Stephen The Truth-Teller
Acts 6:8-15
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 7:1
7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
Acts 7:51-8:3
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
8 And Saul approved of their killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
This Sunday’s service can be viewed on our Facebook page @ Sunday, October 15, 2023
Hello NewDay Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I wanted to share what my colleague, Tim Ciccone, wrote to New City Covenant Church (New City is the church I recently served as an Interim pastor). His words speak well to what is happening in our world, and the Middle East specifically, and Jesus' exhortation to be people who are Peacemakers, and people who pray. May God bless you this day, and I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday, as we keep learning from Acts, and growing together, in Jesus' Name.
Pastor Kari
-------------------------------
Dear New City,
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. - Matthew 5:9
This week has thrust us into the grim reality of conflict in the Middle East. Our news feeds have overflowed with harrowing images, poignant stories, and heart-wrenching videos, a stark reminder of the enduring specter of war in our world.
The turmoil in the Middle East carries a complex, deeply rooted political narrative, historically sowing seeds of division. In the face of such complexity, diverse opinions abound regarding the appropriate response from the Western world, particularly within our Christian community. Chances are, you've encountered a multitude of social media posts and engaged in heartfelt conversations with loved ones, revealing this spectrum of reactions.
Just this past Sunday, we jumped into the challenging yet vital subject of unity within the body of Christ. I encouraged all of us to embody the guidance of Ephesians 4:3, which challenges us to "make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Now, at this moment, I invite you to follow Scripture’s call and lead with peace.
Will you join me in prayer for the Middle East?
Last year, I introduced you to Pete Greig, the author of Red Moon Rising, who spearheads a global prayer movement. Pete has recently shared a straightforward yet compelling framework to guide our prayers over this situation:
Pray for an urgent de-escalation of hostilities.
Pray for men and women of peace on both sides.
Pray for wisdom to fill the hearts of world leaders.
Pray for protection and solace for the most vulnerable.
We have an opportunity to join together as we align ourselves with the teachings of Jesus Christ and intercede on behalf of those in desperate need.
God bless you, dear friends, as we seek to follow Jesus together.
Grace and Peace,
Tim