Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

Last week we began a journey together that is going to take us to places only God can see in His sovereignty, if we are faithful to walk through this teaching together (and here’s the big catch…) IF we can individually apply this to our lives personally, yet simultaneously apply it to our family culture as the local church, and begin to live out both in the context of what Christ has given to us.

So, what has Christ given us?

Well considering this is Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus rode in to Jerusalem, celebrated, was the a hit right up until some religious people felt threatened…then a week later which we commemorate His death burial and resurrection in the holiday known as Easter next week… OH WAIT, sorry, I got off of the rails there..., back to what has Jesus given us?

His glorifying work on the cross and in His example to love, teach, die, and redeem the outcast, and the marginalized of a broken world.

And how did Jesus construct such a framework work to be reproduced through fragile, sinners, absorbed by this broken world?

He did it by investing His wisdom, teaching, and by doing life with many (in crowds), through pouring into a small circle of 12 (His disciples), to a few (his inner circle-James, Peter, & John), and by pouring into individuals (one on one).

Here’s three things we can bring to the table from our own experiences of living in a broken world…(1) Truth can be scary and sometimes has teeth, (2) and so can family.

(3) Anyone outside of the family, who holds to a different perspective, belief, or has been shaped to value different things, can seem even scarier than truth and family combined.

Outsiders bring a different kind of threat that will make us be bold when necessary or cower in their shadow.

We saw this type of threat welling up in last week’s text as Stephen “full of grace and power...” (v.8), is doing some amazing things amongst a group who believed differently.

And because he was transforming the way the people of their community saw things, this group holding fast to the customs, traditions and the way things had always been done, started to show their teeth.

But Stephen, boldly, pressed in.

And do you know what I love about this courage pressing?

He reaches back into their own, his own past, the history of the Jewish people and started dropping knowledge.

So, as we see Stephen starting to get bullied by the local church thugs…he’s not scarred.

Big Idea

Our past, as well as, our scars are reminders; not just of struggles and pain, but of healing.

Through Christ's suffering on the cross: our awakening to this truth; our faith, and submission to Him as Lord, in that, we are healed eternally.

Our scars should serve as a reminder of Christ's healing victory over sin (past, present & future), and point us to His redemptive work in us.

Our past, as well as, our scars are reminders; not just of struggles and pain, but of healing.

Through Christ's suffering on the cross: our awakening to this truth; our faith, and submission to Him as Lord, in that, we are healed eternally.

Our scars should serve as a reminder of Christ's healing victory over sin (past, present & future), and point us to His redemptive work in us.

Our past, as well as, our scars are reminders; not just of struggles and pain, but of healing.

Through Christ's suffering on the cross: our awakening to this truth; our faith, and submission to Him as Lord, in that, we are healed eternally.

Our scars should serve as a reminder of Christ's healing victory over sin (past, present & future), and point us to His redemptive work in us.

Exposition ||

so v1.

Stephen address the people of the synagogue (the Greek word meaning- “a gathering together”)—so these were good ole Jewish church ppl.

-Look how Stephen addresses them “Brothers and Fathers” so the brothers is the unity they share in God in the church…but what about the “Fathers” there?

We don’t get that much in the Baptist church do we…even the adaptation of referring to a priest, pastor, or elder in the church as father… is not just unifying but in is proclaiming responsibility to God... as someone who walks close with God.

From a biblical perspective, the ideal father, one who loves God, is obedient to him and reflects this in his daily living and in the care and upbringing of his children.

Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

This makes sense in the reference he is holding them up too…not just to God the Father, but to the Father of the Jewish people…Abraham.

Stephen’s backing up to the Jewish New Deal…when God makes a covenant with Abraham.

He starts quoting the Old Testament to these Jewish religious people…any good Jew is going to know this Scripture…()…here’s the irony…even though they persecute the followers of Jesus…The New Testament, Gospel of Matthew acknowledges God’s purpose in both Abraham father-ship to point towards Christ the Savior.

