Scripture Focus: Acts 7 – The Martyrdom of Stephen
Key Themes:
Stephen’s Legacy: Stephen was a young man “full of grace,” chosen to serve the early Christian community. He was killed not for his works, but for speaking the truth of Jesus.
Martyria = Witness: The Greek word for martyr also means witness. Stephen's death bore witness to the radical love of Christ—even forgiving his killers, just as Jesus did.
Faith Isn't Always Safe: Jesus warned his followers that discipleship would be hard and would not guarantee safety. True faith is not a self-help strategy but a risky, countercultural way of living.
Fear vs. Love: Fear often drives people to violence, division, and control. Love, by contrast, expands and frees us—even when it leads us into difficult places.
Comfort Can Be a Temptation: The church today may be tempted to keep the “safe” parts of ministry—traditions, programs, professionalism—while leaving out Jesus, whose radical grace and call to servanthood makes people uncomfortable.
A Call to Examine Ourselves: Like the religious leaders, we can be threatened by new movements of God’s Spirit. Ask: What am I afraid of? Where am I resisting love’s call because it feels unsafe?
Faithfulness Over Safety: We are not promised safety. We are promised God's presence. Like Stephen, we can risk boldly for love, trusting we are always in God’s hands.
Reflection Questions:
Where in my life am I playing it safe instead of following where love leads?
How might fear be limiting my faith or my ability to witness to Christ?
What does love require of me today—even if it feels risky or hard?
Quote to Remember:
“Of course he’s not safe. But he is good.” – C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Closing Challenge:
Don’t tiptoe through life. Run, hop, skip, risk, and love boldly. Because even in the hard places, God is already there.
