Part 2 Positive Impact
Billy Graham- The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.
Acts 6:1–5 (ESV) 1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit….
Impact of Stephen
• The core of Christian commitment is service.
Mark 10:44 (ESV) 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
Penned Truth: We should be thrilled to serve; there is nothing below us.
New Christian Motto! “It is not about me. I am here to serve, and I will gladly do it.”
• Nothing is more important than teaching the Bible anywhere and everywhere.
Acts 6:8 (ESV) 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. While Running A Food Bank
Penned Truth: God moves where you serve others.
• The gospel was worth risking his life.
Acts 6:9–12 (ESV) 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. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 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….
Acts 6:13–15 (ESV) 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 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.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Hebrews 13:5 (AMP) 5 …for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
Acts 7:1–3 (ESV) 1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 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, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’
• Like Jesus he asked God to forgive those who were killing him.
Acts 7:54–60 (ESV) 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.
Final Thought: Stephen’s story shows us that no matter how insignificant we may think our role is, we can use it to reach others for Christ. Stephen leaned into God to give him the boldness to preach passionately before the Sanhedrin. Stephen was not concerned with his own life and instead stood firmly by Jesus Christ, even when it meant facing unjust trials and death.
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