Stephen’s recounting of Israel’s history reveal about God’s faithfulness and human expectations? ([24:47])
2. How does Stephen’s critique of the temple challenge the religious leaders' understanding of God’s presence? ([28:15])
3. In what ways does Stephen’s martyrdom mirror the life and death of Jesus, and what does this signify for believers? ([34:51])
4. How does the writer of Hebrews suggest believers can endure trials, and how does this relate to Stephen’s example? ([39:07])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Abraham’s story, have you experienced a time when God’s faithfulness was revealed in an unexpected way? How did this impact your faith? ([22:00])
2. Joseph’s journey shows that God can use our setbacks for His greater plan. Can you identify a setback in your life that God used for good? How did this change your perspective? ([24:47])
3. Stephen emphasized that God’s presence is not confined to physical structures. How can you cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in your daily life, beyond the church building? ([28:15])
4. Stephen’s speech highlighted the recurring theme of rejecting God’s messengers. Are there areas in your life where you might be resisting God’s guidance? How can you become more open to His direction? ([26:47])
5. Stephen’s unwavering focus on Jesus, even in the face of death, is a powerful example. Is there a specific distraction in your life preventing you from focusing on Jesus that you want to change? How can you minimize that distraction this week? ([39:07])
6. Stephen prayed for his persecutors as he was being stoned. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? How can you take a step towards forgiveness this week? ([34:51])
7. The early church faced intense persecution but remained faithful. How can you support and encourage fellow believers who are going through difficult times? ([19:55])

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Faithfulness Transcends Human Expectations
Description: Abraham’s story is a powerful testament to God’s unwavering faithfulness. Despite years of waiting for a son, Abraham remained faithful to God, and God’s promises were fulfilled in ways beyond human understanding. This narrative reminds us that God sees the bigger picture and His plans are always for our good, even when they unfold in unexpected ways. Abraham’s faithfulness exemplifies the trust we are called to exhibit in our own lives, knowing that God’s faithfulness is often better than we can imagine. [22:00]

Genesis 21:1-2 (ESV): "The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him."

Reflection: Think of a promise or prayer you have been waiting on God to fulfill. How can you trust in God’s faithfulness and timing, even when it seems delayed?


Day 2: God Uses the Rejected for His Glory
Description: Joseph’s journey from being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers to becoming a savior for his family illustrates that God can use even those who are rejected and marginalized to fulfill His divine purposes. Despite the setbacks and hardships Joseph faced, God’s plan for him was greater than anyone could have imagined. This narrative highlights that our setbacks can be setups for God’s greater plan, and even those who seem rejected can be pivotal in God’s grand design. [24:47]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt rejected or marginalized. How can you see God’s hand at work in that situation, and how might He be using it for a greater purpose?


Day 3: God’s Presence is Not Confined to Physical Structures
Description: Stephen’s critique of the religious leaders’ attachment to the temple underscores that God is not bound by buildings. He emphasized that God’s presence is far greater than any physical structure and that their focus should be on God’s presence and His commandments. This reminds us that we are the church, His hands and feet, wherever we go. Our relationship with God is not confined to a specific place but is lived out in our daily lives. [28:15]

Acts 7:48-49 (ESV): "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in your daily life, beyond the walls of the church? What steps can you take to live out your faith in your everyday interactions?


Day 4: Rejection of God’s Messengers is a Recurring Theme
Description: Stephen’s recounting of Israel’s history highlights a pattern of rejecting God’s messengers, from the prophets to Jesus Himself. This serves as a warning to remain open to God’s guidance and to not let pride or tradition blind us to His truth. The religious leaders’ resistance to the Holy Spirit and their attachment to the temple were barriers to recognizing God’s work. We are called to be receptive to God’s messengers and to seek His truth with humility. [26:47]

Matthew 23:37 (ESV): "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you might be resisting God’s guidance? How can you open your heart to be more receptive to His truth and messengers?


