THIS WEEK at Manheim BIC: Pastor Corby Burkholder continues our series entitled Acts First Eight: Gathered & Scattered teaching on Acts 6:8–7:60 Acts 6:8-7:1 (NIV) 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. 7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” Acts 7:51-60 (NIV) 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. PRAYER FOCUS: #1 - Cover our Manheim BIC Pastoral Search Committee with your prayers #2 - Pray for our Childrens Ministries as Kelly and Lauren finishe out this summer well while preparing to hand things over to new leadership #3 - Pray for our Youth Ministries as we begin to plan and equip for the fall and as Kelly Funk joins our youth staff team #4 - Pray that we will have the boldness of Stephen to speak the truth to others. May we not settle for an everything is awesome mentality, when we know there are so many people who still need Jesus. May we not allow fear to stop us from sharing the Gospel.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:10:54 +0000
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