#12 The Ministry of Stephen

Our series in the Book of Acts continues with today’s message on the ministry of Stephen, one of the first deacons selected to serve the church and who became the first martyr of the Early Church.

In today’s message Pastor Mark Geer guides us carefully through the Scriptures to unveil Stephen’s response to the Jewish antagonists and the Sanhedrin who were filled with hate and vitriol regarding Stephen’s ministry and the person of Jesus Christ. 

Not only does Stephen meticulously and strategically dismantle the oppositions charges of blasphemy against him and also Jesus, but full of faith, grace, power and the Holy Spirit he reverses the charges levied against himself and the Christ by showing that it was Israel’s patriarchs, early fathers, and now the religious leaders who had rejected God, the Law, the ministry of Moses, and the true Temple, and had committed blasphemy themselves in their continual resistance to the Holy Spirit and their hardness of heart!

This message is powerful! Not because of the one delivering it today, but because of the one who anointed Stephen to speak it to the Jewish leaders and because of the incredible example Stephen set for us in his bravery, unyielded determination in the face of opposition, and his willingness to be martyred for the cause of Christ.