Hello and welcome to "A Word from the Vine." I'm Pastor Loren. Today, we're going to talk about the importance of faith and the contrast between Stephen's faith and the lack of faith in the Jewish authorities regarding Jesus Christ.
In John 14:1-14, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them in his Father's house, and that they know the way to get there. Thomas asks Jesus how they can know the way, to which Jesus replies, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
This passage highlights the importance of faith in Jesus Christ as the way to eternal life. It also emphasizes the need for trust and belief in God's plan, even when we don't understand it.
In contrast, we have the Jewish authorities who rejected Jesus and his teachings, even to the point of having him crucified. They lacked faith in Jesus and refused to believe that he was the Messiah. This is evident in the story of Stephen in Acts 6:1-9 and 7:2, 51-60.
Stephen was a man full of faith in Jesus Christ, and he preached the Gospel boldly to the Jewish authorities. However, they refused to believe him and instead became enraged. They stoned Stephen to death, showing their complete lack of faith in Jesus and their hardened hearts.
We can learn from Stephen's example and the contrast between his faith and the lack of faith in the Jewish authorities. It's important to have faith in Jesus Christ and to trust in God's plan, even when it doesn't make sense to us. We must also be bold in sharing the Gospel with others, even if it means facing opposition.
So let us remember to have faith in Jesus Christ and to trust in God's plan. Let us also be bold in sharing the Gospel with others, and pray that God will soften the hardened hearts of those who refuse to believe. Thank you for tuning in today to "A Word from the Vine."
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