Sermon: The Cost

[The following is a summary of Pastor Sean's sermon]

Acts 6:8 - 7:60 records the message and death of Stephen the martyr.

When we read 1 Peter 2:24 and Colossians 1:24, we could interpret wrongly that grace is both about Christ's death and Paul's work.

Rather, we must recognize that the cross is a gift that is complete, there is nothing to add to grace. So, in Romans 10:13-15, we learn that from that free gift, when God calls us to do something... we do it! When he calls us to go... we go! Even if death is the cost for following his call.

Stephen knew this well and was, consequently, the first known Christian martyr. So, what was his motivation? What was his message? How was he martyred?

Stephen's motivation:
1. He was full of the Holy Spirit.
2. He was full of wisdom.
3. He was full of faith.
4. He was full of power.
5. He was full of the grace of God (Acts 6:8).

Stephen's message [Rather than summarizing in my words, here are the biblical passages that basically explains the content of Stephen's message]:
Acts 7:48-50; Romans 10:4; John 4:23-24; Acts 7:54, 57; Acts 7:58a

Stephen's Martyrdom:
1. There is a hope for something more than this life (Acts 7:55).
2. He saw Jesus (Acts 7:55; Matthew 10:32). Actually, Jesus is described as standing when Stephen dies. Commentaries explain that this gesture is really symbolic of an invitation into the presence of God. In this sense, God the Son is our intermediary to the eternal and majestic God the Father.
3. Our lives end with sleep, not death (Acts 8:60). The word "death" or "died" are not used because we are told to look forward to the rest that is to come.

Lastly, Stephen died for the conversion of one man (Acts 22:17-21). Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, explains that God used Stephen's death to call him to repent and convert. Paul, subsequently, was used and led by the Spirit to impart the knowledge of God and the gospel in his letters in the New Testament.