LEAN IN
1. Stephen and the seven chosen for leadership in their community were chosen by the people, much like we do for our own civic leaders (teachers, principals, city/state/national leadership, etc.). What characteristics or qualities (not beliefs or platforms) do you like to see in someone who represents you?
2. Do you think you are someone that your community of people would consider in “choosing of the seven” to represent the community at large? Why or why not?
3. Name someone in your life who comes to mind as soon as you think of having community influence. Who are they, and what do they do that stands out to you?
LOOK UP
Scripture: Acts 6:1-10
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
OBSERVATIONS (What does the text say?)
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
- Even though they were all Jewish, what stands out to you about the tension we read at the beginning of the chapter?
- Talk through some of the requirements made for those who would be chosen.
INTERPRETATIONS (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about God?
- What do you learn about humanity?
- How do we see the importance of the Holy Spirit play out in this passage?
- The team chosen goes above and beyond feeding the widows they were chosen to serve. What stands out to you about “the overflow” that comes from serving others?
APPLICATIONS (What’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
- We see growth and kingdom impact from Stephen in chapter 6. Do we experience this same type of growth/impact in our own lives?
PRAYER
In the message, there were seven attributes of Stephen for us to learn from. Ask different people to take one of those attributes and to pray that over the group, and that our desire as followers of Jesus is to follow Stephen’s approach in each of these areas.
The 7 Attributes of Stephen:
- Stephen was a disciple — Commitment to Christ, Willingness to Serve, Growing Faith, In Community with others, Sat under teaching (someone else’s leadership)
- Stephen was chosen from among his peers
- Stephen was full of the Spirit and wisdom
- Stephen was full of Faith
- Stephen made an immediate impact in God’s kingdom
- Stephen was available and willing
- Stephen knew scripture
STEP OUT
This Week:
- Find a practical way to make a difference for someone this week (send a note of encouragement, visit a friend who’s been sick, help a family who has kids going back to school, etc.)
- Read Acts 6:1-10 again during the week, and ask yourself: “Which of the 7 attributes of Stephen do I want to pursue in this season?”
Additional Scripture References:
- Acts 6:1-10
- Acts 7:54-60
- Acts 8:1
- Acts 1:8