Stephen: Witness to Jesus, Full of the Holy Spirit

Title:Stephen: Witness to Jesus, Full of the Holy Spirit
Location:
10:00 – 11:00 Fordham Church (Morning worship service)
11:30 – 12:30 Eight Ash Green (Holy Communion service)
Preacher: Francis Blight
Teaching Passage: Acts 7:48-8:4

Online Church: Watch

(This will be available from 10:00am on Sunday)

Online Church

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Acts 7:48 – 8:4
7:48 "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says:
7:49 " 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?
7:50 Has not my hand made all these things?'

7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
7:52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him--
7:53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."
7:54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

7:56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
7:57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,
7:58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
7:60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
8:2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

8:6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
8:7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
8:8 So there was great joy in that city.