Day 5: Endurance Through Focus on Jesus
Description: Stephen’s unwavering focus on Jesus, even in the face of death, exemplifies how we can endure the trials of this world. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, surrounding ourselves with fellow believers, and devoting ourselves to prayer and God’s teachings, we can remain faithful and hopeful. Stephen’s final moments, filled with the Holy Spirit and forgiveness, mirror Jesus’ own words on the cross, reminding us to stay focused on our Savior who has conquered the grave. [39:07]

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to keep your focus on Jesus, especially during challenging times? How can you support and encourage fellow believers in their faith journey?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Follow Jesus and sometimes it'll be hard. Follow Jesus and sometimes there will be a lot of pain. But follow Jesus and you'll have hope. Follow Jesus and you'll have a future. Follow Jesus and you won't be bound by the broken world that we live in." [38:22]( | | )

2. "We are his church. We are the body. We are his hands and feet. And we are his hands and feet when we gather here, and I'm really thankful for this space. I'm thankful for this building. But we're the church when we gather here, and we were the church when we gathered over there, and we were the church at our high school, and we're the church when we gather in homes through the week, and we are the church in our cars and at our places of work, and we are the church wherever we go." [32:06]( | | )

3. "God is not bound by this building. He is not bound by these walls. God cares about our hearts. He cares about what's happening whether we're here or not." [30:48]( | | )

4. "The truth is that this difficult season things were true for the church that are still true for us today. In the midst of this difficult season, it was still true for the church that the gates of hell were not going to overcome Jesus's church." [19:55]( | | )

5. "How do we keep going? We keep our eyes on him. We walk faithfully. We carry out the things that we talked about last week. We surround ourselves with believers. We devote ourselves to the teachings of God's word. We break bread together, and we keep our eyes on him. We pour our hearts out in prayer to him." [39:45]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "Stephen understands something here that the acceptance or rejection of people just isn't all that important. The only acceptance or rejection that we should care about is what God thinks about what we're doing, about what God thinks about how we are walking faithfully with him." [28:15]( | | )

2. "The faithfulness of our God is so good. And so Stephen continues, he hops a few generations to Joseph, this is Abraham's great grandson, and starts to tell about Joseph. And some of you have heard the story of Joseph before. He’s the guy with the coat with a lot of colors on it, and his brothers get jealous of him, and he ends up in Egypt. You guys know what I'm talking about, anybody? All right, so he starts talking about Joseph, and Joseph lived this incredible life. God blessed him with wisdom. God gave him the ability to understand dreams, interpret dreams for people. It's a cool story. Joseph's story, he actually uses Joseph to fulfill his promise to Abraham." [24:47]( | | )

3. "Stephen starts in on this incredible speech. He starts to recount for these teachers of the law the history of the nation of Israel. He goes all the way back to the beginning with Abraham. And they knew about Abraham. Abraham was their forefather. Abraham was living in a far-off country, and God came to Abraham and said, 'Abraham, follow me. Leave everything behind. Choose me as your God. Follow me, the one true God, and I'm going to bless you. I'm going to make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens. I'm going to bless those who bless you. I'm going to curse those who curse you. I'm going to be there for you, Abraham. I'm going to be faithful to you.'" [22:00]( | | )

4. "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn't persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God's law even though you received it from the angels." [32:57]( | | )

5. "Stephen’s recounting of these stories served as a subtle reminder that God’s ways often defy human expectations, and rejection of God’s messengers is a recurring theme in Israel’s history." [26:47]( | | )

6. "Stephen, standing before the High Council, did not simply deny the accusations. Instead, he delivered an incredible speech, recounting the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. Abraham's faithfulness to God, despite years of waiting for a son, exemplifies the faithfulness we are called to exhibit. God’s promises to Abraham were fulfilled in ways beyond human expectation, demonstrating that God’s faithfulness is often better than we can imagine." [22:00]( | | )

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Transcript
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