Sunday Sermon
sunday morning 22nd march 2009
Acts 6v8-7v60.
Having seen the picture of the church in the early days, we have seen that the Church was full of Great Grace, Great Fear and Great Growth. Luke now changes his approach slightly by giving us a series of character studies, this week starting with Stephen.
6v8-15: introduction, scene setting.
· He is described v8
· Opposition arises v9
· Freedmen can’t win argument so lie about him! V12-12
· He is arrested and brought before the council v12-15
· Stephen is described again v15: looks like an angel.
7v1 are the charges true?
· Question leads to the sermon.
· V2-9 Abraham
· V10-16 Story of Joseph, and patriarchs move to Egypt.
· V17-43 Story of Moses and exodus begins
· V44-50 Story of Tabernacle and Temple
The charge against him was blasphemy – speaking against Moses and God 6v11, the temple and customs v13-14 and speaking about Jesus v14.
The charges answered: beginning with Abraham going to the 12 patriarchs 7v1-8
Expands on the story of Joseph v9-16: Noting “God was with Joseph” v9.
He then moves on to the story of the Exodus and the calling of Moses v17-38
· All of this seems to be acceptable to the listeners!
Then Stephen highlights the rebellion of the Israelites v39-43.
They refused Moses as leader over them.
Next Stephen moves to the conquering of the land under Joshua and the tabernacle: until the temple era v44-47.
Then Stephen points out the fact God does not live in temples v48-50.
This is his springboard for attack! 51-53
They were furious at his attack v54
Stephen then sees a vision v55-56
Then the people go on the attack to kill him v57-58
The chapter concludes with Stephens last words v59-60.
What was Stephens point?
1) v51 accused the people of rebellion, always resisting the Spirit – just like theirs fathers, who rejected Joseph, Moses and the prophets.
2) v52 they killed Jesus just as their fathers killed those who predicted the coming Messiah
3) v53 they have the word / law of God but are not obedient to it!
Basically Stephen says they are disobedient, murdering, rebels!
A charge that is even worse than it sounds because of all the privileges they enjoyed.
They had the great leaders and prophets, they had the very word of God and they had the Spirit: but they rejected it all!
They rejected the work of God all along!
God was trying to work with his covenant children but his children were having none of it!
The leaders response?
1) fury, v54
2) attack to kill v57-58
Obviously in the first instance they hated the accusation that Stephen brought before them!
But they hated all the more the words Stephen used to describe his vision: this is what brought him death!
What happens to Stephen?
1) sees a vision v55-56
2) his last words v59-60
With the vision of Christ before him he is able to die well, forgiving his enemies!
Why is Luke giving us this picture of Stephen, the first martyr of the church?
What kind of man was Stephen? Good reputation, wise, full of the Spirit 6v3.
Biblically educated (thus the sermon), bold (thus the accusations), fearless (happily preached to his accusers), full of mercy (7v60).
He was by any standard and astonishing man!
The important question is how did he get to be that way?
The answer is seen in his vision: he was looking to Christ!
All the time, not just in his vision. We know because he reflected the glory of heaven: 6v15.
App: Stephen was just a man! He was like anyone of us. He was flesh and blood, soul and spirit. But he had something that transformed him!
That was his vision of Jesus. That made all the difference.
And the point is we can be the kind of person Stephen was if we have Christ as our vision.
How then do we get the vision?
1) the first thing is we must want it; knowing that it will cost!
To follow Jesus, is a serious business! It cannot be done in our part time!
Wholehearted commitment is what Jesus called for.
Ultimately that means laying down our will, to do His will. To take up the cross is to say, Lord I will go your way today.
2) following this desire to really want Christ, is the need then to use all the means at our disposal to get Christ!
Starting with the obvious means: the bible. Stephen was steeped in scripture.
Memorise, meditate, study the word! All the time seeking Jesus.
Prayer: ask God for his help to get close to him! Keep asking.
sunday evening 22nd march 2009
Col 1v1-2
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the holy and faithful {Or believing} brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. {Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ}
Background:
· Paul had not met this group of people!
· Where it is: on the river Lycus, Southwest of modern Turkey.
· Written probably before AD 61 because there is no mention of the city after this time. It is believed to have been destroyed by and earthquake.
· Written from Rome during his 1st imprisonment.
Intro:
Paul always start his letters by introducing himself.
And who is he? An apostle of Christ Jesus - By the will of God.
1) v1 He describes himself in terms of his work and calling.
His work was “an apostle of Christ Jesus” – was a witness of the Lord, charged with proclaiming Him!
This really is the heart of all that Paul has to say: it is all about Jesus.
Paul was a man with one passion: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Further his authority to proclaim Jesus came all the way from the top!
His calling was from God. He did not take this work up out of his own choosing.
App:
Paul may have had a special role in the foundation of the church
But our work actually is no different from his.
We are Christians – we are called to stand for Jesus: to proclaim Christ!
And our authority equally comes from God: because He has called us!
We have not chosen this life ourselves, God has chosen it for us!
Thus we can say “I am Mr/Mrs …… a witness of Jesus Christ, by Gods will”
Paul’s self description is our self description.
There is no need for us to be lost and wondering about who we are and what we are to do!
We are Christians called to live and witness for Christ, by the will of God!
2) v2 Then he moves onto describe those to whom he is writing: “Holy/saints and Faithful brothers in Christ in Colosse” This is quite a title!
Holy/saints – they were no ordinary people. They were set apart by God!
Faithful – having been set apart they remained faithful to their God.
They are to trust and believe!
App:
See here the divine and the human aspects of our life: we are made holy by God, we are then to be faithful.
We are not to be holy, we are holy! God has made us holy. Thus not doing certain things, just to be holy is the wrong way of thinking. It is too negative!
Rather think of being faithful. Actively seeking God, going His way.
Think of the two words together: and we are to think of being faithful to our holiness: that is faithful to what God has done for us!
But why should we so live?
Because we are “in Christ” - we are to work all that out in Christ.
This phrase is pivotal for our understanding of this letter.
The whole wonder of salvation for Paul is summed up in that phrase: “in Christ”.
The Colossians holiness and faithfulness was derived from the fact they were “in Christ”.
App:
Life now for all believers is about life in Jesus!
He is the core and center of all things! Once we were “in darkness” or in the “flesh”.
Once we lived for self, in our own power etc. Now we are “in Christ”!
A fundamental shift has taken place: our life is now in Christ!
Note too, the Colossians were “in Colosse”, but that was a far less important fact, than the fact that they were “in Christ”.
We might have a whole list of other things that we are a part of, we are in our families and our work and hobbies etc: but above it all we must remember that we are “in Christ”
So we are Holy, called to be faithful because we are in Christ!
But is that not all a bit too much? How can we do it?
We can only do it with God’s blessing:
Paul continues with the blessing: “grace and peace…..v2”
What is he doing here?
He is more than asking that Gods grace and peace would be given to them.
He is, as an apostle, in the power of God, communicating God’s actual grace and peace!
He is the channel through which that comes!
App:
We are to receive that Grace and peace too! This is a blessing for us as for them!
· But how are we to receive?
By accepting that Grace and peace! But How? Well by accepting God Himself.
His grace and peace does not come apart from Him!
Thus the giving of blessing is the giving of God.
The reception of blessing is the reception of God!
One way of receiving is receive this grace and peace by receiving the whole letter.
As we come each week to this book, we are coming to receive God, and in receiving Him we are receiving His grace and peace.
We live as witnesses, holy and faithful, in Christ, all by the blessing of God; which is the presence of God Himself.
