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Act(s) Now

Hopeful in the Horrible

Acts 6:1 - 7:60

1. The Horrible emerges from a superficial story (Acts 6:39; 51-53)
   1. The set-up (Acts 6:9-15)
   2. The stoning (Acts 7:54-60)
2. Hope in the Horrible comes from the ability to see the story behind the story (Acts 6:15;7:55,60)
   1. See the move of God (Acts 7:55)
   2. See the pattern of resistance (Acts 7:51-53)
   3. See yourself in the story (Acts 7:55,56)
3. Seeing comes from filling
   1. Pursue things that eternally matter
      1. Grace (Acts 6:8)
      2. Wisdom (Acts 6:3)
      3. Power (Acts 6:8)
      4. Faith (Acts 6:5)
      5. Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3,5; 7:55)
   2. Filling begins with transformation
      1. You must be born again (John 3:3)
      2. By Grace (Ephesians 2:8,9)
      3. Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9)
   3. Filling continues with sanctification
      1. Know Christ (Philippians 3:8)
      2. Connect to what the Lord has given to know Him more (Ps 119; Matt 6:9-13; Heb 10:25)
      3. If Christlikeness is your goal, you will not fail
4. Followers of Christ are filled to persist
   1. The unfortunate declaration (2 Timothy 3:12)
      1. We desire stones that make us known (Acts 6:3)
      2. The reality is that some stones will be thrown
   2. Built to last
      1. Grace - a forgiving heart
      2. Wisdom - connect the dots to see the Savior
      3. Power - courage to speak
      4. Faith - seeing with the spiritual eye
      5. Holy Spirit - enlightened and guided to an ultimate place of safety
5. Persistence in Christ leads to promotion of Christ
   1. The story is not about Stephen
   2. The story is about Stephen’s Savior

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. Icebreaker: What is the headline of your week?
2. What is one thing that stuck out to you from the sermon?
3. In what ways are you actively pursuing Christ?
4. How does the priority of pursuing Christ change our outlook on things that are “Christian”? Ie. church attendance, prayer, reading your Bible
5. Can you identify an area of your life where persecution has or is most likely to occur? How have you prepared for it?
6. What was meant by seeing the story behind the story? Why is that important in a believer’s life?
7. How does persistence in Christ lead to promotion of Christ?
8. What is one area that Stephen was filled with that you would desire more?