Contending For The Faith
To the ends of the earth - Acts 7:1-53 (esv) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
1 Peter 3:15:
“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
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How confident are you in sharing your faith with others? Would you be able to explain the gospel to someone who asks? In a culture that pushes back against the exclusive claims of Christianity, are you prepared to respond?
In Acts 7, we read that Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin and mounted a compelling defense in response to the charges of blasphemy leveled against him. Utilizing hellenistic rhetorical technique, Stephen begins with a narration of salvation history, revealing a deep and abiding knowledge of God’s faithfulness. In the second part of his speech Stephen turns to a series of declarative statements, revealing an understanding of the people’s rejection. They had ignored God’s law and mistakenly thought they could confine Him to a particular place. Finally, Stephen concludes with an emotional appeal to his listeners. Their rejection of Jesus continued a historical pattern of disobedience to God. Stephen was not guilty of blasphemy. His accusers were. They would be wise to stop resisting the Holy Spirit and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
Stephen’s speech is a model for all disciples. We should at all times, be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in us to anyone who asks, contending for the faith with all wisdom.
