Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
SERMON: A People on a Mission

SERMON: A People on a Mission

Last updated on: June 13, 2020 at 10:13 am by Adrian Warnock

SERMON: A People on a Mission 2020-06-13T10:13:03+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I preached this message at Jubilee Church a little over a week ago. It was part of our series from Acts and based on Stephen’s Martyrdom from Acts 6 and 7. Brief notes follow the video.

https://vimeo.com/12207281

Downloads: Video Audio HighDef

Till now, Acts had been a time of glorious growth and excitement power. Their friend had RISEN AGAIN and been glorified. All of their sermons in Acts were about this wonderful truth. MOST exciting, most GLORIOUS message MUST share caught up on a wonderful mission. It is almost breathless…the “and” of God.

“And Steven full of grace of power was doing signs and wonders” v8

Even the one appointed to do practical jobs had the SPIRITS power. One might almost have been convinced that it was all going to be fantastic now. It is a bit like that in a growing church, especially if a lot of young people around (i.e. you are not experiencing much sickness and death.) Caught up in what God doing. This one healed. That one saved. That one got a new job. No one can hurt us. We could kid ourselves that life is just fantastic for everyone. My son George even when he is upset says “but I still love my life dad!” I LOVE Jubilee life!

In Acts no significant setbacks so far, despite some hints of greater opposition to come. That was about to change. Joys and challenges, theology must have both. In the crowd of joy can feel as if you are only one here is in pain and a challenging situation. Maybe you are worried that you can’t feel God.

Jesus promised us that in this world we will have troubles. He always keeps his promises, but I don’t hear too many people naming and claiming that one!

Imagine if you will Philip and Steven being called by God:

“Hy guys, couple of jobs for you. One of you to be a great evangelist and caught up in a Holy Spirit transporter. Both mentioned in the Bible for all time. One of you gets to be an inspiration for thousands of martyrs”

Martyr is Greek word for witness. Amazing to realise that so many people died for bearing witness to Christ the meaning of the word changed! 20th century more than any previous! Would Steven have chosen that path?

Like every Christian, he had trusted his life into God’s hands. We don’t get to choose when life suddenly gets “interesting.” It was not because he sinned that it happened to him.

The challenge comes because VAST difference between the people of God and the world:

People of God: v 8 grace, power, V10 wisdom, Spirit

Contrast World: synagogue- religious people often hate us most true even today. “Freedman” arrogant claim that their life showed to be false: slaves of legalism. Dispute, withstand, secretive, deceptive, stirring up, VIOLENT. The violence of the so-called “free” continues today hatred of the so called “intolerant” ie us!

One more thing OBLIVIOUS to God! His face like an angel and all they can think of is killing him. Be not deceived, such an attitude is in the heart of everyone who rejects Christ, it just hides. IF we are honest such evil lies within our old selves too and we have to fight it today. The Bible says we all hate God and choose our own way. Christians are not better in themselves, just saved by Jesus!

Steven is snatched and given a chance to speak his defense. He has one eye on his captors, but one on the believers who are listening, wants them to know they are caught up in the people of God. On a mission together started way before them, won’t stop whatever happens to him, and will continue way after them.

God uses individuals to bless the many. History is always about the story of significant people that impacted the whole. This is the stuff of culture, of identity. In England, we would hear of Kings and Queens, of Robin Hood, and Greatest Briton Winston Churchill who embodied everything British—standing alone against a European threat. Greatest African Nelson Mandella South Africa.Christians belong to another people, Abrahams children, the people of faith.

The “Ands” of God, and the “Buts”

Chapter 7
Abraham: AND God of glory appeared, sent him. BUT he never got an inheritance, not even a foot. Promised his people would first be slaves then inherit. Sometimes the but is just about God’s sovereign timing.

V9 Joseph His BUT came first, as he was sold into Egypt and yet we see GOD was with him and the whole known world were saved from famine. Sometimes the but is caused by other’s jealousy and hatred.

Moses was beautiful, saved as a young child, well educated BUT his foolish actions sin of MURDER led to his first 40 years in the wilderness. – Sometimes the “but” is our own fault. Maybe you are struggling with sin. Porn. Murder abortion. Maybe guy left a woman feeling she had no choice.

God’s grace doesn’t not forsake him, however, GOD loves choosing the rejected, the hated like Moses and using them to bring his salvation. God can use YOU to do the same. No matter what buts you have experienced.

V51 Steven is BRAVE and CONFRONTS the people with their rebellion. Just as they were with Moses, and other heroes of faith they were to that day, they had KILLED the Righteous one! He was stoned for his efforts. Someone once said that the trouble with Western christians today is that no one wants to kill them for their words.

What gave Stephen this boldness? What helps the people of God fight thru and persevere despite the many troubles that come their way?

It’s very simple: JESUS. As Tope said last week “Jesus is better” we show He is better than health when we praise him despite our health being taken away. He is better than money when we can still be generous with it and praise him when our budget is under incredible pressure. He is better than the esteem of people, when we are not afraid to risk the rejection of men but honor Jesus in front of them. At work it is hard to share gospel. Friendship. Time needed.

HE is better than freedom if we are willing to risk being imprisoned for him. Hugh palmer Better than life if we look forward to being with him for ever.

It really is all about Jesus. To live is Christ and to die is gain…

Notice the wonderful grace of God. Faced with certain death, Steven is granted a wonderful glimpse of heaven and the glorious Jesus waiting for him. Many would want the same, “prove yourself to me, Jesus” and yet this is given to one who already has faith. It IS a comfort to him, it DOES lift him up, but he has already passed the test that this situation posed to him:

“Will you honor me and be faithful to the mission I have called you to, even when people are against you and I feel far away?”

IT is to those who are seeking him, and being faithful to what they know of him that Jesus will reveal himself more and more. In that revealing, we can know GOD is WITH US, and so we can do ALL THINGS through him who strengthens us! God is faithful hold onto Jesus. Jesus sees the joyful crowd and the one who is suffering.

And so, as a faithful servant who had accomplished EVERYTHING God had for him to do, Steven goes home. The wonderful truth is that this is NOT the end of Stevens story!

As he prays for forgiveness for his tormenters, he could not have known how wonderfully that prayer would be answered: Paul the apostle was there, and would become the greatest missionary the world has known!

Chapter 8
The death of Steven emboldened the persecutors, and suddenly it was open season on Christians. But, far from depressing them, the scattered went about preaching the word. In fact it was this that led to the gospel breaking out of Judea. No wonder people have said the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

British martyrs who said that they had lit a candle that will never go out. As we listen to this story of Stephen does it not make us want to be faithful in the midst of the relatively minor trials we face now, or will face?

Does it not challenge us to conquer our fears and become a missional people?

Does it not encourage us that the same Jesus is WITH US? We live by him… nothing will separate us life nor death, suffering, or delight. All things work together.

Do both and say he is faithful then you are mature. Walking with him. Chose difficult root so you are suffering for Christ.

Previous Post

May 29, 2010

How to stop theological study ruining you

Next Post

June 4, 2010 Video Q and A with author Adrian Warnock

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Genesis 1 Psalm 23 Isaiah 53 Psalm 119

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »