Acts (Part 12): Stephen, The First Martyr

When the pressure is on, your real trust is revealed—not just what you say you believe, but what your hope is truly built on.

Stephen was a man full of grace, power, and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3, 6:8-10). He held both godly character and spiritual competency whose boldness made him a target, and ultimately a martyr.

Stephen’s Message to the Sanhedrin

Stephen dismantled the false confidence of the religious leaders by retelling their own history.

Abraham – Blessed, but never owned the Promised Land (Acts 7:2-5)

Joseph – Righteous, but rejected by his brothers (Acts 7:9-10)

Moses – Chosen by God, but rejected by Israel (Acts 7:35-41)

The Temple – Built by Solomon, but God is not contained by buildings (Acts 7:48-50)

Each story showed a pattern: Israel resisted God and rejected His messengers. The Jews weren’t just wrong about their history, they were wrong about their hearts.

Modern Parallels: Three Pillars of False Righteousness

Religious Righteousness – Trusting in morality or theology instead of Christ.
Neutral Righteousness – Trying to stay out of it, but Jesus says “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matt. 12:30)
Cultural Righteousness – Finding identity and justification in activism or public virtue instead of grace.

True Righteousness Is Received, Not Achieved

We are made righteous by Christ’s finished work—not by being right, moral, or passionate (Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:8).

Stephen looked to Jesus even as the stones flew—because Jesus was his righteousness.

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Was there anything from the sermon that you found encouraging, challenging, or thought-provoking this week?
   

   
   

2. Stephen dismantled the religious leaders’ trust in the Temple, the Law, and the Land (Acts 7:2–50). Why do you think religious people are especially prone to putting their confidence in good, spiritual things rather than in God Himself?
   

   
   

3. The sermon talked about two kinds of religious righteousness: moral and theological. What are some signs that someone—even a faithful churchgoer—might be building their identity on moral behavior or theological correctness instead of Christ? (Acts 7:53)
   

   
   

4. Pastor Josh said, “Being right doesn’t make you righteous.” How do we remind ourselves and one another that our standing before God is based on grace, not performance? (Romans 1:25)
   

   
   

5. The sermon described “neutral” people as those who try to avoid taking sides—just staying quiet and doing their own thing. Why is neutrality so appealing today, and why is it actually a spiritual danger? (Matthew 12:30)
   

   
   

6. Pastor Josh said, “There are no bystanders.” How should that truth shape the way we talk to people who think they’re just quietly living a good life without getting involved in faith?
   The sermon highlighted a form of cultural righteousness—a worldview that offers justice and identity, but without grace or forgiveness. What does that look like in real life, and why is it so spiritually hollow? (Colossians 2:8)
   

   
   

7. Pastor Josh described this cultural pressure as “legalism with rainbow flags.” What do you think he meant by that, and how have you seen that kind of moral pressure affect people—especially the younger generation?
   

   
   

8. What are some of the “unforgivable sins” according to today’s culture—and how does that differ from the gospel message of Jesus?
   

   
   

9. Stephen looked up and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God as he was being stoned (Acts 7:55–56). What does that moment teach us about where to fix our eyes when we face opposition or fear?
   

   
   

10. What would it look like this week to lay down your own form of self-righteousness—whether religious, passive, or cultural—and rest in the righteousness that Christ gives freely?