IT WILL BE DONE (5)
Scripture: Acts 6:1-15, Acts 7:1-60, Acts 8:1-3
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Title: It Will Be Done (5)
Series: Unstoppable
Author: Patrick Edwards
Text: Acts 6:1-8:3
Introduction
"History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme."
This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain; in reality, there's no proof he ever said it, but hey saying he did seems to give it weight so let's just go with it. I like the statement, though, because it's more accurate than just saying history repeats itself. That's literally impossible for the exact same thing to happen again and again. But it is true that human events and societies can appear cyclical. For example, the calendar may say 2023, but here we are facing the threat of war with Russia, conservative Christians talk about boycotting Disney, and mom jeans are everywhere you look. Feels more like 1989 to me.
Accordingly, whether you're a nerd like me or not, it's important to study history, to learn lessons from the past, to gain wisdom from our mistakes, to better understand ourselves, our times, and our steps forward. History helps us understand who we are and why we are, and this, in many ways, is the key lesson and truth of Stephen's sermon, found in Acts 7 this morning. We've seen over the last two weeks opposition to the Gospel and to the first church increase, and particularly last week we saw the first arrest and beating of Christians for their witness to Jesus. Acts 7 will be the tipping the point.
When Stephen is confronted and then accused of crimes against the Temple and against God, his response will take the church past the point of no return, and it will cost him his life. But in this passage, we'll see that Stephen doesn't seek to defend himself against the false charges laid against him. Rather, he'll use this opportunity to give a stinging indictment of the religious leaders of Israel for their continual failure, throughout the generations, to listen to and obey God.
The way Luke records this passage we see how God has directed Israel's ...
Series: Unstoppable
Author: Patrick Edwards
Text: Acts 6:1-8:3
Introduction
"History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme."
This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain; in reality, there's no proof he ever said it, but hey saying he did seems to give it weight so let's just go with it. I like the statement, though, because it's more accurate than just saying history repeats itself. That's literally impossible for the exact same thing to happen again and again. But it is true that human events and societies can appear cyclical. For example, the calendar may say 2023, but here we are facing the threat of war with Russia, conservative Christians talk about boycotting Disney, and mom jeans are everywhere you look. Feels more like 1989 to me.
Accordingly, whether you're a nerd like me or not, it's important to study history, to learn lessons from the past, to gain wisdom from our mistakes, to better understand ourselves, our times, and our steps forward. History helps us understand who we are and why we are, and this, in many ways, is the key lesson and truth of Stephen's sermon, found in Acts 7 this morning. We've seen over the last two weeks opposition to the Gospel and to the first church increase, and particularly last week we saw the first arrest and beating of Christians for their witness to Jesus. Acts 7 will be the tipping the point.
When Stephen is confronted and then accused of crimes against the Temple and against God, his response will take the church past the point of no return, and it will cost him his life. But in this passage, we'll see that Stephen doesn't seek to defend himself against the false charges laid against him. Rather, he'll use this opportunity to give a stinging indictment of the religious leaders of Israel for their continual failure, throughout the generations, to listen to and obey God.
The way Luke records this passage we see how God has directed Israel's ...
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