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Published: 25 June 2017

I’m getting a little ahead of myself but that is what happened to the most prominent deacon proto-type of Acts 6.  Stephen’s work went beyond administration, he became a Spirit-empowered apologist of the Jewish-Christian connection.  He was fearless in debate.  Like Jesus, Stephen walked people into a “truth corner” that they could not get out of, unless they came out swinging.   Swinging they did!  Well, technically they were throwing stones but you get my point.  Over the next few weeks we are going to study Stephen’s defense and accusation.  It’s the longest of any of the speeches in the Book of Acts—53 verses.  It is an amazing summary of the history of God’s people; make sure you have the whole Bible with you!  However, this is no filibuster; there is a subtle theme underneath the surface that is finally brought home with force.  Stephen could have walked away from this conflict but he believed the greater call was the call to truth.  Our theme for this coming week is the character of Stephen and how it reflected his Master.  We may not have the gift of miracles but we can all be people full of faith and of the Spirit.  We may not be called to stand in front of the Sanhedrin but we are all called to grow in faith, in the fullness of the Spirit and as witnesses to the power and saving grace of Jesus.

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Published: 16 June 2017

Some of you may be relieved to know that I will not be preaching a “Father’s Day” Sermon this week.  I will however be reminding dads of a very important life choice that is, in truth, critical for all of us.  It has to do with priorities.  One of the greatest challenges in life is keeping the main things the main things.  Distractions abound.  In a culture like ours we have so many options it can make us dizzy.  I think many people in this culture and in the church are afflicted with PADD.  That stands for Priority Attention Deficit Disorder.  (I made that up)  My observation has been that people substitute the priority of love for God and neighbor with the following priorities…1) Pleasing self.  2) Pleasing others.  3) Pleasing self.  Like a compass surrounded by magnets, people run from one false north to another going nowhere but busy in getting there.  We would all be able to list the Godly “main things,” but if I may be blunt, our actions don’t back up our words.  Priorities are revealed by what we do and by the choices we make, not by the words we say.  I cringe a little every time I read Joshua 24.  Joshua reminded God’s people of His covenant and they said, “We will serve the LORD, for He is our God.”  Joshua then said, “No you won’t but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”  That’s my paraphrase of the content but that’s what it means.  He had seen their choices and knew that they were only giving lip service to God.  They responded to him in an argumentative fashion, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”  He then said, “Then put away your idols and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.”  They responded with the same words MINUS appropriate action.  They wrongly thought they could “do it all.”  The book of Judges reveals what happened.  Friends, priorities matter.  Priorities are revealed by actions.  Actions have consequences.  A choice to do one thing is a choice to NOT do something else.  “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”