Winter Quarter Sunday School 2010 s8

FALL QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2012 - A LIVING FAITH UNIT TWO: THE PEOPLE OF FAITH “STEPHEN’S FAITH DEMONSTRATED IN THE FACE OF DEATH”

Sunday School Lesson No. VII - October 14, 2012 Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III Pastor-Teacher Lesson Text: Acts 7:51-60 Required Reading: Acts 7:1-60 Memory Text: Acts 7:60, “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Reliable Resources: Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Libronix Electronic Library; Precepts for Living (UMI), Word Search 9 and 10 Electronic Library; MacArthur Study Bible; Thirty Amazing People in the Bible by Dr. David Jeremiah, The Book of Acts by E. Gillentine; The Book of Acts in 24 Lessons by E. L. Bynum

INTRODUCTION Beloved, we left God’s great and faithful servant Stephen last time standing before the Sanhedrin court of Israel. He had been arrested on fabricated charges of blasphemy against the Temple and the Mosaic Law (Acts 6:13-14). It was the goal of these sinister men to silence the voice of God’s servant in any way they could, even through lies. But God gave Stephen great power and wisdom to represent Him in spite of his adversary. Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

Our lesson will unfold the fact that Stephen’s faith in our Lord was demonstrated even in the very face of death! John wrote to encourage the saints concerning this in Revelation 2:10. Let us examine the boldness of Stephen in the face of death, remembering also the words of our Lord in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Our Anticipated Power Points are… In The Face of Death, We Find Stephen:  Answering the Charges of Blasphemy. Acts 7:1-50  Adamantly Confronting his Accusers. Acts 7:51-53  Approaching Confidently His Demise. Acts 7:54-60 LESSON OUTLINE

I. Answering the Charges of Blasphemy. Acts 7:1-50 To adequately study the printed verses of this week’s lesson (Acts 7:51-60), we need to at least go back to verse 1. After the arrest comes the arraignment of Stephen before the Jewish high court (Sanhedrin). It is here that Stephen is asked to enter a plea by the High Priest in verse one, “…are these things so?” “How do you plea?” is the way it would read in our modern court. Stephen takes this time to recount the history of the Hebrew nation and his loyalty to its faith and laws, but above all, to Israel’s true God! His presentation will show he was no blasphemer! Stephen: A. Regarded Israel’s founding fathers. vss. 2-16 B. Revered Moses the Lawgiver. vs. 17-37 C. Revealed their rejection of the law and prophets; true worship; and God’s greater purpose. vss. 38-50 In the face of death, Stephen: II. Adamantly Confronts his Accusers. Acts 7:51-53 Now Stephen, answering the request of the High Priest by reviewing Israel’s history, takes off the “kid gloves” and adamantly conveys the real truth concerning who’s really on trial! It was not him, for he was only carrying out his God- ordained mission on earth. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Stephen reveals God’s indictment against Israel’s leaders and their blinded followers. Note: Gillentine describes it this way, “Stephen said the audience was: 1. Stiffnecked, vs. 51. They were proud hearted. 2. Uncircumcised in heart and ears, vs. 51 (Unregenerate) 3. Always resisted the Holy Spirit, vs. 51. No one can be saved without yielding to the wooing of the Holy Spirit. (I Cor. 12:3) 4. Murderers of the prophets, verse 52 5. Betrayers and murderers of Christ, verse 52 6. Breakers of the law, verse 53.” I simply encourage those of us who represent the Lord Jesus Christ to, in the words spoken to the prophet Jeremiah in 1:8, “be not afraid of their faces.” In the face of death, Stephen: III. Approached Confidently his Demise. Acts 7:54-60 A. When the accusers and the leaders heard the testimony and indictment of Stephen, their true colors were revealed. Verse 54 tells us, “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” In other words, they were convicted! B. Stephen was confident because… 1. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. vs. 55 2. He was focused on Heaven. vs. 55 a. The glory of God. b. The standing Christ. This took Stephen’s attention from hurdling of the stones to the Heavenly Saviour. Hebrews 12 declares we should be “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” C. In spite of the chaos of the council (vss. 57-58), Stephen had peace and even prayed for his adversaries! vss. 59- 60. Beloved, we too can approach our demise confidently, when we are totally focused on the Sovereign Saviour. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” CLOSING Let us remember that there may be awesome adversities for us to face in this life, but the Word of God gives us greater hope. I Samuel 2:30, “…for them that honor me I will honor…” and Revelation 14:13 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Stephen, in the face of death, kept his eyes lifted above the horizon and saw the glory of Heaven and immortal glory! God’s eyes are on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!

Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA & Little Bethel Baptist Church, Amite, LA Mailing Address: Post Office Box 19768, New Orleans, LA 70179 Phone: (504) 486-7876 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thestudyhour.com TV Broadcasts: WHNO TV 20, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. – Channel 14 (Hammond-Amite area), 6:30 a.m. Radio Broadcasts: WLNO AM 1060, Saturday 8:30 a.m.; Sunday 5:30 a.m. WABL AM 1570 (Hammond-Amite area) Sunday 7:00 a.m. LOOKING AHEAD: October 21, 2012 Acts 8:9-24 PASTOR DAVIS TEACHES THE LESSON ONLINE VIA VIDEO AT www.thstudyhour.com and at Bibleway every Wednesday at noon. Please come and hear the lesson in person, and ask questions as needed.