Turn to Acts chapter 6.
Now it's full Lord's Day, isn't it?
It's a good Lord's Day.
The church meeting that we're going to have
straight after this.
There is going to be, I think,
Pilgrim's Progress,
the video of that
on the creche for children,
just for children.
You can't go in there as adults.
But do stay.
It'll be, I think,
the encouragement for you to stay around.
We'll have coffee and then
gather back in here just for a short time.
And then we've got the Hope Pregnancy Prayer
at 5 o'clock.
And the whole issue of abortion,
how we need to ask the Lord to work,
ask the Lord to make us effective in this ministry.
Do come at 5 o'clock this evening.
And there is an outline for this sermon.
It's a really long passage.
Interestingly, Stephen didn't need an outline.
But I do.
And so I hope that might help you.
Reactions to sermons are funny things, aren't they?
I've been preaching for a long time.
There are a handful of occasions
when I can remember people have responded angrily.
There was one time I went to preach in a church in Twickenham.
And I was supposed to be preaching on one passage.
I got up, opened my Bible,
and I had another sermon note.
And so I thought,
well, in for a penny,
in for a pound,
I'll preach that.
And a man got up halfway through,
stomped out,
slammed the door,
and shouted at the person on the door
that I was getting at him.
I didn't even know what I was preaching
until about 30 seconds before I got up to preach.
But he was very, very angry.
I've never had anyone throw stones at me, though.
Can you see the end of the reaction to Stephen's sermon?
It's ferocious, isn't it?
A sermon that creates fireworks.
Why would a speaker address people so strongly and so accusingly?
And would a preacher be that insensitive?
Or is the preacher angry?
Or does he want to be offensive?
Have you heard those kind of preachers?
Is he a proud man?
Self-righteous?
Or is it possible that he speaks like that
because he wants the listeners
to find something better than they've found?
C.S. Lewis has got a famous quote.
He says,
People fool around with drink and sex and ambition
while God is offering them infinite joy.
People are like infinite children, Lewis says,
making ignorant children,
making mud pies
because they cannot imagine a holiday by the sea.
In other words, C.S. Lewis is telling us
that people aim too low
and somebody needs to come along
and lift their gaze
and religious people
can aim too low.
You may be the sort of person
that's happy to be in a one-hour service
in a nice building.
You think,
that'll do me.
You've aimed too low.
The history of the early churches,
we've seen it in Acts,
we've seen the Lord Jesus Christ
being raised to his throne in heaven
and building his church.
And as he builds his church,
opposition builds as well.
And so today,
we come to the first martyr
in the history of the church
whose name was Stephen,
who was killed for his faith.
You might think,
sometimes people are in the wrong place
at the wrong time
and it can be fatal.
Open Doors,
the ministry organisation
that works amongst the persecuted church,
tells me that every two hours,
somewhere in the world,
a Christian is killed
simply for believing in the Lord Jesus.
Every two hours.
So from your arrival,
when you got here,
to the time you leave
after tea and coffee,
somewhere in the world,
somebody has been killed
for just being a Christian.
Stephen was stoned to death.
And why was he killed?
What did he say
that made the crowd so angry?
If you were here last week,
you'll remember that Stephen
was chosen to be a servant
distributing food and goods
in the church.
He was obviously a remarkable man,
a multi-talented man.
There are five reminders
in the book of Acts
that he was a man
full of the Holy Spirit
and wisdom and power.
And he's obviously doing
a lot more than just administration.
We're told chapter 6, verse 8,
he was working miracles.
Chapter 6, verse 10,
he was preaching.
And just as Jesus
was strongly attacked
for his miracles
and his preaching,
now Stephen
is strongly attacked.
We're told verse 9,
people argued with him.
Verse 11,
they slandered him.
It always happens, isn't it,
when you're not winning
the argument,
if someone slanders you.
And then in verse 12,
they seize him,
they take him to trial,
and in verse 13,
they tell lies about him.
And so we're meant
to read Acts 6 and 7
and see the echo
of the Lord Jesus.
The same sort of stuff
that landed on Jesus
is now landing on Stephen.
And because the religious people,
they can feel
their religious comfort blanket
being taken away.
They attack Stephen.
I was once on a committee
with an angry man.
I didn't know
he was an angry man
when I went on the committee.
But he didn't like
to be crossed.
He particularly
didn't like to be blocked.
They say, don't they,
that anger is a blocked goal.
Why is there anger
in your home?
I want to say
it's because of a blocked goal.
As on the committee,
he would say
something had to be done
and somebody would
contradict it
or they'd even question it.
Guy's face
would become contorted.
It looked like
he was going to
break into tears.
But it was actually
anger.
His path
was being blocked.
And so it is
with these people
who are listening
to Stephen.
This fury
rises up inside of them
because they're
being challenged.
