1. “Someone Stood Up for Stephen!”
Acts 7 (7:51-60)

2. August 4, 2016 Charlie Gard was born
August 4, 2016 Charlie Gard was born. He was a “perfectly healthy” baby born at a “healthy weight.” In the following months, his parents noticed he was less able to lift his head and support himself as compared to other babies of…

3. What kind of a world does it take to be so inconsistent with human life?!

4. A frequent inscription found in the catacombs and tunnels in and around Rome…

5. Matthew 10:32-33
“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

6. Purpose:
to embed in our minds that confessing Jesus means He will confess us (i.e. stand up for Jesus and He will stand up for you)

7. I For Stephen – It Was a CROWNING
A. Stephen’s “Trial”
B. Stephen’s Death

8. All of this resulted in the stoning of Stephen
All of this resulted in the stoning of Stephen. Note, he died with the same prayer on his lips as did Jesus…

9. II For Israel – It Was a REPROACH
A. They Permitted John to be Murdered
B. They Demanded Jesus to be Crucified
C. They Silenced Stephen by Stoning

10. They gnashed their teeth at him – like an angry dog baring its teeth in anger…

11. III For the Church – It Was a MISSION
A. From Pentecost to Stephen
B. From Jerusalem to the World

12. Acts 1:8
“…And you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of earth.”

13. Here’s the point: this persecution prevented the Lord’s Body from being a withdrawn, self-serving CLUB!

14. IV For Saul – It Was CONVICTING
A. Saul Was Present

15. Saul was taking responsibility in case Roman authorities called Jews to account for this action…

16. IV For Saul – It Was CONVICTING
A. Saul Was Present
B. Saul Never Forgot

17. God never waste anyone’s blood!

18. Moody was telling of the time when a young Norwegian boy who stood up at the close of a revival meeting to testify of his faith in Lord. The boy had difficulty…

19. Moody said you could hear a pin drop. Why
Moody said you could hear a pin drop. Why? “Because that boy’s testimony went straight to the heart of everyone present…

20. Conclusion and Summary:
…God doesn’t call us to be martyrs. He does call us to be living sacrifices – men, women and young people who are willing to confess Christ before the world… I conclude with this summary: Stephen stood up for Jesus and Jesus stood up for him!