What we hold on to from our past good our bad can hinder our future hope…if we are rigid—walking in what we know, instead of FAITH.

God called Abraham in faith to go… leave the people you know (kindred) and go to place that you don’t know… but He says, “I will show you.”

Exposition || Acts 7:4-5

Acts

Acts 7:4

Acts 4

Stephen is reminding them of the original Father and who God reveal Himself to and made this covenant.

The of a good father theme of responsibility in Spiritual instruction, mature guidance...

Exposition || Acts 7:6

Acts 7:6

Acts 7:6

()

Being a good father sometimes means speaking truth and love over someone’s life even if they don’t want to hear it.

I can’t imagine this being a compelling lock room speech to manipulate Abraham’s emotions to be even more faithful…given then news.

Again, past mistakes…the prophecy of consequence

Big Idea

Our past, as well as, our scars are reminders; not just of struggles and pain, but of healing.

Through Christ's suffering on the cross: our awakening to this truth; our faith, and submission to Him as Lord, in that, we are healed eternally.

Our scars should serve as a reminder of Christ's healing victory over sin (past, present & future), and point us to His redemptive work in us.

But what God said next revealed a bigger plan.

One that can’t afford a finite mind to ponder contemplate, and wrap their heads around...

But what God said next revealed a bigger plan.

One that can’t afford a finite mind to ponder contemplate, and wrap their heads around…it’s not about past mistakes, or past victories…in about the hope of the future.

The faithfulness of God.

Exposition || Acts 7:7

Acts 7:7

In church we often throw around the word “vision.”

And if I as a Spiritual elder/pastor of the church, came in and told you that,

“Hey…we are going to step outside the familiar, the people we know the places we know and we are going to go to a place unfamiliar, a place where many challenges lie ahead.

I don’t know exactly what we are going to face together on this journey, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

You are going to sacrifice some good things that you are currently doing…and in doing that, you may never see the fruit…the finished product…but this is going to set up the future for the next generation of believers.”

Could you as a believer in Christ step out and follow that kind of leadership?

Or would you question the vision, or maybe be concerned at the lack of vision in something so profoundly bold, yet so profoundly simple.

If you knew your sacrifice, your commitment to follow God’s lead, through the humble vessel in which He has called to lead you, and step out in faith…and say, “I’m in.

Let’s go?”

Because what Stephen is reminding them is that each one who has given their life to follow God through the deserts, watched His prophecies come to fruition in our pasts, and seen His goodness and His promises fulfilled where through His inspired Holy Word or personal experience and revelation, regardless, to step into that season of desert lands and unknown is a faith growing experience…it is what true vision is made of.

Not knowing where you are walking but knowing the one who is leading you can see the bigger picture.

That’s vision…that’s the faith we’ve been called to.

Exposition ||

Acts 7:8

In the Bible the practice of circumcision began in Genesis 17 as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.

God promised Abraham a land and, through a son yet to be conceived, numerous descendants, from whom kings would come.

Blessing would come upon Abraham and through him to all nations (Gn 12:1–3).

After the covenant was formally inaugurated (Gn 15), God sealed it, ordering Abraham to be circumcised along with all the males in his household (Gn 17:9–13).

Circumcision was to be an expression of faith that God’s promises would be realized.

Because Abraham’s faith had lapsed (Gn 16) even after he had seen the awesome display of God’s majesty (Gn 15:9–17), a permanent reminder of God’s covenant promises was placed on his body and the bodies of his male descendants (Gn 17:11).

This sign was so closely related to God’s covenant promise that the rite itself could be termed the “covenant” (Gn 17:10; Acts 7:8).

Circumcision was to be performed on the eighth day after birth (Gn 17:12; Lv 12:1–3; see Gn 21:4; Lk 1:59; 2:21; Acts 7:8; Phil 3:5), customarily by the boy’s father (Gn 17:23; 21:4; Acts 7:8), at which time a name would be given (Lk 1:59; 2:21).