Great Sermons

1 Corinthians 1:21; Acts 7:2-60

Stpehen’s Sermon

CIT: Stephen preaches at Sanhedrin

CIS: God is doing a new thing

SO: The hearer will see what God is doing in their life.

Follow along at d1.church/notes.

Intro: Great Sermons.

In this series, we will first have a chance to hear three Great Sermons. Honestly, they cannot be preached better than they were. So I will not try to re-preach them. My heart is to expose you to them and give you their central theme and why they are essential to Christianity. Why were they worthy of being recorded in their entirety in our text? 

As a preacher, one of the scriptures that gives me great comfort is found in 1 Corinthians 1:21: For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. God chose the foolishness of standing up and speaking emphatically to be the vehicle by which men would be saved. 

God chose this mode of communication to be the primary form through which others will receive the message of Christ. I remember the day I gave my life to the Lord in Sunday school. I have no idea what she said, but she told us a story, and we had an opportunity to respond. I also remember the many days God called me back to him in my life; again, I do not remember the scripture, but I know God was in it. He called me back to him and used ministers to spark something inside me. That is what these sermons are. The goal of preaching is not to live up to Peter, Stephen, or Paul but to see what God was saying to his people. To share in the conviction and splendor of God. 

Today, we will Go to Acts and listen to Stephen. 

Let’s get into the word….

1. Stephen (Acts 6:8-15, 7:1).

 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then, they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

EXP: Stephen was one of seven men who assisted the disciples with ministry. We call them Deacons or Elders of the Church. Stephen was given a specific task along with the other six of dealing with the Hellenistic Jews and making sure their widows were taken care of. According to the text, Stephen was not just a responsible guy but was full of the Holy Spirit and performed miracles and signs around town. He was preaching the Gospel, and this group of Jews from outside Jerusalem called the Synagogue of Freedom. (Libyam Egypt, Turkey) decided he needed to stop. So, they began to lie about what he was preaching. So they took it before the rulers of the day, and they took him into custody to put him on trial for blasphemy. While he was there, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him; his face began to shine, and then the High Priest asked him to answer for the charges. 

ILL: Have you ever been lied about and had to defend your honor? This never goes well. Stephen is in an impossible position. This new church is growing, and the whole city of Jerusalem and the world are having to acknowledge the resurrection of Jesus, which destroys the narrative of how necessary the religious elite are. 

The main reason people cannot accept Christ has nothing to do with whether they see God do miracles or how convincing the preacher is. If people are willing to change from their place of power or comfort, they accept God’s way. 

APP: Stephen is about to become a casualty of his conviction. He is the first martyr for the cause of Christ. 

T.S.: But not before we get to hear him preach one more time.

2. Stephen’s Sermon (Acts 7:2-50).

EXP: My intention is not to preach Stephen’s sermon. It is lengthy and tells the Story of God and Israel with a few points. Let’s review this timeline.

ILL:

ILL: Through Stephen’s Speech, you will notice that God had:

If we recognize his audience as the Sanhedrin, then we know that they do not need a History Lesson of Israel. All of these facts are verifiable and True. So why would they get angry?

Stephen is making a few Points:

1. You say God does not Change? So, There can be no new covenant? Stephen has listed 20 or more times when God has changed the covenant and location of Israel. 
2. Israel has continued to reject God’s salvation (Joseph, Moses, Moses again), Yet God still allowed them to Save Israel. Implied: Now you have again rejected the Savior.
3. His last point is found in Acts 7:48: “The Most High does live in houses made by human hands.” Implied: God now resides in man with his Holy Spirit. 

APP: With this, Stephen has angered them. 

ILL: When they close down a restaurant, there is a prescribed way to do it. I am not fond of the process, but this is how it goes. An all-employee meeting is called, and the staff shows up. The higher-ups are there; by all accounts, it is a typical day except when the meeting begins at 3 pm in the afternoon, which is usually a slow part of the day. The doors are locked, and all the employees are informed that they have all lost their jobs. I have had to give that speech before. There is a point in the conversation where everyone’s face turns. Everyone begins to realize what is happening, and disgust and pain sweep across the room. As Stephen is giving this sermon, the faces of the Sanhedrin do the same. They understand that he has dismantled every argument they have against Jesus. 

T.S.: Stephen stops giving the history. He could have gone on and shown how God had set this in motion, but it was unnecessary. So, seeing the anger in their eyes, he says this. 

3. Many were saved (Acts 7: 51-60)

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors 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 given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

EXP: Stephen says to them. Let me prove my point. You are still the same rebellious people, and you continue to Kill the prophets who carry the truth! Stephen wins the argument and then loses his life. 

When the members of the Sanhedrin 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 coats 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.

EXP: There is some robust understanding of his death. Stephen describes looking into heaven. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God. In order to not be persuaded in this decisive moment, the Religious leaders have to cover their ears and yell. LA LALALALA! They make a choice and Kill Stephen. Full of the Spirit, Stephen models Jesus and asks that they receive mercy. 

APP: There are two responses to Stephen’s sermon. You can hear the truth, witness God, and be encouraged for 2000 years. Or you can cover your ears and reject the truth that God has a new covenant for his people to live with him. 

I want to pray for three groups today:

1. Some of you won’t accept a new thing by saying God does not change. Today, you realize that you may not want a new relationship with God. It is not comfortable for you.
2. I pray that you can see God’s character and purpose for you in the kingdom through God’s word.
3. Some of you, if challenged under the scrutiny of your Christianity, would fold.
4. I pray today that you understand the need to stand in the face of adversity and proclaim God’s name. I pray that emboldens you and that his holy spirit helps you. 
5. Some have seen God’s power and heard powerful messages of change, and you have stuck your fingers in your ears and refused God. Today, you can change Stephen’s message to be encouraging instead of enraging. 
6. I pray for salvation.