Healthy Church Ministry

 READ

Background & Context: Acts 6:1-15

Sermon Passage: Acts 7:1-53

 THINK

Main Point of the Text: Far from blaspheming Moses and God, Stephen understands that the God of Glory is not bound to the temple or by the law; He is faithful to His promises and fulfills the temple and the law in Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. The issue is the continued rejection of God and His appointed and anointed Servant by Stephen’s contemporaries.

 APPLY

We must Own the reality of rejection so that we are not discouraged, manipulated, or misled but are faithful to proclaim the truth fully and faithfully.

• How does the rejection so many display toward Jesus cause you to be discouraged or question the Truth?
• Does owning the reality that people will reject Jesus, even with perfect evidence, help encourage you to remain faithful?
• What is the hardest part of addressing those who are hostile to the Gospel with gentleness and respect?
• Mediate on 1 Peter 3:13-16

 PRAY

• Pray and praise God for who He is: the Sovereign Master of all creation and time.
• Pray for God to take note of our present situation.
• Pray for God to fill each of us with the Holy Spirit that we would be bold in declaring the Gospel.
• Pray for doors to open before us to proclaim the hope of Jesus to our families, friends, neighbors, and more.
• Pray that we would resist the discouragement of the world’s opposition but would set our eyes firmly on Jesus.
• Pray that we would cheerfully and generously love and care for each other.
• Pray that we would fear the Lord rightly.
• Confess any sin.
• Pray for courage to be faithful despite rejection.
• Pray for those you know who are currently rejecting the Gospel to have soft and responsive hearts.