Introduction

When a tree becomes strong and starts to bear fruit, a good gardener knows that it needs to be pruned. Unless the shears are taken out and the little wild branches cut off, the tree will become unproductive. Cutting off dead wood and trimming up the branches is probably not a pleasant experience for the tree, but in the long run it is the most loving thing that the gardner can do for the tree. The pruning process will allow the tree to become even more fruitful in the future.

The tree of the church has been growing in Jerusalem for a while. It set its roots in week 1. Last week it experienced some good fruit and growth in ministry. This week we see God pull out the trimming shears and allow the church to experience its first real pain.

There was some dead wood of prejudice that was deep set in the hearts of the first believers. God knew that the racial tension in the church would ultimately destroy the mission of reaching the whole world. Through the life of Stephen, God was able to demonstrate what the Kingdom of God and God’s Absolute Love was really all about.

This week’s reading is all about this young, Grecian Jew, who actually “got it” when it came to the message that Jesus proclaimed. Stephen preached a message that changed the world. Then he gave up his life for his Lord and became the first martyr for Jesus in history. We have much to be thankful for in the life and ministry of Stephen.

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Acts 6:1-7

What was the controversy in the church?

The Grecian Jews were Jews who were influenced by the Greek culture. Some call them “Hellenistic Jews.” They spoke Greek as opposed to the Aramaic language of the “Hebraic Jews.” The Grecian Jews were also more open to non-Jewish ideas than the Hebraic Jews. How might these differences have caused problems in the church of Jerusalem?

What was the solution that the “twelve” proposed?

What was the contrast between what the “Twelve” were to do be doing and what the “Seven” were to be doing?

The word “serve” in v.2 is the infinitive form (“to serve” as opposed to “serving”) of the same word that is translated “ministry” in v. 4. In other words this passage could be paraphrased like this, “The seven were called to do the ministry of the table, while the twelve were called to do the ministry of the Word.” Does this reading change your understanding of the roles that each group played? If so, how?

How does it make you feel to know that the first church had arguments and controversy? Why?

What are some possible parallels to this problem in the contemporary church? How might they be solved?

Trouble in Paradise

Even the first church didn’t get it right. First Annanias and Sapphira. Now cultural tension and prejudice, and the misappropriation of goods. What is going on? After reading the “portraits” of the church in Jerusalem last week, it is easy to believe that they were perfect. It is also easy to become discouraged by the belief that they were perfect and wonder why our church struggles with sin and mistakes. We can take comfort to remember that the people in Jerusalem were human beings, just like you and me, that had deep layers of muck that needed to be flushed out by the Holy Spirit.

While we can take comfort to know that they were not perfect, we should never use this knowledge as a license to become apathetic about sin. God is working with us to bring about change in us. It is a slow process, but it is a continual process. As we study Acts we will see that God gradually takes the church in Jerusalem through a process of transformation. He exposes one layer of muck in their hearts, convicts them of it, delivers them from it, allows them to have victory for a while, and then peels back a new layer. That’s how it works. Be comforted to know that the same God who worked with those prejudiced, whining people, is working with you as well.

Roles in the Church

It is important to note two things from the story today regarding roles in the church.

1. The apostles recognized that there were different types of roles within the church and different types of people to perform those functions. Some of the people were called to focus on prayer and the study and teaching of the Word. Others were called to manage and orchestrate the care of the needy. Each person has a role to play, and not all roles are identical.
2. While all roles are not identical, all roles are equally valuable in the eyes of God. Notice the qualifications that were needed for the “servers.” This was not some left-over job for the “second-class” members of the church. The administration of care for the widows and orphans was such an important job that the apostles realized that they would continue to botch it up if they did not appoint godly people to do it. These “servers” carried the same authority and power that the apostles did (notice that Stephen did great signs and wonders in the city). Just remember, no matter what your role is in the church, it is vital to the health of the body that you see your value and perform your role “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:17)

Just For Kids

Have you ever come across someone that was very different than you? What made them different; language, skin color, culture, habits?

How did you feel around that person?

Discuss times in our country’s history when people were treated poorly based upon the color of their skin or their ethnic origin. How did this affect our country?

Do you think Jesus wants this kind of thing to happen in the church? Why?

How did the Apostles handle it when it happened to the church in our reading today?

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Tuesday

Acts 6:8-15

How is Stephen described? Compare this description to Acts 2:43 and Acts 7:36. Based upon these parallels, what kind of man can we assume Stephen was?

Use your Atlas and locate the four places from which the members of the “Synagogue of the Freedmen” came – Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, Asia. Considering that the Jews of Jerusalem were prejudiced against any non-Jerusalemite, non-Aramaic speaking Jews, what sort of struggles/issues might these men have had in the city?

What accusations were brought against Stephen? Why?

Compare vv. 12-14 with Mark 14:55-59.

What happened to Stephen’s appearance as he was being accused? What could this mean?

