The early church father, Tertullian (c. 155-240), famously wrote in his work, “The Apology” that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” In saying this, he was speaking to the truth that while those who persecute Christians think that they are extinguishing the work of the church, they are rather serving to advance the growth of the church through the spread of the good news about Jesus Christ. This week we see this very truth illustrated in the martyrdom of Stephen from Acts 7, and learn what effect it had on the early church - and still has on the church even today.