Jump Start # 1659

Acts 8:2 “Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.”

  Stephen was dead. He had been executed, murdered, by a heated mob that did not like his preaching. Unlike Jesus, there was no trial. No one went to Pilate to get Roman permission for the state to execute him. There were no Roman soldiers involved. This was the wild fury of a mob that was angry beyond reason. Stephen was dead. The mob then went after other Christians in Jerusalem. The disciples scattered.

Our verse today shows the devout men burying Stephen. It was a sad day for the Christians.

Some thoughts:

1. God allowed Stephen to be killed. Contextually, Stephen was the third Christian to die in the book of Acts. Earlier, in chapter 5, God had struck down Ananias and Sapphira for lying. Stephen seems to be the first righteous person executed after Jesus. God allowed this. He did not bring down angels to stop this. Later in Acts, Paul will be lowered in a basket over the Jerusalem walls to escape. That didn’t happen here. The prison doors would open for Peter to escape. That didn’t happen here.

– It’s hard to understand someone as pivotal as Stephen was, being killed. He was doing right.

2. The death of Stephen didn’t crush the church. This wasn’t a death blow to the church. The kingdom is larger than any one of us. It can and will survive without us. The church is about Jesus and not us. Stephen died, yet the kingdom grew. Militants then and militants today believe that they can destroy Christianity by killing it’s members. They may kill Stephens, but they won’t destroy the church. Can’t.

3. The church had to carry on without Stephen. Devout men buried Stephen. Loud lamentations were made over him. Then the work of the kingdom carried on. This is the focus that I want us to consider today. How does a congregation carry on after the death of a very involved member. Yesterday, we mentioned that it seems in every congregation, there are some key members that are the backbone of that place. They have devoted years of service, pouring hour after hour into building up that congregation. They have been the voice of reason through the storms. They have taken care of the building. They have filled in when someone couldn’t be there. The congregation has survived because of the dedication of these folks.

Then one sad day, that dedicated soul is called home to God. I have been at places where this has happened. That next Sunday, it just seems empty because someone is missing. You look for them to walk through the door, but you know that will never happen again. Their presence meant so much, and now, they are gone. I doubt we really grasp the impact that this has upon a congregation. It’s hard to preach that first Sunday after a very influential member has passed away. There just seems to be a dark cloud hanging over the place. Without saying a word, people wonder who will step up. Who will fill the gap that is now there? Who will take the place of one so vital to that congregation? This is especially true after the death of an elder or a preacher.

I have seen some places that tried to carry business on as normal. But the day isn’t normal. Someone is missing. Instead, leaders ought to use the occasion to first, honor the spiritual hero that they had among them. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Remember those…Something ought to be said. We don’t worship the saints, but we ought to remember and honor those who did so much. A picture on the wall, as a reminder…a tree planted in the yard with a sign…a plague…a Bible preserved and framed…reminders, memorials of heroes that walked among us. A story preserved.

It is amazing to me how few people know the history and the names of those behind the congregation that they attend. They belong to a congregation, but they don’t know about the sacrifices, the work, the humble beginnings that started what they now see. New generations come and that history fades. The footprints of those early dedicated folks is no longer seen. The congregation that I worship with is over 100 years old. It started in someone’s house. Today, our building is huge. We’ve just added on to it. The Sunday morning crowd we have now, couldn’t fit in anyone’s living room. That little, little seed that started long ago by a few families has grown into a massive congregation. There were bumps along the way. Many have come and gone. But there were a few folks that kept things pointed in the right direction and continued on with things.

It is important that we work to train those who will follow us. Someday we will hand the keys over to others. The work that has been done should not be lost, but instead, carried on. Keeping the spiritual legacy alive is important. Who will be the next shepherds? Any thought given to that? Any thing being done now towards that goal? Who will teach the classes? Who will take care of the place? Who will preach? Legacy. Filling the shoes. Training. Goals.

Stephen died. Tears were shed. A funeral was held. And the work continued on. Are we setting in place a continuation of the work after we are gone? Are we teaching and leaving examples of what is good and right? Are we seeing beyond ourselves?

There is life after a Stephen dies.

Roger