Something Greater

Anger and Glory Stephen concluded his counter-accusation against the religious rulers who had arrested him. Their immediate reaction was anger. "Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him." Acts 7:54 (ESV) "These things" encapsulates all of Stephen's defensive argument, beginning with the second verse of Chapter 7. God promised land to the descendents of Abraham. More than only land, God's promise included a relationship of faith and worship , sealed by the covenant of circumcision. Despite jealous betrayal, slavery, wealth, famine, oppression, murder, and persecution, some of the descendents of Abraham held faith with the covenant, although not all. God formed Moses into His great Deliverer and Lawgiver, bringing the Israelites out of the oppression of Egypt . God raised David to be His Warrior King, defeating all enemies and securing for Israel their own land. God sat Solomon on a throne tha

Three Pillars of Love Paul urged Timothy to preach against three harmful pursuits: Different doctrine Myths Endless genealogies He gave two immediate reasons for the warning: They promote speculations They erode faithful stewardship from God Beyond the immediate harmful effects of heretical, manipulative myths and endless genealogies is the ultimate goal of love, expressed in three ways: From a pure heart From a good conscience From a sincere faith What happens when Christians lose sight of love? "Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions." 1 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV) SWERVING: astocheo (to miss the mark, to deviate from truth); from a (not) and stoichos (an aim) There is another Greek word Paul could have used that appears to have the same meaning:

A Stiff-Necked People After an overview of Jewish history, emphasizing the faith of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph and Moses, Stephen points an accusing finger at the religious rulers who have arrested him for heresy and blasphemy: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." Acts 7:51 (ESV) Moses had delivered their forefathers from oppressive enslavement in Egypt, through powerfully miraculous demonstrations of God's power. They had been guided through the desert by God Almighty Himself, with a representation of His presence in the form of a richly furnished witness tent, the Tabernacle of Meeting . And they had repeatedly resisted God's rule over their life. They had repeatedly rejected Moses as God's appointed judge over them. As they had repeatedly rejected Christ. STIFF-NECKED: sklerotrachelos (hardnaped, obstinate); from skleros (dry, hard or tough; harsh or

Heart, Conscience and Faith...and Food Paul wrote to Timothy, expressing confidence in the young man's genuine faith, urging him to care for the church in Ephesus. Timothy's specific mission would be to oppose some who taught doctrine that was unfaithful to that taught by Jesus, including an unhealthy devotion to mythology and endless genealogies. Paul warned that the heretical teaching would result in an eroding of the church's strong foundation of truth. Paul saw love as the ultimate goal, for his own ministry as well as for that of Timothy. But he carefully described the quality of that love: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) LOVE: agape (love, affection or benevolence, specially a love-feast); from agapao (to love in a social or moral sense); from agan (much) PURE HEART: katharos (clean) and kardia (the heart, the thoughts and feelings of the mind) GOOD C

A Tent of Witness The nation of Israel had rejected Moses and turned away from God Almighty, their Deliverer from oppressive Egypt, worshipping instead idols made of their own hands . God responded harshly, dooming them to a time of exile. However, Stephen reminds his accusers that God did not leave them , even when they were unfaithful: "Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen." Acts 7:44 (ESV) TENT OF WITNESS: skene (a tent or cloth hut) and martyrion (something evidential); from martys (a witness or "martyr") Three months after escaping from Egypt, the people of Israel entered the wilderness of Sinai. God called Moses up alone to the top of Mount Sinai and spoke directly to Moses, preparing him to confront the people with words direct from God's mouth. Moses returned from the mountain and warned the people of the powerfully severe hol

A Spiritual Building of Faith The apostle Paul was part of a team of preachers and elders first assembled in Antioch. They responded to clear direction by God, going to Jerusalem to minister to the poor with food, money and preaching. (Acts 11) Returning from that missionary trip, Paul brought with him a new addition to the team , John Mark. (Acts 12) The church in Antioch then sent the missionaries to preach worldwide, traveling from region to region. Midway through the journey, John Mark suddenly left the team , returning to Jerusalem. (Acts 13) The team met major success, as well as near death in the area of Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Many Jews and Gentiles became newly converted Christians, fervent and faithful. Others became hostile , threatened by the sudden changes in community and social rule. (Acts 14) The break with John Mark must have been unexpected and disappointing, especially for Paul. The co-leader of their team, Barnabus, urged bringing John Mark back into

Images of Pride Stephen compares the nation of Israel's rejection of Moses with that Jesus, despite signs and wonders that declared both to be heaven-sent prophets . God responded sternly to His people's disregard. "God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: - Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon." Acts 7:42-43 (ESV) Stephen was quoting from the Book of Amos: "Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god, your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus, - says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts."