1. Hebron church of Christ Don’t Forget: Announcements: Stanley Barnes Nursing Home @ 2:00 VBS, June 6-9 Welcome to the May 30, 2009

2. The First Christian Martyr I.His Service II.His Sermon III.His Stoning Stephen

3. Stephen’s Service The necessity of his service –Acts 6:1-4 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration…look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business… What is needed around here?

4. Stephen’s Service The nature of his service –Acts 6:5-8, 10 …and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…And Stephen, being full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people…and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spake… –Stephen was a respected man –Stephen was a ready man –Stephen was a remarkable man Would we be chosen?

5. Stephen’s Service The negation of his service –Acts 6:9-14 Then there arose certain of the synagogue…disputing with Stephen…then they suborned men…And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses… –They argued –They undermined –They arrested What if we faced similar attacks?

6. Stephen’s Sermon The crux of his sermon –Stephen’s sermon is an apology Acts 7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? –He emphasized God’s dealing with man 7:2-7, 8, 9-10, 17, 30-34, 37, 45 –He emphasized man’s dealing with God 7:35, 41-43, 48-49 Has man really changed?

7. Stephen’s Sermon The characteristics of his sermon –It was knowledgeable –It was to-the-point (7:51-53) –It was motivational How would we have reacted?

8. Stephen’s Stoning The motivation for the stoning: –Conviction (7:54a-b) –Malice (7:54c) –Stubbornness (7:57) –Ignorance (7:58, I Timothy 1:13) Have we ever been guilty of stoning?

9. Stephen’s Stoning The magnificence of the stoning: –Jesus’ interest (7:55-56) –Stephen’s intervention (7:60) Will we take positive lessons from this tragic event?

10. Consider During Lord’s Supper: Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: