Homiletics

 Acts 7:1-60

Content:

1.  Sanhedrin ask if Stephen's accusation against Moses are true. v 1
2. Stephen begins with reciting call of Abraham by God and God's promises to him. v 2-5
3. He recounts God's promises of deliverance for the nation, giving history of Isaac to Joseph. v6-10
4. Stephen recounts God's fulfillment of deliverance through Joseph. 11-16
5. Stephen tells that as it looked like God's promises to Abe was fulfilled, persecution in Egypt began. v 17-19
6. Stephen recounts life of Moses and God's call to him to deliver his people. v 20-34
7. Moses, rejected by his people led them out of slavery. v 35-36
8. Moses promised a prophet to follow. v 37-38
9. Stephen recounts peoples rejection of God and Moses and the worship of the calf. 39-43
10. Stephen recounts the people having testimony with hem in dessert , David and Solomon's reign and building of the Tabernacle. v 44-47
11. Stephen quotes scripture declaring God does not dwell in a house. 48-50
12. Stephen points finger at Sanhedrian that they like their forefathers are rejecting Holy Spirit, the Christ and the Law. v 51-53
13. Angry the crowd charges Stephen stoning him as he declares seeing heaven with Jesus at right hand of God. v 54-58
14. Stephen prays "receives my spirit," and forgive them before he dies. v 59-60

Divisions:

1. In Stephens response to Sanhedrin, he recounts God's call, promises and preservation of his people Israel. vs 1-34
2. Stephen recounts history of Israel's rejection of God including this very Sanhedrin's rejection of the Jesus the Christ. 35-53
3. Angry crowd stones Stephen who declares vision of Glory of God as he dies. 54-60

Subject Sentence:

• Stephen recounts Israel's history revealing her rebellion and is killed

Aim: TCMT speak truth, trusting God's eternal deliverance in spite of persecution.

   ( alternative : 1) TCMTK  Rebellious people will reject God's messengers of truth.

                            

Application:

1. Do I know God's word so that I may share God's truth with others?
2. Am I willing to reveal other's sin at the cost of rejection? Who do I need to speak truth to even if it means rejection and persecution. 
3. Who do I need to forgive for their rejection of me because I obediently spoke truth?

Principles from the lesson: 

Speaking the truth of God does not endear you to a rebellious people.

Rejecting God's messengers of truth is ultimately a rejection of God.

This lesson was very personal this week as I dealt with an issue at work.  I kept thinking the negative and accusatory response I received meant I must have done something wrong in how I addressed it.  And thought there could be elements of that, I realized that the pushback really was a rebellion against the truth that I spoke.  It helped me.  And encouraged me to continue to stand for truth and and not be afraid to speak for fear of rejection or persecution.