Living Your Dash: Stephen's Legacy of Faith

Summary

Today’s focus was on the life and legacy of Stephen, a man who made the most of his “dash”—the time between birth and death—by living fully for God. Stephen’s story, found in Acts 6 and 7, is a powerful reminder that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He was chosen not for his credentials or religious training, but for his faith, his willingness to serve, and his devotion to God. Stephen’s life challenges us to consider what we are doing with our own dash, and how we can leave a legacy that points others to Christ.

Stephen’s example teaches that the core of Christian commitment is not about what we can get, but about how we serve God and others. He gave generously of his resources, his time, and his abilities, stepping up to meet needs in the early church. Even as he was thrust into leadership, Stephen remained humble and focused on God’s Word, showing that nothing is more important than knowing and living out Scripture. His deep knowledge of God’s story allowed him to speak truth boldly, even when it was unpopular or dangerous.

Stephen’s confrontation with the religious leaders reveals the tension between truth and grace. He spoke honestly about their resistance to God, yet in his final moments, he prayed for their forgiveness, echoing the heart of Jesus. His willingness to endure persecution—even to the point of death—demonstrates that following Christ is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Through his faithfulness, Stephen became a witness not only to those present, but also to Saul, who would later become Paul, a key figure in the spread of the gospel.

Ultimately, Stephen’s story invites each of us to reflect on how we are living our dash. Are we serving, giving, and standing for truth? Are we willing to be used by God, even if it means facing hardship? The legacy we leave is shaped by these daily choices, and God promises to use even the ordinary and overlooked for His glory.

Key Takeaways

- The Dash Matters More Than the Dates
The most important part of our lives is not when we are born or when we die, but how we live in between. Stephen’s life challenges us to make the most of our dash by living intentionally for God, serving others, and leaving a legacy that reflects Christ’s love and truth. Each day is an opportunity to invest in what truly matters. [25:01]

- God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Purposes
Stephen was not chosen for his religious pedigree or special skills, but for his willingness to serve and his openness to the Holy Spirit. God delights in using those who feel ordinary or inadequate, because it is through their weakness that His strength is displayed. Our limitations are not obstacles, but invitations for God to work through us. [29:28]

- The Word of God Must Be Central
Stephen’s deep knowledge of Scripture enabled him to speak with authority and clarity, even under pressure. He shows that a life rooted in God’s Word is essential for discernment, courage, and faithful witness. We are called to immerse ourselves in Scripture, letting it shape our hearts, our families, and our responses to the world around us. [48:17]

- Truth and Grace Go Hand in Hand
Stephen modeled the difficult balance of speaking hard truths while extending forgiveness and grace. He confronted the religious leaders with their resistance to God, yet prayed for their forgiveness as he was being killed. As followers of Jesus, we are called to hold both truth and grace together, offering honesty without harshness and mercy without compromise. [52:40]

- Faithfulness in Suffering Bears Unexpected Fruit
Stephen’s willingness to suffer for Christ did not end in defeat; instead, it became the catalyst for the gospel to spread and for Saul’s eventual transformation. Our faithfulness, especially in hardship, often impacts others in ways we may never see. God uses our witness—even in suffering—to advance His kingdom and touch lives far beyond our own. [59:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Father’s Day Greetings & Community Updates
[03:30] - Prayer and Opening
[05:10] - Recap: Acts 6 and the Call to Serve
[08:30] - Stephen’s Background and Role
[12:00] - The Significance of the Dash
[15:00] - Church Growth and Leadership Multiplication
[18:41] - Stephen’s Generosity and Service
[22:09] - God Uses the Ordinary
[25:01] - The Dash: Living with Purpose
[29:28] - Stephen’s Character and God’s Choice
[31:03] - Stephen’s Teaching and Rising Opposition
[35:04] - Stephen’s Scriptural Defense
[39:11] - Confronting Resistance to God
[42:31] - Stephen’s Vision and Martyrdom
[45:53] - Lessons from Stephen’s Life
[48:17] - The Centrality of God’s Word
[51:12] - Truth, Grace, and Befuddlement
[53:34] - Persecution and Faithfulness
[56:45] - Modern Persecution and Blessing
[59:56] - The Ripple Effect: Stephen, Saul, and Legacy
[01:03:18] - What Will You Do With Your Dash?
[01:04:01] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Dash – The Life and Legacy of Stephen

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### Bible Reading

- Acts 6:1–7:60 (Stephen’s selection, ministry, sermon, and martyrdom)
- Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”)
- John 15:19–20 (“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”)