It's easy, isn't it,
for us to be threatened
when something precious
is being taken away
from us.
But understand that
sometimes the person
is taking something
away from us.
They're taking a false
God away from us.
Something that we're
trusting in,
depending in,
finding our identity
that we shouldn't be
trusting in.
And therefore,
when we're challenged,
very often,
it's a kindness,
isn't it,
of the person
to challenge us?
Or to take it away?
And their security
blanket here
is being threatened
by Stephen.
Can you see
what their security
blanket was?
Where was their comfort?
Chapter 6,
verse 13.
The people trusted
in the holy place,
the temple,
and the law
was their great weapon.
And Stephen,
in his sermon,
is dethroning
the temple
and dethroning
the law.
And he's saying
Jesus Christ
is on the throne.
And the temple,
it may point you
to Jesus
and the law
may point you
to Jesus,
but you're not
meant to worship
the temple
and you're not
meant to be
trusting the temple
and you're not
meant to be
worshipping the law
and you're not
meant to be
trusting the law.
You are meant
to be worshipping
and trusting
Jesus Christ.
so these things
the temple and the law
they'd become like the rabbit's foot
they'd become like a lucky charm to the people
that's what they trusted in
for you it probably isn't that
but there will be things in your life
which your identity is resting on
which you're trusting in
and as Thievin exposes that
and shows them what it is
they go on the attack
there's two points you can see from the outline
first God's word on what really matters
and then God's word on what really lasts
it's a speech
Stephen is on trial
and they're asking him
whether the charges that have been brought against him are true
and he begins to speak in chapter 7 verse 2
let's look at that
the speech has got four parts
the first part is God's dealing with Abraham
Father Abraham
in verses 2 to 8
Stephen obviously doesn't need to tell them who Abraham was
they know he is
but he is showing them that they've missed the obvious
so in chapter 7 verse 3
he reminds them that God met with Abraham
God is the one who took the initiative
and God is the one who told Abraham
to go to the promised land
and then look at chapter 7 verse 5
Abraham never owned a scrap of the promised land
and that's what Stephen wants these people to know
he says to them
you're so interested in the holy place
but your father Abraham
never owned one scrap of the promised land
and of course Abraham didn't have the law either did he
because the law came centuries later with Moses
so Abraham had no land
no law
and Stephen wants the people to remember this
he's saying to his listeners
do you remember that
do you realise that the founding father of the faith
him who you look to
had no holy place and no holy law
but what did Abraham have?
what did Abraham have from God
verse 5?
a promise
God gave him a promise
for the future
that one day the land would belong to the people of God
a promise
and in chapter 7 verse 8
God gave to Abraham
a relationship
a covenant
I will be your God Abraham
and you will be my people
and you will belong to me forever
I've noticed that when somebody is at the end of their life
and they know that they're coming to the end of their life
they often come to their senses
what interests those who are coming to the end of their life
and they know that they're coming to the end of their life?
is it their possessions?
is it their car?
is it the office?
is it the work on the house that needs doing?
now when people come to the end of their life
what are they interested in?
how do they come to their senses?
they are interested in
relationships
and the promise
relationships and the promise
that's what a dying person is interested in
they've come to their senses
they've realised what really matters in life
it's the promises
and the relationship
they long for a promise
that can get them through death
they long
and they rejoice
in the relationships
that they've had
they have with the Lord
and so what would you rather have?
would you rather have the temple
that can do nothing for you
or the law
which only convicts you
or would you like to have
the promise of God
and a relationship with God?
and Stephen is teaching his listeners
that God gave Abraham
what really matters
and all the promises
point to Jesus
and the relationship
that you can have with God
comes through Jesus
who takes away
the barrier of our sin
and he brings us
into fellowship
with God through the cross
that's the first thing
in the speech
it's got to do with God
and Abraham
the second section
has got to do with
God and Moses
not God and Moses
God and Joseph
remember Joseph
in the technicolor coat
there's no mention
of the color coat
in verses 9 to 19
Stephen doesn't talk
about the coat
that's not important
but what does he tell them?
chapter 7 verse 9
it's that Joseph
landed in
Egypt
and he says the word
Egypt
six times
he says
don't you remember
that Joseph
your forefather
went to Egypt
Egypt
not the promised land
is it possible
that God can do
anything with his people
if they're not
in the promised land?
yes of course
we're told
aren't we
wonderfully
chapter 7
verse 9
God was
with
Joseph
it's a wonderful thing
isn't it?
a wonderful truth
for you and I
as the Lord's people
this morning
God was
with his servant
isn't that a precious thing?
as you walk home
as you get on the bus
as you drive home
as you face
the rest of this week
you can say
having trusted in the Lord Jesus
God
with me
and then we're told
chapter 7
verse 10
that God rescued Joseph
and God rescued him
from prison
and then God used him
very wonderfully
and God provided
for Joseph
and he provided
for the family
through the famine
God looked after him
but it was all
where was it all?