Stephen Seized

Two important notes:

1. Stephen was a Grecian Jew. It is significant to note that Stephen, a non-Hebraic Jew was described in the same way as the original twelve apostles and as Moses (doing signs and wonders). The story of Stephen is helping the church begin its migration from being simply a sect of Judaism to becoming the global Kingdom of God that Jesus had come to bring.
2. The city of Tarsus is one of the major cities in the region of Cilicia. It is very likely that Saul of Tarsus was one of the members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen that killed Stephen. We will see in 8:1 that Luke highlights the fact that Saul was present at Stephen’s execution. Then, in chapter 9, this same Saul is thrust into center stage of the story. Just keep this fact in mind as you continue to read the story.

Just For Kids

How does it make you feel to know that people could gang up on a godly man like Stephen and lie about him in order to get him in trouble? Why?

Why do you think Stephen’s face looked like an angel? Draw a picture of this scene where men who hated Stephen were lying about him, but his face looked like an angel.

Remember, even when people do mean things to us, we don’t have to behave like they do.

It’s time to get your maps out again! Look up and place on your map the four places from which the men in the Synagogue of the Freedmen originated.

Cyrene

Alexandria

Cilicia

Asia

Now find the city of Tarsus. In which of these four regions is the city of Tarsus?

Read Acts 21:39. What important person was from Tarsus? What do you know about this man?

Read Acts 8:1. What part did this man play in Stephen’s story?

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Wednesday

Acts 7:1-19

Where was Abraham when the God of Glory first contacted him?

What relationship did Abraham have with the land that God had promised to him? Did he possess it?

Read Genesis 17:1-14.

Which came first, God’s relationship with Abraham or circumcision?

In Romans 4 and Galatians 3, the Apostle Paul teaches the same message that Stephen is trying to communicate to the Sanhedrin. Read Romans 4 and summarize it in your own words. What is the parallel to Stephen’s message?

What was the purpose of circumcision?

Where was Joseph when God used him in a mighty way?

What relationship did Joseph have with the “Promised Land” (did he possess it)?

How do you think the High Priest and the religious leaders felt about being lectured by this young man concerning their own history? Why?

Abraham and God

It is interesting to note that of all the great leaders of the early church – Peter, John, Paul – the person who has the longest recorded message is Stephen. Stephen’s message in Acts 7 is one of the most important messages ever preached in history. It was the first time that someone, other than Jesus himself, taught the idea that God could be known apart from the Law and apart from the Temple in Jerusalem. Isn’t it ironic that it was Stephen, a Grecian Jew, who got it before Peter did?

The point of his message is simply this; God is bigger than any human system – even if he created it. God had an intimate relationship with Abraham before he was circumcised, not because he was circumcised. It was Abraham’s faith, not his lack of foreskin that made him right with God. We need to be careful that we never slip into the same trap that the Jews had. They had limited God to a set of rules and a geographical location. The Law and the Temple were just tools to aid in knowing God, not God himself. We will discuss this more tomorrow.

Just For Kids

Stephen tells the story of Abraham and Joseph. Spend some time retelling the story of these two men as best you can. If you have a children’s Bible, you may want to pull that off the shelf and walk through the pictures of this story. (The stories themselves are found in Genesis 12-17 and Genesis 37-45)

How did Joseph’s brothers treat him?

How did Joseph treat his brothers? Why?

Read Genesis 50:19-20. What attitude did Joseph have toward the meanness that his brothers showed him?

In what ways is Stephen’s story similar to Joseph’s?

How will you treat people who are mean to you in the future?

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Thursday

Acts 7:20-43

Where and how was Moses raised? Why?

How did Moses understand himself in v. 25?

Realizing that this is pure speculation, how do you think Moses felt when the events of vv. 28-29 took place? Why?

How did God communicate to Moses?

How did God identify Himself?

In v. 35, what irony does Stephen expose concerning Moses’ role in God’s plan?

What was the mark of God’s authority on Moses according to v. 36?

In v.37, what did Moses predict God would do?

How does Stephen describe the words that Moses received on Mt. Sinai?

How did the people respond to Moses’ message?

What was the nature of “God’s House” from the time of Moses to the time of Solomon?

How does God feel about having a “house?”

What accusation did Stephen make against the leaders of Jerusalem? In what ways is this true?

A Most Unlikely Candidate

As we discussed yesterday, Stephen’s message was presenting the idea to the Jews that God is a living God who is bigger than the Law of Moses and the Temple in Jerusalem. God very rarely operates according to our rules and our expectations. God is the Almighty who can and will do whatever he wants to do, whenever and however he wants to do it.

If he wants to send a boy into slavery in Egypt, he will. If he wants to raise a Hebrew boy in the Pharaoh’s palace and then send him into the wilderness for 40 years he will. If he wants to choose a murderer and a coward to be the leader of his people, he will. Then he will use the slave boy to deliver his people. Then he will use the murderer to be the shepherd of his people.

God is the living God. He is the loving God. He is constantly reaching out to his people and working with them to bring about transformation in them. If they need a Law to guide them in right living, he will give it. If they need a physical space to be able to catch a glimpse of his infinite glory, he will allow it. Yet, those temporal and physical things could never become the sum total of the majesty of God. They are just tools.

