Stephen The Man Acts 6-7

Acts 6-7: Stephen



By way of introduction:

1. The character of the witness is ALWAYS held in question
2. The testimony of the witness is compared against their character.
3. The worth of the message is measured by the character of the messenger.


(I Tim 4, Titus 2)

I. Stephen’s Character (Acts 6)
A. Full of Faith
1. Godly Discipline
2. Example to the Believers/Of the Believers
3. Walk with God
B. Full of Wisdom
1. Intelligence
2. Biblical understanding put to practice
C. Honest Report
1. From those without
2. From those within


II. Stephen’s Conduct (Chapter 6)
A. Assisted in overseeing the care for the widows (Daily Ministration)
B. Teaching
C. Evangelism
D. Respect for Civil government
E. Reverence for the office which he held


III. Stephen’s Consecration (Acts 6-7)
A. Verbally Attacked ( I Peter 2:22-25)
B. Lied about ( Matt 26:59-60)
C. Incriminated unjustly (Matt 27:1-2)
D. Steadfast in his Faith (Isaiah 50:7,Luke 9:51)
E. Looked to God for strength (Matt 27:46)
1. Christ didn't look to God for Strength but rather for our example
2. Stephen looked to God not because he was in trouble but because it was his "habit"
F. Executed (Matt 27:50)
G. Forgiveness was his dying thought Luke 23:34

FORTRESS

Here is a sermon I preached recently. I trust it will be a blessing.

http://victorybiblebaptistchurch.com/sermons/2011/february/fortress.wma

Autonomy of Local Churches and Accountability

One of the guidelines for how a NT Church is cooperation with other churches. Church letters, Baptismal records, prayer, encouragement, fellowship, financial support if possible, assistance in disciplinary measures. All of these things can be found in the New Testament. They do not override each church's autonomy. They do uphold scripture. A pastor who leaves one church having disqualified himself, and goes to another church, and is given an office of which they are disqualified have violated scripture.

there are some possibilities.

A. The disqualified, dishonorable man was not honest (most likely)
B. The disqualified dishonorable man manipulated his way in/or started a church (this is always a favorite among the wolves)
C. The church refused to stand for scripture in hopes to "reform" the "fallen"
D. The Church just did not know what they were doing...they were novices
E. The church believes "what happens in vegas stays in vegas"
F. The disqualified became qualified. (heresy straightened up, divorced spouse passes on - only if the spouse was the one to cause the divorce IMHO/V.V.ology103, correction of moral failure OVER TIME (some time and much deliberation)


Each church remains autonomous- SELF GOVERNING.

There is no governing Body other than the Eternal Godhead. There is no enforcer or executor outside of that local body of believers. Nothing I said has changed.

Interestingly enough, there seems to be a lack of ethics in Fundamentalism especially among certain brethren of the Baptist sect. However, there are STILL many of us who are IFB (even IFB9Xers) who diligently keep themselves from fornication and submit themselves to the Holy Spirit, to their churches, to their wife(ves), families, even to each other for accountability and for "veto".

I have talked with SEVERAL IFB preachers from various colleges, various camps. Each have verified that in the ordination "grilling" the question was made whether or not it was biblical to "resend" ones ordination of that person became unqualified. Each time, the person being ordained would not only testify that it was Biblical, but that they also would hold each person ordaining him accountable for keeping the faith in pure conscience.


Having a VOLUNTARY accountability to co-laborers (as I have said before) does not eliminate the autonomy of any said Bible Believing Church. It is just not something that you hear about among the graduates, staff, or heritage of "prominent" IFB places of learning.