it was all in
Egypt
did Joseph live
in the promised land?
no
did Joseph have the law?
no
are those things vital?
they are not
but God rescued him
and provided for his family
and that is what really
matters
that you would be rescued
and that you would have
a place in God's family
I remember hearing
a missionary
going to Pakistan
with a family
he was interviewed
and they asked the dad
aren't you a little bit nervous
about your children
going to Pakistan?
aren't you afraid
for your children?
and he said
I remember being really surprised
about this as a teenager
he said
I'd be more afraid
to keep them here
in the UK
things are comfortable here
and it's easy to forget
the important things
John Patton
John Payton
you children learn about him
in Club 16
don't you?
and he went to the New Hebrides
which is now called Vanuatu
and John Payton
was a missionary
preparing to go
to the New Hebrides
Vanuatu
and he was told
by a member of the church
as he was heading off
to the New Hebrides
where there were cannibals
John Payton was told
you will be eaten
by cannibals
my boy
John Payton said
to the man
you sir
are old
and you will soon
be eaten by worms
and whether I'm eaten
by cannibals
or worms
I don't mind
because I will soon
stand before my Redeemer
and so will you
that is the courage
of a man
who knows
that he has
actually given
his life
to the most important
things
and so what would
you prefer?
would you prefer
to have a temple
or the law
or would you
prefer to be able
to say
Christ has rescued
me
and Christ
has provided
for me
and Christ
will provide
for me
because that is
what Joseph
received from God
he received
rescue and provision
on a small scale
but the Lord Jesus
he delivers
and provides
for us
on a mighty
a massive scale
because
he died
for you
and he rose
again for you
and he lives
for you
and so that's
what Stephen
says about Joseph
now the third
section is God
dealing with Moses
it's verses 17
to 43
it's a long
section
why does Stephen
spend so long
speaking about
Moses
well because
if you look
at chapter 6
and verse 11
he's been accused
of speaking
against Moses
and what Stephen
does is he tells
his listeners
and they don't
need to be told
again about the
law on Mount Sinai
they know about
that Stephen
reminds them
in the end
God owns
the whole
world
now here's
the question
is this
was Moses
appreciated
and Stephen
says you know
that people
have brought
the chapter
of chapter 7
verse 25
he didn't
have any
interest
in him
you didn't
recognize him
you did not
want him
can you believe
that
God raised
that Moses
but the people
didn't want him
you can see
where this is
going
can't you
because God
raised Jesus
and these people
in front of
him
very very
religious
but they
didn't want
him
and Stephen
reminded his
listeners that
the people
of God
disobeyed
Moses
yes they
did
they
disobeyed
they refused
chapter 7
verse 39
they refused
to obey
him
in fact
they turned
from what
Moses had
said
to false
gods
they turned
and made
themselves
a golden
calf
and they
made a
golden calf
to worship
and to put
their trust
in
and you can
see where
this is
going
can't you
because
God's
son
the Lord
Jesus
was rejected
and the
people in
front of
Stephen
have turned
away from
Jesus
they don't
want him
and they've
turned to
the temple
and the
law
false
gods
and so
again
were the
temple
and the
law
bad
things
no they
weren't
they were
good
things
they were
signposts
to the
Lord
Jesus
but they
were not
meant to be
worshipped
the
temple
and the
law
were not
meant to
be
trusted
in
and so
can you
see where
the speech
is going
follow the
trajectory
Moses
has been
sent by
God
greatly
used
by
God
but he
was
rejected
by the
people
and
disobeyed
by the
people
and Moses
spoke of
Jesus
chapter 7
verse 37
and Jesus
has now
been
rejected
and
disobeyed
and Stephen
preaches
what the
Lord Jesus
and Stephen
as a preacher
of the Lord
Jesus is now
being rejected
himself
and being
disobeyed
and there
is hostility
hostility to
the Lord
Jesus is
ferocious
and it's
strange
and ferocious
you can
lift the
lid
of what
looks like
boredom
and underneath
there's a
serious
dislike
of Jesus
find the
person who
just seems
to be
bored by
the subject
not really
interested
in the
subject
of the
Lord
Jesus
and you
probe a
little
deeper
and you
find that
they are
strongly
opposed
to
Jesus
I read
this week
about T.S.
Eliot
the poet
I didn't
know this
but T.S.
Eliot
became
Christian
and it
was a
massive
shock
to his
friends
T.S.
Eliot
was a
really
bright
man
he wrote
this
he wrote
that the
majority
of mankind
is lazy
minded
in curious
absorbed
in vanities
tepid in
emotion
and is
therefore
incapable
of either
much doubt
or much
faith
T.S.
