April 30, 2017pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN 37080

Transcription

1 Acts 6-7 The Movement April 30, 2017pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN READ Acts 6:8-13 KIDS Who is your favorite Bible character? Why? The Bible tells us that Stephen was Full. What was he full of? There are about 4,500 languages spoken in the world today. The Bible has been translated into 636 of those languages. The New Testament has been translated into 1,442 languages. It is the most translated piece of literature in the whole world. How did this religion, coming from a Teacher who never even traveled outside the equivalent of New Jersey, grow to be the largest, most widely accepted in the world? Last week, we looked at what is the foundational Truth that Christianity is based upon: Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. That sermon could have been entitled What We Believe as the theology of Who Jesus is is something that cannot be debated or watered down from a group of people who call themselves Christian. This morning, I want us to find ourselves in Acts 6-8 as we not only see how Christianity spread but also what it means to be a Christian. I have said it may times throughout my preaching, and I am sure that it comes through in how I preach, but I have an intense love for history. Corey M. Minter Page 1 of 6

2 Some of you here that word history, and you are automatically transported to a classroom setting where seconds ticked by like hours. To you, history has only been a list of dates peppered with a few interesting stories here and there, but for the most part, it is nothing special. I understand that. I hate it, but I understand. For the most part, our knowledge of history does not play an integral role in our day to day lives, but it seems that the Lord wanted us to have a healthy grasp on the past. Very few books of the Bible do not concern themselves with history. 1. History teaches lessons that other subjects simply cannot. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. 2. History keeps us humble. 3. History helps us see a sovereign God Who is always in control no matter how dire the situation. 4. History reminds us of how we got to where we are today. Jesus ascends into Heaven You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Peter preaches at Pentecost The apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter preaches to multitudes from all nationalities in Jerusalem. THREE THOUSAND people come to Christ that day. Apostles debate (and hold their own) with the Sanhedrin Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men. Corey M. Minter Page 2 of 6

3 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. The Church grows Starting with the 3,000 who came to Christ at Pentecost the Book of Acts records rapid growth over the next several chapters. Phrases like Many were added and Their number was multiplying are read all throughout Acts 1-5 to the point that many scholars believe that the church in Jerusalem had over 10,000 people. History tells us that they met in synagogues and amphitheaters, in open fields and crowded busy streets, and also daily in each other s homes. Great excitement among the church can you imagine? Great fear among the Jewish leaders killing Jesus did nothing Greater demand for organization some were being overlooked The 12 apostles gathered the church together and laid out their plan. They would give their time to study and prayer in the Word, and seven men (of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom) would take care of the day to day needs of the church. Of these seven men deacons, table waiters Stephen is called. Upon Stephen s and the other six s election, Scripture records this brief verse that I believe can explain how Christianity began to take off in the first century: Corey M. Minter Page 3 of 6

4 Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. With that truth the conversion of a great many priests to Christ the Jewish world had enough of Jesus and His followers. The Character of a Christian (Stephen) Since the time we are introduced to Stephen to his ultimate end, Scripture describes Stephen as full. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, faith, grace, and power. Before we get to those, let s talk about that word full. We hear that people live life to the fullest. That could not be more true of anyone more than Stephen. Full living has a few implications: (1) no more room (2) satisfied (3) controlled. YOU ARE FILLED WITH SOMETHING. in verse 3... full of the Holy Spirit and... secondly, full... of wisdom... in verse 5, a man full of faith and... again, full... of the Holy Spirit... in verse 8 full of grace and... also, full of power... That power of God in Stephen attracted a lot of attention from the Jews. Acts 6:9 tells us that Stephen is invited (invited is probably too cordial a term) to a debate against three Jewish synagogues the Synagogue of Freedmen, the Synagogue of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and the Synagogue of Cilicia and Asia. Corey M. Minter Page 4 of 6

5 Here, Stephen is put on trial for what he was teaching. Essentially, his claim is that Jesus came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament to where now there is no such thing as Jew or Gentile. The Jews see this as an attack on their religion, but more importantly, if what Stephen is saying is true, this marks the end of their control of the Jews. So they twist his sermons to make it look like he hates the Jews, their heritage, their laws and even their synagogues. Instead of fulfill the Old Testament, they insert the word destroy in order to insight the crowd against Stephen. Full of the Word 7:1 Then the high priest said, Are these things so? For 52 verses, Stephen takes this time of accusation against him to preach the Gospel. Starting with Abraham, Stephen preaches the most Scripturefilled sermon in all of the Bible. I feel confident in this. Because Stephen was filled with the Word of God in his life, he was filled with the Spirit, wisdom, faith, grace, power. You cannot expect to live your spiritual life to the fullest apart from the Word of God. The sermon that Stephen preached ends with: 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom Corey M. Minter Page 5 of 6

6 you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. The mob rushes at him. Gnashing their teeth, they grab him. 56 and [Stephen catching a vision of Christ] said, Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! With Jesus, they were scared of the Roman law that did not allow them to perform capital punishment on a prisoner. All that is forgotten with Stephen. Like a lynch mob bent on their own distorted version of justice, they throw Stephen out of the city, down into a pit. Tearing up slabs of rock, they pummeled Stephen in the age old tradition of their fathers who had done the same to every other prophet. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Full of forgiveness Christianity is movement of people that are filled with God: His Spirit, His wisdom, His grace, His power, His Word, His forgiveness. It is possible that there are some who are trying to merely add God to their life. That is not how it works. You cannot add God, His Spirit, wisdom, grace, power, Word, forgiveness to your life and live it to the fullest. You must be filled with, controlled by, satisfied with Christ. Corey M. Minter Page 6 of 6