Bolder: A Look at the Audacious Faith of Imperfect PeopleSample

Day 3: Stephen

Stephen is the first Christian martyr (someone who is killed because of their faith) after he delivers a fiery speech to some religious leaders in which he lays out the history of the nation of Israel. In his speech, Stephen bluntly explains how the Israelites rejected God over and over, even though God protected them and saved them over and over. But Stephen didn’t begin as a fiery speaker. He started by serving tables. In Acts 6 we see the disciples trying to solve a problem. There was simply too much work to be done with the people they had. There were widows to be taken care of but also the message of Jesus to get out! Neither taking care of people nor spreading the gospel could be ignored. So the disciples sought out some help.

Something that is interesting about how they chose who would help is how high the standards were. One might wonder if it really matters who serves widows their food as long as the widows get to eat. But the disciples were searching for a specific type of person to do the work: “men of good reputation,” “full of the Holy Spirit,” and “full of wisdom.” Why were these qualities important for the job?

Stephen is chosen for this role along with six others and is specifically described as “full of the Holy Spirit.” He is also described as “full of faith and power” and is able to perform “signs and wonders” (6:8). Stephen stands out in such a way that the religious leaders view him as a threat. They even find false witnesses to lie about him, saying he insulted God and the Jewish religion, and Stephen is killed as a result.

You may be thinking to yourself at this point, “But I’m not a speaker, I’m not courageous, and I’d run away if anyone tried to kill me. I can’t be bold like Stephen.” It is important to remember that he didn’t necessarily start that way. When his bold acts are mentioned, right next to them is the fact that he was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and “filled with grace and power.” Throughout the Bible when the Holy Spirit is in someone, they have power. Sometimes it is physical strength (see Samson in the book of Judges), but often it is simply the ability to do or say things they’d otherwise not be able to. In other words, if you lack the courage to do what you know is right, the Holy Spirit can supply it! You may or may not be faced with death for following Jesus as Stephen did, but you can know that the same Spirit who gave him boldness to stay true to Jesus in the face of terrible abuse (murder, in fact) is the one who lives in you when you choose to follow Jesus.

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. How is the outcome in Acts 6:7 related to the standards of the workers chosen in 6:3?

2. What parallels do you see between Stephen and Jesus?

3. If you have chosen to follow Jesus, to accept his sacrifice for you, and to commit your life to him, have you seen the Holy Spirit work in your life? How so?

4. If you have not made that decision, what is one obstacle or question you have and how might you seek the answer?