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Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
WHERE DOES GOD LIVE? (Acts 7:47-49) The title of our lesson today is “Where Does God Live?” I don't know of any subject that excites me more than the answer to the question “Where Does God Live?” And, I can tell you that if you will learn what I have to say today, not because I say it, but because of the truth of it, it will radically, dramatically, and eternally change your life. So many of us think of God as sort of an absentee landholder. That somehow, we are down here on earth, and He has saved us, forgiven our sins, and then given us a shove, and said, “Do the best you can.” And He is up there in heaven peering down through the clouds, and every now and then, we are sending prayers up to Him and saying, “O God, as you sit at master control up there, do something to help me down here because I am in great, great difficulty.” And when we don't see a response from God, we sometimes pray and say, “You know, I pray, and my prayers never got above the light bulbs.” If that is what you think, do you know what your problem is? It is because you think God is way up there above the light bulbs. Listen, God is beneath the light bulbs, as well as above the light bulbs, and that is what we need to learn. We need to learn where God is and where God lives. Let me ask a question, if you wanted to write God a letter, do you know His address? Do you have the zip code? Where does God live? Sometimes we say about the church we worship in, “Well, this is the house of God.” This is not the house of God. Now, it's God's house in the sense that He owns it, but “the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.” (1 Corinthians 10:26, 28) But, this is not God's address. As a matter of fact, God has been living in a series of houses, and I want to talk to you about those houses today, because when you learn this lesson, you will learn a great, great, truth. Click on the link below to hear a message on where God lives, where God dwells. God has moved into people. In the Old Testament, He had a temple for His people. In the New Testament, He has a people for a temple. We are the temple of God, and God lives in us. That is the answer to the question “Where does God live?” The answer is God lives in us. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.
30/11/2025 – Morning Service Rev Douglas Cranston Acts 7:54–8:8 The post Acts 7:54-8:8 appeared first on Hope Church Blackwood & Kirkmuirhill.
Persecution has always been part of following Jesus—and Acts 7–8 gives us one of Scripture's clearest pictures of a faithful witness who stood firm to the very end. As Stephen boldly proclaimed the truth, he faced hardened hearts, violent opposition, and ultimately death. Yet even in suffering, he saw the glory of Christ, experienced the strength of the Holy Spirit, and helped propel the gospel forward. This passage shows us that God sovereignly uses the suffering of faithful witnesses for gospel advancement and the glory of Christ.
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
In the year 2025 we as a church are reading through the One Story Plan from Ownit365. You can find the plan on the Bible app or at Missioncitykc.com/scripturereadingplan. Our hope for these recaps is to supplement your reading through the plan and to offer you a quick way to catch up in case you fall behind.
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
Daily Dose of Hope November 27, 2025 Scripture - Acts 7 Prayer: Amazing God, thank you for giving us life in Christ Jesus. This Thanksgiving, we ask you to continue to strengthen us in Jesus Christ, driving roots deep into the soil of who he is, your Son. In the days following this celebration of your awesome provision, may the Holy Spirit well up thankfulness in our hearts to overflowing every day. Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus. Amen Happy Thanksgiving! Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently walking through the book of Acts. Today, we working through all of chapter 7. This chapter covers the stoning of Stephen, which seems a strange thing to talk about on Thanksgiving. Or, maybe it's not. We'll get to that. If you remember, yesterday, the Jewish leaders were trying to get people to slander Stephen. They were threatened by his wisdom. So, they have him dragged in front of the Sanhedrin. It's there that Stephen gives a long, eloquent history of how God worked through his people, leading up to Jesus. Stephen doesn't mince words. He is pretty clear that the Jewish leadership has persecuted all the prophets who have come before and then persecuted the Messiah to the point of execution. Not surprisingly, the Jewish leaders are offended by his directness and they get really worked up when he looks up at heaven and declares that he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. Keep in mind, this would have been blasphemy to the strict Jews who sat on the council. There was no real trial, no real discussion. They simply drag Stephen out and start throwing stones. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This was, of course, a sign of what was to come. But Stephen also offers all Christians a beautiful model of how to live and die, trusting fully and completely in Jesus Christ. This seems pretty foreign to us and for that, we should be thankful. But this is truth: Christians around the world deal with this kind of persecution every single day. We don't think about it much but over 360 million Christians around the world suffer persecution or discrimination for their faith in Jesus Christ. Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered in 2022, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed. Most of us have seen the horrors that Christians in Nigeria are currently experiencing. For other Christians, it means being denied economic opportunities or simply living under the threat of violence. American Christians talk of persecution, but that is what real persecution looks like. It's not being made fun of or worrying about offending someone, it's risking all for Jesus. Every year Open Doors USA releases its World Watch report of the 50 states most likely to punish Christians for their faith. Last year 11 nations were guilty of "extreme persecution." Afghanistan took the top spot this year. It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed. North Korea is next, as Kim Jung-un wages a war against any foreign influences. Then, we have countries like Somalia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. On this Thanksgiving Day, let's give thanks for our ability to worship freely without fear of persecution. But let' also give thanks for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are staying faithful no matter what. We pray for their safety, but also their perseverance, resilience, and faithfulness. May we have even but a small amount of their courage and strength. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Please know, I am grateful for everyone of you and count you all among my blessings. Pastor Vicki
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
Fr. Mike reflects on Stephen's heroic martyrdom and points out how those around him refused to hear him and hardened their hearts, something we too can do with the Word of God. In the book of Romans, Fr. Mike also highlights the importance of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, responding to the call to love and to not be conformed to this world, and remembering that Christians have been grafted onto the tree of Israel. Today we read Acts 7, Romans 11-12, and Proverbs 27:13-14. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Acts7-9 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - Image: Gate - Article: No, ‘Saul the Persecutor' Did Not Become ‘Paul the Apostle' - Article: Forbidden Chapter of the Tanakh - Video: The Forbidden Chapter: Isaiah 53 in the Hebrew Bible Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store - Credits PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.