Stephen figured that out. Stephen was learning that Jesus was not just a rabbi. He wasn’t even another man like Moses. He was so much more than that. Jesus was the supreme lord of all Heaven and was able to reach all nations with his Absolute Love.

The prospect of losing control of God is a scary one for those who have all the answers. The Jews were not ready to receive this truth about God. Whenever someone delivers a challenging message, it often is received with hostility. Stephen died to give us this message that opened the door for the world to enter into the presence of God.

Thank you, Lord, that you allowed Stephen to die so that he could present this message of hope to us.

Just For Kids

Today Stephen continues telling his story. He talks about Moses. Just like yesterday, spend some time reviewing the story of Moses. His story is found in Exodus.

Who was Moses?

Where was Moses raised?

What great thing did God use Moses to do for His people?

How did God communicate with Moses? Draw a picture of Moses talking with God at the burning bush.

Did Moses need a temple or a “big house” to be able to know God and talk to him? Why?

How can we talk to God today?

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Friday

Acts 7:44-8:1

What does it mean when someone says, “He is my right hand man”?

Today we are going to focus on the phrase “at the right hand of God” and meditate on the vision that Stephen saw just before he was executed. As you read the following passages, please keep in mind the scene that Stephen was experiencing. He was a godly man. He had done nothing wrong except for helping the needy and boldly proclaiming the truth about Jesus. It is very likely that Stephen was originally a member of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, so he was being railroaded by his own “brothers.” He would have had every reason to become bitter and angry toward the injustice he was suffering. Yet, as he courageously spoke the truth of Jesus to his oppressors, he saw a vision of Jesus. Read the following verses and try to imagine what God was communicating to Stephen (and to us) with this image.

Mark 16:19 – Where did Jesus go after he left his earthly ministry.

Acts 2:32-33 – What authority does Jesus have?

Colossians 3:1-4 – Where should our focus be? Why?

Romans 8:31-39. **Note: Isn’t it interesting that Paul is the one that wrote this. This is the same man who witnessed the execution of Stephen.

What promise do we have since Jesus is at the right hand of the Father?

1 Peter 3:22 – What authority does Jesus have?

Hebrews 10:11-18 – What resulted from Jesus being seated at the right hand of God?

What attitude did Stephen have about dying? What attitude did he have toward his killers? Why?

An Example of Love

The greatest killer in our world is not cancer or AIDS. It is bitterness. Through bitterness the enemy can get hold of our souls and inflict a spiritual cancer that will imprison us in the dark cell of ourselves. This spiritual cancer will bubble up in emotional and physical maladies of all kinds and wreak havoc on our lives and the lives of everyone we contact.

When Jesus came to His people, Israel, they were deeply infected with this spiritual cancer. Israel had been oppressed by many nations over the centuries and had grown bitter and arrogant as a result. One of the greatest aspects of Jesus’ ministry was to deliver his people from this dark place of hatred and bitterness. He taught them about it with words like, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” But, the greatest demonstration of this teaching was when Jesus hung on the cross and uttered the astonishing words, “Father, forgive them.”

Jesus demonstrated God’s Absolute Love by giving himself up, into the hands of the Sovereign God, and into the hands of those who hated him and falsely accused him. Instead of retaliating and “getting even” he loved them, to the point of death. Jesus’ desire was for his disciples to follow in his footsteps and carry this message of God’s Absolute Love to the world. Unfortunately, as is the case with most transformation stories, this kind of change is a slow process. Jesus’ first disciples were Jewish and were raised with these same deep seated, cancerous prejudices. If they were to fulfill Jesus’ mission of going to the ends of the Earth, they had to be set free from their bitterness and prejudice.

The story of Stephen serves as a model to the church (both then and now) of the message that Jesus came to bring to the world. Here Peter, James, and John – all Hebraic Jews – watched as a Grecian Jew was filled with the same power of the Holy Spirit that they had, and wonderfully reflected the love of Jesus as he gave his life for Him. As we will find next week, they act of martyrdom ignited the spread of the gospel through an outbreak of persecution on the church. You can be assured that every believer had the image of the angel-faced Stephen at the forefront of their mind whenever they were tempted to become discouraged or embittered because of hard times.

Ask God to search your heart right now and expose to you someone against whom you may be harboring bitterness. Ask God to make real to you the vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. He is bigger than any wrong that may have been done to you. Let it go, forgive the offender, and let the love and power of God heal you from the inside out.

Just For Kids

Does God live in a house? Why?

Here’s the point of Stephen’s story. The people that were angry with Stephen believed that God lived in the Temple of Jerusalem and that no one could know God apart from this building. Stephen taught that God was bigger than that and that people from anywhere could know God, through Jesus Christ. The people didn’t like his teaching, so they wanted to kill him for it.

Do you think God needs a big church building to live in? Does the church need one to be the church? Why?

Where does God live?

Draw a picture of what Stephen saw just before he was killed?

What does it mean when someone says, “He is my right hand man”?

How does it make you feel to know that God can be found anywhere, anytime and that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and has all power and authority in the world?

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