A. Why? (Ephesians 6:13)
B. Stand against what or whom? (Acts 20:29, 30, 38; Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:17-24; 4:1-3)
II. Defensive weapons
A. Gird your waist with truth (Ephesians 6:14a; John 8:32)
B. Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14b; 1 Timothy 6:11; Romans 3:10, 23; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
C. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 8:4)
D. Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 10:17)
E. Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17a)
III. The offensive weapon
A. The sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)
B. Use it properly (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:12)
I. The responsibility of every Christian to evangelize
A. It wasn’t the apostles who scattered and preached outside Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 4; Colossians 1:23)
B. A perpetual commission (Hebrews 5:12-14; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2)
II. The gospel is for all mankind
A. Not just those who look and act like us (Acts 8:5; John 4:9, 20, 25)
B. The reaction (Acts 8:6-7, 12) was joyous (Acts 8:8, 39; 16:34; 15:3)
C. It is even for those that we don’t think will obey (Acts 8:9-13)
III. The possibility of apostasy…and restoration!
A. Simon shows immaturity (Acts 8:14-19)
B. Peter’s rebuke (Acts 8:20-23)
C. Simon’s opportunity to repent (Acts 8:22, 24)
A. We must follow, not stand still (John 1:43; Matthew 4:18-19; 9:9; Luke 9:23-25; John 6:68)
B. He provided guidance in the Old Testament (Exodus 13:21)
C. He still provides guidance today (1 John 1:7; 2 John 9)
II. Jesus is a light of safety
A. Darkness represents spiritual danger (John 12:35)
B. Jesus’ light guides each step of the way (Psalm 119:105)
III. Jesus is a life-giving light
A. If you take man away from the Son’s light, man will stop growing! (John 1:4; 10:10b)
B. Jesus’ effect on spiritual health (James 1:14-15; Malachi 4:2)
IV. Jesus is a light of hope
A. Old Testament view on immortality (Hebrews 11:13; 2 Samuel 12:23; Job 14:14)
B. He has “brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10; Ephesians 2:12-13; 5:8-14)
A. A principal characteristic (Acts 6:5, 8)
B. Faith is the foundation (2 Peter 1:5-8; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37)
II. Full of power
A. “Great wonders and signs” (Acts 6:8; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10; Mark 16:20)
B. Wouldn’t it be easier to evangelize today with miracles? (John 20:30; Acts 6:9, 11-13; 7:54, 59-60; Luke 16:19-31)
III. Full of Scripture
A. He knew it! (Acts 7)
B. We can know it too! (Ephesians 5:17-21; Colossians 3:16)
IV. Full of light
A. They could not deny who Stephen stood with (Acts 6:15)
B. True Christians cannot help but shine the light of Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 2:15)
V. Full of wisdom
A. Insurmountable wisdom (Acts 6:3, 10; 7:57)
B. Through the Scriptures (2 Timothy 4:3-4; 3:15)
VI. Full of courage
A. Stood up to the opponents of truth (Acts 7:51-56)
B. We must stand for truth regardless of consequences (Galatians 4:16; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 4:15)
VII. Full of love
A. “Do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:57-60)
B. The attitude of Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Paul (Romans 9:3; 10:1)
A. Learning is where faith begins (Genesis 1:27; 1 Timothy 6:7; Rom. 10:17)
B. The more we want to learn, the more we can learn (Mt. 5:6; 1 Tim. 4:13)
II. The power to teach
A. Jesus taught the apostles who taught others who taught others who taught others… (2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 5:42; 8:4; 20:20)
B. We must be willing to guide those who want to learn (Acts 8:30-31)
III. The power to live the Christian life
A. Walk the walk (Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:11-12)
B. In all that we do (Colossians 3:17), always abounding (1 Cor. 15:58)
A. Rapid growth caused neglect (Acts 6:1)
B. The apostles’ priorities (Acts 6:2)
II. The solution
A. Delegate responsibilities (Acts 6:3; Exodus 18:17-18, 21)
B. Let someone trustworthy handle “that” so we can focus fully on “this” (Acts 6:4)
III. The result
A. The church was pleased (Acts 6:5-6)
B. The church grew even more because “the word of God spread” (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:15; James 1:21; Acts 5:28; 8:4; 17:6)
I. The adjective “Holy” describes all three Persons of the Godhead
A. The Father (Exodus 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 103:1; 105:3; 106:47; 111:9; 145:21)
B. The Son (Luke 1:35; Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27; 3:14; 4:27, 30; Hebrews 7:26)
C. The Spirit (it’s in His name: the Holy Spirit!)
II. “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
A. The children of Israel (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; Deuteronomy 7:1-6)
B. Christians (1 Peter 1:13-16; 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 1:3-4; 5:27; Colossians 1:22)
C. It is a daily decision (Colossians 3:12-13)
D. Imitating our High Priest (Hebrews 7:26)
1. Harmless (Matthew 10:16; Philippians 2:14-15)
2. Undefiled (Psalm 119:1)
3. Separate from sinners (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)
A. “Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 16-18; 21:43-45)
B. Strength comes from God and is found in Christ (Romans 8:1; James 4:7; Philippians 4:13, 19)
II. “Put on the whole armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:11)
A. Spiritual armor (Romans 13:12-14; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 6:3-7)
B. “Wiles” = schemes, tricks
III. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6:12)
A. Do not underestimate the devil’s smarts (2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:7)
B. Do not underestimate the devil’s strength (1 Peter 5:8)
A. Arrested for preaching (Acts 5:17-18)
B. Miraculously released to continue preaching “the words of this life” (Acts 5:19-20; John 6:66-68)
II. Continued boldness
A. Swift obedience (Acts 5:21a; 16:32-33)
B. Jewish reaction (Acts 5:21b-28; Matthew 27:22-25)
C. The apostles refuse to back down (Acts 5:29-32; Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
III. The council’s decision
A. They “plotted to kill them” (Acts 5:33)
B. Gamaliel’s advice (Acts 5:34-39; Jude 3)
IV. The apostles’ response
A. Rejoiced at suffering (Acts 5:40-41; Matthew 5:10-12)
B. “They did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
ConcerningJesus.com 