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### Observation Questions

1. What qualities did the early church look for when choosing people like Stephen to serve and lead? (Acts 6:3, 5)
2. According to Stephen’s speech in Acts 7, what patterns did he point out about Israel’s history with God?
3. How did Stephen respond to the accusations and hostility from the religious leaders? What did he do and say in his final moments? [43:33]
4. In Deuteronomy 6:6–7, what instructions are given about God’s Word and family life? How does this connect to Stephen’s example? [48:17]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose someone like Stephen—an “ordinary” man without special religious training—to play such a significant role in the early church? [29:28]
2. Stephen’s knowledge of Scripture allowed him to speak boldly and clearly, even under pressure. What does this suggest about the importance of being rooted in God’s Word for facing challenges? [48:17]
3. Stephen balanced truth and grace—he confronted the leaders with hard truths but also prayed for their forgiveness. Why is it so difficult to hold both truth and grace together in our relationships? [52:40]
4. The sermon says, “The dash matters more than the dates.” What does this mean in the context of Stephen’s life, and how does it challenge our usual way of thinking about legacy? [25:01]

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### Application Questions

1. Stephen was willing to serve in whatever way was needed, not just in leadership but also in practical ways. Are there areas in your church or community where you feel “ordinary” or unqualified, but sense God nudging you to step up? What’s holding you back? [29:28]
2. The sermon emphasized that “nothing is more important than the Word of God.” What is one specific way you can make Scripture more central in your daily routine or family life this week? [48:17]
3. Stephen spoke truth even when it was unpopular, but he also showed forgiveness to those who hurt him. Is there a relationship in your life where you need to speak truth with grace, or offer forgiveness? What would it look like to take a step in that direction? [52:40]
4. The “dash” represents the time between our birth and death. If someone looked at your life right now, what would your dash say about your priorities and legacy? Is there something you want to change or invest in more intentionally? [25:01]
5. Stephen’s faithfulness in suffering had a ripple effect, even impacting Saul (later Paul). Can you think of a time when someone else’s faithfulness inspired you? How might your own choices and responses in hardship influence others, even if you never see the results? [59:56]
6. The sermon mentioned that God uses our limitations as invitations for Him to work. What is one area of weakness or limitation in your life that you can offer to God this week, asking Him to use it for His purposes? [29:28]
7. When was the last time you felt resistance or pushback because of your faith? How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [53:34]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group make the most of their “dash,” to serve with humility, to be rooted in His Word, to hold truth and grace together, and to trust Him to use even their ordinary moments for His extraordinary purposes.

Devotional

Day 1: At the Core of Christian Commitment: It's Not About Me

True Christian living is marked by a heart that seeks to serve God and others, not by self-centeredness or personal gain. Stephen’s life exemplifies this, as he gave of his finances, time, and abilities to meet the needs of the church, especially the widows who were being overlooked. He was chosen not because of status or education, but because he was “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,” showing that God values a servant’s heart over worldly qualifications. When we focus on serving God and others, we find our spiritual tanks filled in ways that simply receiving never could. [47:23]

Acts 6:1-5 (ESV)
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Reflection: In what specific way can you serve someone else this week, putting their needs above your own preferences or comfort?


Day 2: Nothing Is More Important Than the Word of God

Stephen’s powerful defense before the religious leaders was rooted in his deep knowledge and love for Scripture, even though he was not a trained teacher or rabbi. His ability to recount the story of God’s people from memory shows the importance of immersing ourselves in God’s Word daily, letting it shape our hearts and guide our actions. Whether through personal study, family conversations, or teaching others, keeping Scripture at the center of our lives equips us to stand firm in faith and to speak truth with wisdom and grace. [49:20]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Reflection: How can you intentionally bring God’s Word into your daily routine or family conversations this week?


Day 3: God Does His Greatest Work Through Ordinary People

God delights in using ordinary, seemingly unqualified people to accomplish extraordinary things for His kingdom. Stephen was not chosen for his education or status, but for his willingness and openness to the Holy Spirit. When we feel inadequate or too “ordinary” to be used by God, we are actually in the perfect position for Him to work through us, so that He alone receives the glory. Your willingness to say “yes” to God, no matter your background or abilities, can have a ripple effect far beyond what you can see. [29:28]

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Reflection: What is one area where you feel “too ordinary” for God to use you, and how might you offer that to Him in faith this week?


Day 4: Speak Truth and Offer Grace—Even When It’s Hard

Stephen modeled the difficult balance of speaking hard truths while extending forgiveness and grace, even to those who were persecuting him. He boldly confronted the religious leaders with their resistance to God, yet as he was being stoned, he prayed for their forgiveness, echoing the heart of Jesus. As followers of Christ, we are called to both honesty and compassion, to lovingly speak truth into people’s lives while also offering them the same grace we have received. [53:34]

Ephesians 4:15, 32 (ESV)
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear both truth and grace from you, and how can you take a step toward that today?


Day 5: Your Faithful Witness Leaves a Lasting Legacy

Stephen’s courageous witness, even unto death, left a profound impact—not only on those present, but also on Saul, who would later become Paul, a great leader in the early church. We may never know the full extent of how our faithfulness influences others, but God uses our witness to plant seeds and inspire future generations. The “dash” of your life—how you live between birth and death—can be a testimony that points others to Christ and leaves a legacy of faith. [01:03:18]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Reflection: What do you want your “dash” to say about your faith, and what is one intentional step you can take this week to live out that legacy?