Eliot
became
a
Christian
and
his
fellow
writer
Virginia
Wolfe
was so
angry
that he
became
a
Christian
she wrote
to a
friend
she said
a most
shameful
and distressing
interview
with Tom
Eliot
he has
become a
believer
in God
and immortality
and goes
to church
a corpse
would be
more credible
I mean
there is
something
obscene
that a
living
person
sitting
by the
fire
would
believe
in God
that's
fairly
hostile
isn't it
but it's
there
and that
is what
Stephen
is facing
so in
these three
sections
Stephen
has talked
about God
dealing with
Abraham
with Joseph
and dealing
with Moses
and so in
this last
section
from verses
44 to
50
he deals
with God's
special place
and he
says to the
people
God's special
place in the
Old Testament
was originally
a tent
in the
wilderness
did you
know that
God said
to his
people
I want
you to
have a
tent
because when
you're
travelling
it will
be a
symbol
of my
presence
with you
and as
you travel
and you
get to
a base
at night
set up
my
tent
it'll
be
there
as a
symbol
to tell
you I
am with
you
and when
you get
into the
promised land
the tent
is replaced
by the
temple
and the
temple was
built by
Solomon
but the
temple was
never meant
to box
God in
it was never
assumed that
the temple
no matter how
great and how
grand that
the temple
could somehow
hold God
in
could control
God
could box
God
even Solomon
when he
prayed at
the dedication
of the
temple
he says
God who
could hold
you in
you are
too great
and then
Jesus
comes
and in
John chapter
1 we are
told he
made his
tent
among us
the proof
that God
is interested
in this
world
the proof
that God
is interested
in you
this morning
is that
Jesus came
and made
his tent
among us
and Stephen's
listeners
rejected
Jesus
and they
replaced him
that is the
speech
and so
secondly
and briefly
God's word
on what
really lasts
verse 51
Stephen
turns to his
listeners
and he says
you are just
like the
Old Testament
evildoers
yes you
are
you killed
the prophets
you killed
the Messiah
you had
the law
said Stephen
but you
just disobeyed
it
and the
crowd
goes crazy
they block
their years
they start
screaming
they run
at him
they drag
him out
of the city
where have
you seen
that before
Jesus was
dragged
out of the
city
they stone
Stephen to
death
and how
interesting
it is
that as
Stephen is
dying
we're told
that he
looks up
to heaven
he's given
a vision
into heaven
and he
sees the
Lord Jesus
standing
it's the only
place in the
whole of the
New Testament
where we're told
that Jesus is
standing in heaven
always because
Jesus finished
his work
we're told that
the priest
sits down
and so
Jesus is
seated in
heaven
but in
act 7
he's standing
why is he
standing
surely
he's standing
because as
he sees
Stephen dying
he is dying
to welcome
him
he stands
to welcome
his saints
his martyred
saints
and Stephen
echoes Jesus
as he dies
he says
Jesus
receive my
spirit
that's exactly
what Jesus
said on the
cross
into your
hands
I commit
my spirit
and then he
says Lord
do not hold
this sin
against these
people
which is
exactly what
Jesus said
on the
cross
isn't it
and the
references
come from
Luke's
gospel
who also
wrote Acts
and so
volume 1
of the
gospel
and volume
2
of the
book of
Acts
the people
the crowd
they're
full of
anger
and Stephen
is
full of
joy and
peace
and hope
these
people are
deeply
religious
but they
are deeply
opposed to
Jesus
is that
possible
is it
possible that
somebody could
come to
church week
by week
and be
deeply
opposed to
Jesus
of course
it is
and although
Stephen is
facing death
he's got more
life in him
than all the
crowd
he's got more
hope in him
more joy in
him
Spurgeon
says very
quaintly
on this
when a
person is
born
they cry
and the
people around
them smile
and when a
believer dies
says Spurgeon
the people
around may
cry
but the
believer
smiles
and here's
the point
Stephen is
exposing his
need the
things that
are really
going on
in the
people who
prefer
false gods
to the
real God
and he
gathers
the things
that really
matter for
those who
are drawn
to Christ
and this
is what
really matters
this morning
it is that
God would
call you
in the
gospel
and he
does
that he
would call
you to
follow him
and to
belong to
him
and to
be forgiven
and to
have eternal
life and
he does
that now
through the
preaching of
God's word
and so that
God's presence
would be with
you in
everything you
go through
in life
and in
death
and God
also gives
you his
promises
food to
live by
and that
he would be
your rescuer
all the way
through to the
end
and that
he would be
your protector
and these
are the
things we
find in
the Lord
Jesus
promise
and
relationship
that's what
really
matters
isn't it
and actually
nothing
else
ultimately
really matters
in the long
run
Jesus
offers you
promise
and
relationship
let's
pray
Thank you.