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STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN

STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN. ACTS 6:8-15. ACTS: EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 30-63 A.D. 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.” Acts 1:8 Jerusalem

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STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN

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  1. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN ACTS 6:8-15

  2. ACTS: EARLY CHURCH HISTORY30-63 A.D. • 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.” Acts 1:8 • Jerusalem • Stephen – the catalyst to move out • Phillip – Samaria & first African convert • Paul – converted • Peter – Cornelius the first Gentile convert • Paul – First missionary journey

  3. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN 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…and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…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. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 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, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 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.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:3-5; 8-15

  4. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • HIS CHARACTER: • of good repute • full of the Spirit and of wisdom • a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit • full of grace and power

  5. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • Of good repute • A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1 • What is your reputation? • When people hear your name, what comes to their mind?

  6. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • Full of the Spirit and of wisdom • Full = controlled by • Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… 1 Chronicles 12:32 • If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

  7. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • Full of faith and of the Holy Spirit • Faith = Trust in the person of Jesus Christ • The Lord Jesus Christ is a person, not and idea or a doctrine or an activity • Full of the Holy Spirit = Obedience • Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

  8. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN Trust and obey For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

  9. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • Full of grace and power • Grace = sweetness, winsomeness, tenderness, “the aroma of Christ” • Power = God’s enabling to glorify His name • Would those around you say that you are “full of grace/ sweetness/ winsomeness/ tenderness? • Have you seen God’s enabling to glorify Him?

  10. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • HIS LIFE: • serve tables. Acts 6:2 • And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8 • 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. Acts 6:9-10

  11. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • He had a ministry in the church • He had a ministry outside of the church • but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 1 Peter 3:15-16

  12. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • HIS OPPOSITION • Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 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, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 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.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:11-15

  13. STEPHEN: THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN • Martyr: Greek martys – “a witness”, “one who bears a testimony” • Stephen was a martyr before he was stoned • Martyr: English – “a person who is killed because of their beliefs” • Christian Martyr: “a person who is killed because of their commitment to The Lord Jesus Christ” • Opposition: theology/ slander/ violence

  14. HOW TO BE A NORMAL CHRISTIAN • Pray • Study the Bible • I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 • For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

  15. APPLICATIONS • Do you want to be a normal or a nominal Christian? • What are you controlled by? • What are you living for? • What would you die for? • For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

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