1. Jesus LUKE 23:11-47

2. INTRODUCTION God’s people are men and women of integrity holding strong faith and bold truth. They trust God to accomplish His purpose even if He allows tragedy to strike. They know that God can accomplish His plan in the midst of their apparent loss.

3. JESUS 1. We see His integrity against the backdrop of Religious Political Intrigue Luke 23:11-25

4. Verses in Lk 23:11-25 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

5. Verses in Lk 23:11-25 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed?

6. Verses in Lk 23:11-25 22 I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty…. 25 but he surrendered Jesus to their will.

7. JESUS 1. Integrity 2. Strong Faith and Bold Truth Luke 23:26-31

8. Verses in Lk 23:26-31 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

9. Verses in Lk 23:26-31 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women… 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

10. JESUS 1. Integrity 2. Strong Faith and Bold Truth 3. Continued trust in God even if tragedy strikes the righteous Luke 23:32-43

11. 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

12. Luke 23:32-43 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots…. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

13. JESUS 1. Integrity 2. Strong Faith and Bold Truth 3. Continued trust in God even if tragedy strikes the righteous 4. God accomplishes His plan in the midst of apparent loss Luke 23:44-47

14. 44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

15. Luke 23:44-47 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

16. THE LORD’S SUPPER

17. Stephen ACTS 6:8–8:3

18. INTRODUCTION God’s people are men and women of integrity holding strong faith and bold truth. They trust God to accomplish His purpose even if He allows tragedy to strike. They know that God can accomplish His plan in the midst of their apparent loss.

19. STEPHEN 1. We see his integrity against the backdrop of Religious Political Intrigue Acts 6:8 – 15

20. ACTS 6:8–15 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose…. Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria… the provinces of Cilicia and Asia… began to argue with Stephen.

21. ACTS 6:8–15 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

22. ACTS 6:8–15 13 They produced false witnesses who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

23. ACTS 6:8–15 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

24. STEPHEN 1. Integrity 2. Strong Faith and Bold Truth ACTS 7:1-53

25. ACTS 7:1-53 39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him [Moses]. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt…. 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

26. ACTS 7:1-53 52 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— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

27. STEPHEN 1. Integrity 2. Strong Faith and Bold Truth 3. Continued trust in God even if tragedy strikes ACTS 7:54-60

28. Menacing circumstance intended to create fear 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

29. ACTS 7:54-60 God’s presence increases our faith in suffering 55 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. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

30. ACTS 7:54-60 Stephen followed Christ forgiving his persecutors. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.

31. STEPHEN 1. Integrity 2. Strong Faith and Bold Truth 3. Continued trust in God even if tragedy strikes the righteous 4. God accomplishes His plan in the midst of apparent loss ACTS 8:1-3

33. Church begin going to make disciples 8:1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

34. ACTS 8:1-3 Preparatory work on a new Apostle 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

35. CLOSING PRAYER Father, help us to be men and women of integrity holding strong faith and bold truth. Help us trust You when tragedy strikes. Accomplish Your plan inspite of our losses. In Jesus name, Amen.