Quotes

God picked the most simple. He picked the people that were ordinary. And so when you have those thoughts and those ideas that come into your mind, when you feel like God is maybe prompting your heart to do something and you go, I'm just too ordinary, God. I don't have anything to give. I don't have anything that I can do for you. Oh, you're just setting yourself up. You realize that because that's who God wants. God wants the ordinary. God wants the simple. He wants people that think that they have nothing to contribute because why you become even much more of a useful instrument for him. [00:29:58] (00:00:44 seconds) Edit Clip

He simply went to the word of God. And there's two things that you're going to see in his message as we go through this. First of all, God's people have always resisted. All right. And the second thing is that what they were trying to achieve back then and putting all of their chips in that the law was going to save them by doing all the right things, crossing their T's, dotting their I's, living as perfect as they possibly could, was never going to get them into heaven. [00:33:47] (00:00:27 seconds) Edit Clip

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, look, I see heaven open and the son of man standing at the right hand of God. [00:42:00] (00:00:17 seconds) Edit Clip

There's only a few instances in the Bible where there is this vision of being able to see God up in heaven and to see Jesus there. And this is the only one where Jesus is not sitting. Where Jesus is not sitting.at the right hand of God. This is the only instance where you see Jesus standing. And so those that have studied scripture and put a lot of time and energy into all of looking back historically into this and looking at the context of it and the words, feel like this is an opportunity when Jesus is welcoming Stephen. He's about, he knows he's about to give his life. Almost in a place of honor, recognizing him, welcoming him in. [00:42:17] (00:00:45 seconds) Edit Clip

And while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he fell on his knees and he cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. This seems familiar, doesn't it? We have a reminder of what Jesus did on the cross. Stephen would have remembered this. He's not just trying to be pious and holy. He had learned. His heart was in line with Jesus. His heart was in line with God. And he understood that in that moment, it wasn't them as people that they were unsavable. That their hearts couldn't be pulled back in. He said, don't hold this sin against him. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. He passed. [00:43:39] (00:00:54 seconds) Edit Clip

And we see that one of the first things that stood out is that the core of who we are as Christians, it's not about me. It's not what God can do for me. And yet there's so many times that we show up at church and that's really what we're hoping for. We want the music to be a certain way. We want the scriptures and the preaching to be a certain way, the style to be a little bit different maybe.what we prefer. Perhaps we wish our group looked a little bit different or that we did events and mission work or anything else, or that I'm just coming and I'm just here to receive, right? I just need to get filled back up. And we realize that getting filled back up actually happens when we serve Christ. It doesn't come just coming to receive. We get that filled tank every time we live for God and we serve him the way we should. And so Stephen shows us that at the core of our Christian commitment, it's not about me, it's about serving God. [00:45:30] (00:01:05 seconds) Edit Clip

Christians also are a little bit, kind of a funny word, befuddling, right? I kind of heard that this past week and I went ahead and thought, well, I'm going to use that. Befuddling. It's kind of like where you scratch your head and go, that seems like a contradiction. It seems like you're being one way, but you're also being another. And that gets kind of confusing to some people. And I get that. I think it gets confusing in our hearts sometimes too, because we look at the people around us and what do we want to do? We want to be truthful and we want to be honest with them, right? I mean, we were supposed to be, but at the same time, we want to offer them grace. Stephen did that. [00:51:12] (00:00:40 seconds) Edit Clip

And we see that we are blessed no matter what it is that we face. And I hope that we never face those things here. It could happen. But I hope that we never do. But no matter what you face, you're blessed. And so we learn from Stephen, one of the life stories is that we're reminded that it's not meant to be easy to be a Christian. And that we need to stand firm in our faith and live from the Holy Spirit. [00:57:44] (00:00:29 seconds) Edit Clip

And as a result of that, he pricked the heart of Saul. Saul's going to remember this later. It is a thought that's in his mind. I don't know how you could not get that out of your mind, watching something like that happen. And even though Saul began going and persecuting himself, Satan was just stirring that anger in his heart, we see that God's not done with Saul and the seed that was planted there. [01:02:22] (00:00:33 seconds) Edit Clip

What are you doing with the dash? That's what this message has been about. We looked at Stephen. We looked at his message, but we also looked at the legacy that he left behind. And what are you doing with the dash? For those of you that are young in this room, your young believers, you're hopefully just a little bit into that dash. And you got many, many years.is in front of you. What are you going to do with it? What will be your legacy? For those of us that may feel like we're at the end, time's not over yet, right? Stephen left a legacy, a big one, in a matter of seconds because of the stand that he took and the message he delivered. Lord, lean into what God's asking you to do and live for him. [01:02:55] (00:00:54 seconds) Edit Clip