Stephen: The Charge o Blasphemy against Moses and God The Defendant o God is not restricted to a place The Prosecutor o The leaders have not obeyed the law. The Sentence o Death by stoning The Legacy o God’s purposes and Stephen’s character.
The Exhortation – v11 Love one another The Evidence v12-15 Love is the sign of life The Essence v16-18 Love is self-sacrifice
1. Tension 2. Vision 3. Action 4. Unction
SING! PRAISE! PLAY MUSIC! SING A NEW SONG! PLAY SKILFULLY! SHOUT! (v1-3) WHY? 1. Because His Word is faithful (v4-5) Shown through His creation (v6-9) Shown through His plans (v10-11) 2. Because He looks on His people (v12-20) He watches us all (v12-15) He protects His people (v16-19) He saves us (v18-19) 3….
1. POWER! (v12-16) a) The Church purged b) The world awed c) The lost saved d) The sick healed (John 14:12, 2 Cor 12:12) 2. PERIL! (v17-40) a) Imprisoned (v17-18) b) Empowered(v19) c) Defended (v33-39) d) Assaulted (v40) 3. PRAISE! (v41-42) a) They are rejoicing b) They are witnessing c) They are proclaiming
1. LOVE to the MAX (3:1) 2. ADOPTION to the MAX (2:28-9, 3:2) 3. FORGIVENESS to the MAX (3:5) 4. RESCUE to the MAX (3:8) 5. Children of God should live to the MAX in: a) PURITY (3:3) b) RIGHTEOUSNESS (2:29; 3:7,10) c) FAMILY LOVE (3:10) 6. Children of God…
1. BE WARNED – DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD (v15-17) “The world viewed as a system organised under the dominion of Satan and not of God is not to be loved.” (John Stott) a) Remember the origin of all that is evil is from the “….the father of lies.” (John 8:44b) b) Instead of loving…
1. ITS LIFE! Multitudes who believed A church pulsating with spiritual energy 2. ITS LORD! The risen Lord, Head of the Church 3. ITS LOVE! Unity, Community, Generosity & Ministry
1. IS SOMETHING PERSONAL! We know that we know Him ‘KNOW’ – is mentioned 39 times in 1 John 2. IS SOMETHING PRACTICAL! An old and new commandment that we love one another 3. IS SOMETHING POWERFUL! It brings: Forgiveness, Intimacy, Strength