Act Like You Mean It!
Act Like You Mean It!
1) What if you were put on trial like Stephen? What would you say?
How would you react? Do you think Stephen is any different than you?
Why or why not?
2) According to Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, a “Stiff-Necked” person is
“Stubborn, unyielding, arrogant, and proud. The phrase a ‘stiff-necked’
person is a figure of speech for rebellion and disobedience taken from
stubborn domestic animals, such as oxen that turn their shoulders away
from the yoke and refuse to follow directions.”
How does this phrase describe you? Have you ever been “StiffNecked?”
3) Stephen gave his life away for God’s purpose. He died for his faith.
In what ways do you relate to Stephen? How are you different?
4) Are you willing to die for your faith like Stephen did? If not, why not?
What would hold you back from living like Stephen?
“God’s Purpose For Stephen”
Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-60
Pastor David Bardowell
PastorDavid@TheGateOC.com
April 6, 2014
God’s purpose for Stephen is God’s purpose for us!
ACTion Steps:
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I. Stephen the ____________________ (6:1-7)
Die to yourself so you can live for God
Be like Stephen: Stand up for God and give your life away
for Him!
Invest in other lives by being a witness of Christ and
sharing your faith with them.
Invite others to know Christ. Use your Invest and Invite
Cards!
Come back next week and bring a friend!
…They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…
Acts 6:5
II. Stephen the ____________________ (6:8-15)
Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous
signs among the people. Acts 6:8
…These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his
wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. Acts 6:9b-10
THE GATE
Christian Community Center and Church
22521 Avenida Empresa
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
949-916-4283 www.TheGateOC.com
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his
face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15
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III. Stephen the ______________ and __________________ (7:1-53)
Stephen’s Sermon:
I. Abraham (7:2-8)
A. Abraham’s obedience (vs. 4)
1. Left his land
2. God sent him to Promised Land
B. God’s promise to Abraham (vs. 5)
1. God’s promise of land
2. God’s promise of children
C. God’s prophecy to Abraham (vs. 6-7)
1. Israel will be enslaved four hundred years
2. God will rescue them and punish Egypt
D. God’s covenant of circumcision (vs. 8)
1. Father of Isaac
2. Grandfather of Jacob
3. Great Grandfather of the 12 Patriarchs
II. Joseph (7:9-19)
A. Patriarchs (Jacob’s 12 sons) jealous of Joseph (9-10)
1. Sold into slavery
2. God was with Joseph and gave him wisdom
3. He had favor on Joseph in regards to Pharaoh
4. Joseph became ruler over Egypt and palace
B. Egypt’s Famine (11-18)
1. Patriarchs could not find food
2. Jacob sent sons to Egypt for food
3. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers on their second visit
4. Joseph sent for his father, Jacob
5. Jacob and the Patriarchs die in Egypt
6. Their bodies buried in Shechem
C. New ruler of Egypt treats the Jews “treacherously” (19)
1. Forces them to throw out their new born babies
III. Moses (7:20-44)
A. Moses born during Israel’s slavery in Egypt (20)
B. Moses found by Pharaoh’s daughter (21)
1. She brought him up as her own son
C. Moses educated in all wisdom of the Egyptians (22)
1. Was powerful in speech and action
D. At the age of 40 Moses murdered an Egyptian who was mistreating a fellow
Israelite (23-24)
E. Moses was not accepted by his own people (25-28)
F. Moses flees to Midian (29)
1. Had two sons
G. At the age of 80 Moses had his “burning bush” experience (30-35)
1. God sent Moses back to Egypt to set His people free
H. Moses led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs (36)
1. Spent 40 years in the desert
I. Moses was given words from God to pass on to the Israelites (37-38)
J. Israel refused to obey Moses (39-44)
1. They wanted to return to Egypt
2. They made an idol in the form of a golden calf and worshiped the idol
(Stephen is building his case)
3. Stephen quotes from Amos 5:25-27 regarding Israel’s disobedience and
exile to Babylon
IV. Joshua (7:45)
A. God uses Joshua to enter the land
1. They brought the Ark of the Covenant with them
V. David and Solomon (7:46-50)
A. David desired to build God a temple
B. But it was Solomon who built God’s Temple
VI. Conclusion
A. Stephen’s argument was built on the Sanhedrin’s accusation that Stephen preached
the words of Jesus regarding the destruction of the temple and the changing of
customs Moses handed down to the Israelites (vs. 14)
B. He ends his argument by quoting from Isaiah 66
"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. 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 where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?'
Acts 7:48-50
C. He concludes his sermon by saying this rebuke and admonition….
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers:
You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?
They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have
betrayed and murdered him- you who have received the law that was put into effect through
angels but have not obeyed it." Acts 7:51-53
IV. Stephen the _______________ (7:54-60- 8:1)
When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen,
full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son
of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this they covered their ears and, yelling
at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began
to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man
named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against
them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:54-60
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution
broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered
throughout Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1