Stephen's Martyrdom

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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. (Acts 7:59~60)

As the leadership group is preparing for mission trip this summer, I think the message is very appropriate and relevant to us. According to the writer, Stephen’s martyrdom played a vital role “in the development of the worldwide Christian mission” because his brutal death was a manifestation of today’s Christian essentials, God’s promise to his people that Jesus will always be with us and His words, the scripture, will never pass away. I think buildings and traditions as mentioned in the text can impede God’s mission in the world when we as Christians and ones who are called to carry on the Great Commission hold on to today’s worldly standards and fail to incorporate the value system taught by the scripture.

Philip in Samaria

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. Acts 8:5

At first, this passage is confusing and you wonder why the Holy Spirit did not come upon the Samaritans as they were being saved. GOD chose to wait until the apostles Peter and John arrived to have the Holy Spirit come upon the people so that the Jews and Samaritans could witness this event together and to show they needed to depend on each other and show the oneness in the body in Christ. Had this not happened, the two groups would most likely have continued to be separate even within the Christian community.

For me, this reading emphasizes the sovereignty of GOD and that though we don't always know why things are happening a certain way, GOD always knows, it is always according to his plan, and it is all good. This is something that I need to remember more in my daily life.

Sorry for the late post.

Stephen's Witness

Stephen was an important deacon in the early church. He was one of the seven deacons chosen to take care of the daily distribution of food among the widows. He was chosen because of his character and godliness. He is described as a man full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, faith, grace, and power. (see Acts 6:3,5,8) Here was a man who was so bold and courageous in his witness for Jesus Christ that he got himself into trouble. I'm sure people told him to calm down, perhaps to lay low for a while when things got heated with the religious leaders. But Stephen would not back down. In witnessing for Jesus Christ he made enemies and while this may not look good in the eyes of the world, I'm sure that God was very pleased.

I am reminded from Stephen's powerful testimony that we must not just wait for an opportunity to witness for Christ, but that we need to actively create opportunities to witness for Jesus Christ. We need to be bold and courageous in the face of indifference and even opposition to the gospel message. What is lacking in today's Christian witness is that Christians are playing it "too safe" and falling prey to the "sensitivity" game of our tolerant culture -- we are told to be sensitive to the feelings of others. Well, what about God's feelings; what about obedience to God's command! We are timid and not bold, safe and not audacious in our witness for Christ. Some of us may even be embarrassed.

Let us all repent of our failings in this area. I feel this is the great weakness of the Christian church today including our own. We have a message that is true and rational, a message that can stand up to the scrutiny of any rational and fair minded human being. Truth in on our side to anyone who wants to know the truth, but we need to get it out. When I look at our church, this is the area we all need to work on, not by waiting for an opportunity, but by first praying and then putting our head together and creating opportunities for witness. Too many of people are concerned mainly with their "jobs" or "career" and/or "education" opportunities when in fact, God is calling every believer in Christ, to put him first. How are we putting God first in our lives, even before our career or our studies? Let's all examine ourselves and by the grace of God make the necessary correction.

Posted by Pastor James

A Problem and It's Solution

I thought the reflection on this reading was enlightening and relevant to those who read it today. Odd to think that Satan could use something as banal as administrative work to sidetrack the mission of the Church. But thinking about it more shows that it’s not so strange after all. This point helped me to realize that it is absolutely central to stick to the bottom line of the church; that is the fellowship of believers worshipping God and expanding His Kingdom for others. I feel that I cam continually reminded of the fact that a church who falls behind her core purposes of worshipping through God’s truth is destined to fail. I don’t want to be the kind of believer who is attracted to the pews because of any other type of fringe benefits, though as a sinner- I admit that I am

I’m glad the wise fathers of our faith were keen and spirit filled enough to identify the problem and find a solution. It’s encouraging to know that despite the same kinds of problems we may encounter today, God always had a plan to help us through and become victorious, in all the ages..

No matter how many times I read the story of this couple, Ananias and Sapphira, it's always been a mind bothering to me personally. It's so hard for me to grasp the fact that their punishment was way to severe for their act. They weren't given a chance to repent of their sins and make it right before God. It's not just physical death but perhaps eternal condemnation in result of their sin. I do understand that it was nothing wrong to keep back of their belongings if they chose to do so, rather they were punished because they lied. They wanted the credit for their generosity and they were willing to lie for their own glory and gain. They mocked God. They deceived God. With their hypocrisy and deceit brought forth God's wrath upon themselves.
According to Stott, there were reasons why this particular incident in the history of early church had to be recorded. There were lessons to learn and Stott mentioned clearly in the book.
What I learned from the passage addition to Stott's comment?
Who are we to put degree of level on our own sins as well as others! I believed that Ananias and Sapphira thought that what they were about to do wouldn't be so bad. What they said was half true and half lie. They thought they were only dealing with someone who was standing right in front of them. However, Peter said "You have not lied to man but to God" (Luke 4:3-4).
Everything we do is accountable. Moreover,God knows every detail of conditions of our hearts and hidden motives. There is absolutely nothing we can hide from God.
Question is that even knowing this truth, can we still live like Ananias and Sapphira? I think we all need to exam our hearts today!

Continuance of Persecution

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian...
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say, "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day; then shall our names...
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd...

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother...
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us...
Henry V

Peter's second sermon

In sharing about Christ I often fear that I might start sounding like a Bible nerd or a dogmatic preacher. I might try to share on a more personal level but feel the danger of displaying Christianity as some self-help lifestyle in which you choose Jesus to be God and your best friend or, as the solution that changed you from a so called "sinner" to a "good" Christian person.
I was sobered by how Peter called out to the crowd to declare Jesus as the Christ. As Stott pointed out, Peter spoke with " outspoken courage". Stott goes on to also point out the "Christ-centeredness" of Peter's sermon. Peter did not focus on the miracle or his testamonies of how He met Jesus, nor did he play on the heart strings of the people. Peter was bold and proclaimed the truth. There was no sugar coated message of how Jesus is the answer to all your problems...He's a friend in time of need...your personal shepherd whom God sent because He loves you so much. Please don't get me wrong, it's just sobering and refreshing on how Peter declared Jesus as the Christ, convicted people of their mistake and called them to repent. It is a call to righteousness. It is not a call to come and save yourself by trusting in Jesus.
As I read Peter's sermon, I was also convicted of not meditating enough on the attributes of Jesus such as the ones Peter shared. Instead, I think I focus a little too much on the attributes of Jesus that serve me.
I realized once again that I must spend more time meditating on the Christ as He is revealed in the holy Scripture because there is the danger of letting my relationship with Him become stagnate and crowded with my personal feelings and views on Him- and God. I realized that in order to give a true witness to Jesus you must truly know Him better.