Exposition of Acts: Front Line
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. A CHRISTIAN’S VIRTUE
A. RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER
Acts 6:5b Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; 6:8a And Stephen, full of grace and power, (Mk 9:24; Eph 5:18)
>>1. EVIDENCE TOWARD GOD
>>2. EVIDENCE TOWARD MAN
B. RIGHTEOUS DEEDS
Acts 6:8b was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (Col 3:8-10; Eph 4:1-3)
>>1. EMBODIMENT OF FAITH/GRACE/POWER
>>2. EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD
II. A CHRISTIAN’S VALOR
A. UNRIGHTEOUS DEBATE
Acts 6:9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the so-called Freedmen, and of the [synagogue] of Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of the [synagogue] of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
>>1. ENEMY’S LAIR
>>2. EVIL OPPOSITION
B. RIGHTEOUS SPEECH
Acts 6:10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking. (II Cor 10:3-5)
>>1. ENDUED WITH WISDOM
>>2. EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT
III. A CHRISTIAN’S VISAGE
A. UNRIGHTEOUS ATTACKS
Acts 6:11 Then they secretly bribed men who said, “We’ve heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
>>1. ENGAGING PERJURY
>>2. EMBROILED
B. UNRIGHTEOUS ALLEGATIONS
Acts 6:12-14 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and violently seized him and drug him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law, for we’ve heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” (Acts 2:47, 5:26; Lk 19:35-40; 23:18-23)
>>1. ENCOUNTER
>>2. ENDEAVOR OF ALL
C. RIGHTEOUS DEMEANOR
Acts 6:15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Ex 34:29)
>>1. EVIL EYE IN COURT
>>2. EPITOME OF PERFECT PEACE