Sermon Questions for April 7, 2024
Acts 6:8-8:3
Recap:
1. How does Acts 6 describe the type of man Stephen was (v. 3, 8)
2. What purpose were the men of v. 5 meant to accomplish
Reteach:
3. Acts 6:8-16 – IWhat does it mean that Stephen was full of grace and the Spirit? What two charges were made against Stephen by the religious leaders and what was their response and attitude toward Stephen? How does this sequence mimic what occurred to Jesus and what does that teach us about Stephen?
4. Acts 7:1–53 — What was the mistake of the religious leaders thought of the temple? How does Stephen use the Scriptures to teach them they were wrong in their thought, who did he use? How does the story of Abraham and Joseph show us that the temple wasn't the point (in both of these stories God was with the men despite the lack of a temple)? How does Jesus fulfill the purpose of the Temple (Christ brings us to God, it's through Christ that we have access to God)?
5. Acts 7:54–60 — What do we learn about Stephen in light of His death? How is Stephen's death similar to Christ and how is it different? What do we learn from this story about suffering and how to respond? How does this story teach us how to live by the Spirit?
Sermon Title: Living and Dying Like Christ
Main Idea: Being full of the Holy Spirit leads a person to live as Christ in life and death
Outline:
- The Christlikeness of Stephen from three angles.
- 1. Stephen's Christ-like Character (6:8–16)
- The two specific charges (13, 14):
- Speaking against the temple
- Speaking blasphemous words against Moses and changing custom
- The two specific charges (13, 14):
- 1. Stephen's Christ-like Character (6:8–16)
- 2. Stephen's Christ-centered Message (7:1–53)
- Two Themes in Stephen’s response
- 1. Temple/Land (1–50);
- 2. The Law (51–53)
- Three undercurrent lessons Stephen is trying to teach the Council.
- God’s presence with his people is not confined to a building or land (his customs change)
- God’s people historically have rejected their redeemers
- You say Israel’s leaders and worship elements have value, but they are all fulfilled in the Righteous One you killed
- Two Themes in Stephen’s response
- 3. Stephen's Christ-exalting Death (7:54–60)
Takeaways
- 1. Know the Biblical Story.
2. People with unregenerate hearts will reject the idea that they are sinners.
3. Only through the Spirit can one be faithful and forgiving.
4. In suffering, look to Christ.
5. It is possible to know God’s word, and interpret it wrongly.
6. For the Christian, death is only a sleep (60).