Facing Pressure Courageously (Acts 7:7-15, Acts 7:51-60)
Mark Pitman, August 31, 2014Part of the Living Life Together series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
God Wants to Use Lay-persons in Significant Positions of Ministry
Don’t Be Surprised if Your Ministry for Christ is Not Universally Accepted;
Be Prepared to Speak Lovingly and Forcefully;
Believe that God Can Help You Be Like Christ Even in Severe Circumstances;
Don’t Stop Believing that God Can Use Your Ministry in Unbelievable Ways.
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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« Solving Problems Quickly | None | When Times are Hard » |
Acts 7:7–15 (Listen)
7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers,
(ESV)
Acts 7:51–60 (Listen)
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
(ESV)
Sunday | Theme | Message | Scripture | Special Events |
1/6/13 | Finding Hope | Why are We Here, Where are We Going, How Do You Fit in? | Romans 15:2 | |
1/13/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Superior in Every Way | Hebrews 1:1-14 | |
1/20/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Deserves your Attention | Hebrews 2:1-8 | Sanctity of Human Life |
1/27/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Soften Your Heart | Hebrews 3:1-19 | |
2/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Rest | Hebrews 4:1-5 | |
2/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Hope | Hebrews 5:10 | Valentine’s Day |
2/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Help You Draw Near to God | Hebrews 7:1-28 | |
2/24/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Offers You a Better Promise | Hebrews 8:1-13 | |
3/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Shed His Blood for You | Hebrews 9:1-28 | |
3/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Confidence | Hebrews 10:1-39 | Daylight Savings begins; Gideon Speaker |
3/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Worthy of Your Faith | Hebrews 11:1-40 | |
3/24/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from 5 Surprises at the Cross | Matthew 27:27 | Palm Sunday |
3/31/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from Inside the Tomb | Acts 2:1-42 | Easter |
4/7/13 | Guest Speaker—Scott Towers | |||
4/14/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Endure | Hebrews 12:1-29 | Camp Selah |
4/21/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Change | Hebrews 13:1-25 | |
4/28/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Tears You Up | Matthew 6:25 | |
5/5/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Makes You Small | Matthew 6:25 | |
5/12/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Steals Your Hope | Matthew 6:26, 28-30 | Mother’s Day |
5/19/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Wastes You Time | Matthew 6:27 | |
5/26/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Offends Your Father | Matthew 6:26, 32 | Memorial Day Weekend |
6/2/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Leads You Astray | Matthew 6:32 | Honor Graduates |
6/9/13 | Guest Speaker–Christopher Avell | |||
6/16/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Turns Your Head | Matthew 6:33-34 | Father’s Day; Baby Dedication |
6/23/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #1 Grace | Genesis 39:1-40:8 | |
6/30/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #2 Encouragement | Ephesians 4:29 | FOURTH OF JULY—5th Sunday at the Pavilion following service |
7/7/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #3 Loyalty | 2 Samuel 23:8-17 | |
7/14/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #4 Forgiveness | Matt 18:15-35 | Communion |
7/21/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #5 Transparency | 1 John 1:1-2:2 | |
7/28/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #6 Perseverance | Hebrews 10:32-11:2; 12:1-3 | |
8/4/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Hope | 1 Cor 10:13 | |
8/11/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Finding Hope (or Ruin) in Becoming What We Worship | Isaiah 6 | |
8/18/13 | Guest Speaker—Mike and Carolyn Ballast (Missionaries) | I Cor 1 | VBS Sunday (Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride through God’s Word) | |
8/25/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Get in the Game | Eph 4:11-16 | Baptism & Family Night at PSR |
9/1/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Challenge of Hope | Ruth 1:1-15 | Labor Day |
9/8/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Contrast of Hope | Ruth 1:16-22 | |
9/15/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Providence of Hope | Ruth 2:1-13 | Randy and Adena Wildman (Missionaries)Men’s Outing (9/21)– Robert Houk’s home |
9/22/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Provision of Hope | Ruth 2:14-23 | SYATP (9/25) |
9/29/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Adventure of Hope | Ruth 3:1-13 | 5th Sunday—Harvest party at the Pavilion (Rides/camp fire, etc.); Shawn & Amanda (Missionaries); BCC 101 Class |
10/6/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Faithfulness of Hope | Ruth 3:14-18 | Communion |
10/13/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Resources of Hope | Ruth 4:1-12 | Columbus Day- 10/14 |
10/20/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Prodigy of Hope | Ruth 4:13-22 | (10/19) Harvest Party at The Fethers. |
10/27/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Foundation of Stewardship | Mark 12:1-12 | Testimony |
11/3/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Giving | Luke 19:11-27 | Testimony |
11/10/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Serving | 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Veteran’s Day—11/11; Testimony |
11/17/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Commitment | Joshua 24:14-28 | Testimony |
11/24/113 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Thanksgiving | Ps 107 | Thanksgiving; Decorate Church |
12/1/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Wonder of Your Eternal Home | 2 Cor 5:1-21 | HOPE;Advent Scripture– Isaiah; Communion |
12/8/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | Bowing Down Wisely | Ps 95:6 | PEACE; Advent Scripture– Micah 5:2, 4-5; Children’s Program |
12/15/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Beauty of Your Eternal Home | Rev 21 | JOY; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 9:6 -7 |
12/22/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Gift that Overcomes Death | 1 Cor 15:50-58 | LOVE; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 52:7-10 |
12/24/13 | Christmas Eve | The Perfection of Heaven | Ps 24:3-4 | |
12/29/13 | Preparing to Live by Preparing to Die | 2 Kings 18:13-19 | 5th Sunday |