Not-So-Quiet-Time: Acts 7
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 10/19
Day 1: Verses 1-16
When he was on trial, Stephen wanted his testimony to be gospel-testimony. He went back to the covenant of circumcision that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17 when God promised to be God to Abraham and to his offspring (Gen 17:7). This was the start of God’s long journey of faithfulness with his special people. Through childlessness, fighting, and famine, God had proven faithful. Ask God to help you trust his faithfulness through the difficulties of today.
Day 2: Verses 17-34
The Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews and killed their children. But God had a plan. God orchestrated all the steps of Moses’ life perfectly. He was raised as royalty, but was rejected and exiled in the wilderness. When the time was right, God revealed Himself and his will. Moses had been perfectly prepared to engage the royalty of Egypt and to lead his rejected people into wilderness. How has God used circumstances in your life to prepare you to serve Him better?
Day 3: Verse 35-43
God showed his power by bringing plagues and splitting the Red Sea. But at their first opportunity, the people fell back into sin. They said, “Make for us gods who will go before us,” as if the Lord hadn’t led them with a Pillar of Fire. And “they made a calf… and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands” (7:41). In what ways do we ignore or forget God in our lives? Are there other things that we trust or honor more than Him?
Day 4: Verses 44-53
Next, Stephen traced the story from Moses to Solomon. God was faithful. But the people continued to persecute the prophets and stubbornly worship idols. Circumcision had been meant to show that God’s people were set apart, but they weren’t living like that. The people were going through the motions. Their hearts were not in their worship. How can you worship and love God with all your heart, rather than simply going through the motions?
Day 5: Verses 54-60
A man named Saul (who would be known later and better as Paul) was there seeing and hearing Stephen testify. Stephen would not live to see Paul’s ministry during his life on earth. But we know Paul got to see Stephen faithfully laying down his life for Christ while praying that God would forgive his attackers. You never know who is watching, or what difference your life can make to others. Pray that God would use you to show Himself to others.
Catechism Connection: WSC 47-48
“The first commandment forbids denying or not worshiping and glorifying the true God as God” (WSC 47). The religious leaders broke this command because they refused to worship Jesus. Like these leaders and those worshiping the golden calf in the wilderness, we too can fall into the trap of worshiping the wrong person or in the wrong way. Every day, we must fight to “know and acknowledge God as the only true God… and to worship and glorify him accordingly” (WSC 46).
Day 1: Verses 1-16
When he was on trial, Stephen wanted his testimony to be gospel-testimony. He went back to the covenant of circumcision that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17 when God promised to be God to Abraham and to his offspring (Gen 17:7). This was the start of God’s long journey of faithfulness with his special people. Through childlessness, fighting, and famine, God had proven faithful. Ask God to help you trust his faithfulness through the difficulties of today.
Day 2: Verses 17-34
The Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews and killed their children. But God had a plan. God orchestrated all the steps of Moses’ life perfectly. He was raised as royalty, but was rejected and exiled in the wilderness. When the time was right, God revealed Himself and his will. Moses had been perfectly prepared to engage the royalty of Egypt and to lead his rejected people into wilderness. How has God used circumstances in your life to prepare you to serve Him better?
Day 3: Verse 35-43
God showed his power by bringing plagues and splitting the Red Sea. But at their first opportunity, the people fell back into sin. They said, “Make for us gods who will go before us,” as if the Lord hadn’t led them with a Pillar of Fire. And “they made a calf… and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands” (7:41). In what ways do we ignore or forget God in our lives? Are there other things that we trust or honor more than Him?
Day 4: Verses 44-53
Next, Stephen traced the story from Moses to Solomon. God was faithful. But the people continued to persecute the prophets and stubbornly worship idols. Circumcision had been meant to show that God’s people were set apart, but they weren’t living like that. The people were going through the motions. Their hearts were not in their worship. How can you worship and love God with all your heart, rather than simply going through the motions?
Day 5: Verses 54-60
A man named Saul (who would be known later and better as Paul) was there seeing and hearing Stephen testify. Stephen would not live to see Paul’s ministry during his life on earth. But we know Paul got to see Stephen faithfully laying down his life for Christ while praying that God would forgive his attackers. You never know who is watching, or what difference your life can make to others. Pray that God would use you to show Himself to others.
Catechism Connection: WSC 47-48
“The first commandment forbids denying or not worshiping and glorifying the true God as God” (WSC 47). The religious leaders broke this command because they refused to worship Jesus. Like these leaders and those worshiping the golden calf in the wilderness, we too can fall into the trap of worshiping the wrong person or in the wrong way. Every day, we must fight to “know and acknowledge God as the only true God… and to worship and glorify him accordingly” (WSC 46).
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