Lesson about Steven…

* A DEACON who SERVES (Acts 6:1, 3, 5, 8)* In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.  Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.  Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. – Acts 6:1‭, 3‭, ‬5‭, ‬8* Steven was…* Chosen* Committed* DECLARING SCRIPTURE (Acts 7: 1-53)* “Are these things true?” the high priest asked.  “Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory… – Acts 7:1‭-‬2* Stephen was declaring…* The truth of God’s Word* To trust in God’s Son* …but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:   Heaven is my throne,  and the earth my footstool.  What sort of house will you build for me?  says the Lord,  or what will be my resting place?   Did not my hand make all these things?    “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.” – Acts 7:47‭-‬53* DEATH by STONING* When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”  They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  While they were stoning Stephen, he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”  He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he died. – Acts 7:54‭-‬60* In Stephen’s death, discover…* The grace he expressed* The glory he experienced

At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,  so that I may make it known as I should. Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Colossians 4:3‭-‬5

* Learn to…* Guard our TESTIMONY* …toward outsiders…* Act wisely… (walk in wisdom)* Guard our TIME* …making the most of the time.* …making the most of the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:16

After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

2 Samuel 23:11‭-‬12

* Notice…* It was a time of CONFLICT (v. 11)* Notice…* When the enemy came* Why the enemy came* To devour the people (destroy them)* What the enemy found* The people ran* It takes COURAGE (v. 12a)* Courage to…* Stand* Stay* Strike back* The CONQUEST (v. 12b)* Notice the Lord* Defeated* Defended

At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.  The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?” For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?”  Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”  Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”  Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:6‭-‬15Discover his…

* REPUTATION* See the…* Crowd he was associated with* …in prison with rebels…during the rebellion…* Bar – son, Abba – father* Barabbas – son of his father* Crimes he was arrested for* …committed murder…* RELEASE* See…* His fate* His freedom* REACTION* Was Barabbas…* Calloused?* Changed?

The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”  The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”   “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.  Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”),  and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John.  You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter” ).

John 1:35‭-‬42Andrew means “manly”Notice the…

* ATTITUDES of Andrew* Andrew was…* Spiritually hungry* Serving humbly* ACTIONS of Andrew* Andrew was…* Following Jesus straightway* Finding and sharing Jesus

Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.  Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,  knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

Colossians 3:22‭ – 4:1Notice the…

* TASKS for employees* Discover the…* Measure of the task* Manner of the task* Motive of the task* TRUST for employers* Paul writes of…* The employer in authority* The employer under authority

There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

John 3:1

* Notice Nicodemus…* HEARING Jesus* This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”  Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,  he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:2‭-‬3* He hears…* The truth from Jesus* That he must trust Jesus* HELPING Jesus* Nicodemus  — the one who came to him previously and who was one of them —  John 7:5* Knowing what…* Is said about Jesus* To say about Jesus* HONORING Jesus* After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus — but secretly because of his fear of the Jews — asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. – John 19:38‭-‬40* It was a…* Selfless way to honor Jesus* Significant way to honor Jesus

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged.

Colossians 3:20‭-‬21

* Notice the family…* RULE* Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.* “Children…OBEY…” – parents have authority* “Children… YOUR PARENTS (some translations say “father”)…”* “Children… IN ALL THINGS…”* “Children… THIS IS WELL PLEASING UNTO THE LORD“* RESPONSIBILITY* Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged.* “Parents… PROVOKE NOT YOUR CHILDREN TO ANGER…”* “Parents… LEST THEY BE DISCOURAGED.”

1 Samuel 22

Notice the…

* SITUATION* Learn of the…* Assistance given to David* So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. – 1 Samuel 22:1* Anger of Saul* Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.  Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”  Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech — you and your father’s whole family!” – 1 Samuel 22:9‭, ‬13‭-‬14‭, ‬16* Attack by Doeg* Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord .  So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men who wore linen ephods. – 1 Samuel 22:17‭-‬18* He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword — both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.  However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. – 1 Samuel 22:20a* SHELTER* He fled to David* There is a(n)…* Understanding (Hebrews 4: 15-16)* For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. – Hebrews 4:15‭-‬16* Uniting* So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. – 1 Samuel 22:1‭-‬2* SAFETY* Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life. You will be safe with me.” – 1 Samuel 22:23* To find safety…* Come to Jesus* “Stay with me…”* Be comforted by Jesus* “Don’t be afraid…”* Find care from Jesus* “You will be safe with me.”