We can learn so much from the fearlessness of Stephen as he preached to and was ultimately stoned to death by the Sanhedrin. His ministry was short, but God used him in a powerful way. In this message called, CUT TO THE QUICK, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares four lessons from the ministry of Stephen that will help us to be strong and courageous in our faith. This message is from the series, STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
Reading by Deborah Volosin --- Acts 7-8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207-8&version=ESV&interface=print
Pastor Joe's Sunday morning sermon entitled, “Two Stories”. This sermon covers Acts 7:1-53.To learn more about CCPV, visit us on our…Website: www.ccpomonavalley.comInstagram: @calvarychapelpomonavalleyFacebook: @ccpomonavalleyYouTube: @CalvaryChapelPomonaValleyFind us on the Church Center App!
Day 322: Acts 7-8✝️Daily Scripture: Chronological Bible Readings (KJV)The complete King James Bible in a year, in chronological order. Read by C Levi Farrell.This podcast is free, and ad-free. To support its creator or purchase lossless CD-quality audio, visit CLeviFarrell.comChapters:(00:00) Acts 7(08:08) Acts 8
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit, and we can learn so much from his fearlessness as he preached to and was ultimately stoned to death by the Sanhedrin. He didn't have a long ministry, but God used him in a powerful way. In this message, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares four lessons from the ministry of Stephen that will help us to be strong and courageous in our faith. It's called, CUT TO THE QUICK and it's from the series, STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
"Book Of Acts: 7 & 8" Pastor Wayne Gann 11.16.25
STEPHEN SEES THE MASTER (Acts 7:38 to 60) As we go through this lesson today, I want you to think about what your faith is in. Is it in God, or in the religious traditions, buildings, and ceremonies that we have created and become accustomed to. Do you know how you can tell what your faith is in? Let me ask you a series of questions. First, why did you choose the church that you are attending? Was it because of a particular pastor or staff member? You like their style of preaching, or they moved to another church, and you followed them. Was it because of the denomination, or lack of denomination, of the church? You wanted to be in a Methodist church, a Baptist church, or an Assembly of God church. Maybe you didn't want to be part of any denomination? Was it the building that you worship in? Is it a beautiful building, or simply functional? Was it because of the type of music that is sung, hymns or more contemporary music? Do you claim that you can't worship God unless you get to sing the type of songs that you like? Was it because you read the statement of faith of that church and agreed with it? How many of you read the statement of faith of your church before you joined? Was it because of how the church is organized and structured? Is it a pastor led church, or an elder/deacon board led church? Did you read the By-Laws of the church to learn about the organization? Understand that I am not saying these things are not important, because they are. They can certainly be a guide to what God's will is not. I mean, why would you join church that did not follow God's Word. But, they should never be the reason for choosing a church to worship God in, and they are not what your faith should be in. You should always choose a church because God led you to it. You should always join a church because He called you to serve in that church. Your faith is in God, it is in the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ, whose blood purchased your salvation and is now sitting on the right hand of God. If you follow God's leading, then all of those other things will fall in line because God would never lead you to a church that was not following, teaching, and preaching, God's Word. That was the very problem of the Jews that Stephen is preaching to. They chose the traditions of their childhood over the God that had chosen them. They chose to worship man-made things, like the Temple and it's rituals, rather than God. Click on the link below to hear a message on who your faith should be in. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.
New Life Haverhill
Enjoy our morning devotion from our daily Bible reading. Today's Bible reading is found in the title of each morning's devotional.
THE REJECTION OF MOSES (Acts 7:17 to 38) Last week we studied how Stephen, who was one of the seven men chosen as a servant to meet the needs of the church, has been arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin realized that it would take more than threats and beatings to stop the growth of the new church, and it was Stephen that became the target of a well-planned, Satan led, attack. They began by sending out religious experts from the various synagogues to debate with Stephen. Yet Stephen, full of the power of the Holy Spirit, defeated them handily with their own Scriptures. In today's lesson, Stephen will use the story of Moses to reiterate the lost condition of the Jewish nation. Stephen will describe how Moses, as a God chosen savior, was rejected by Israel when they were mired in slavery. As a result of this rejection, Israel was forced to suffer 40 more years of persecution, only to have the very same rejected savior return to deliver them and rule over them. The Holy Spirit is using Stephen to make one last attempt at a national confession of sin and repentance for their rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Stephen has seen the judgment that is coming to Israel, and he is offering God's plan of salvation to them. A plan that they will reject. Click on the link below to hear a message on the parallels between the rejection of Moses and Jesus. The Scripture tells us that Moses returned as a deliverer to free the Hebrews from the Egyptian captivity. And it was Moses that prophesied that Jesus would be just such a Savior that would come to deliver the Hebrews from the persecution of the Romans. Moses declared that they would hear the Messiah. Stephen declares that they heard Him, then they rejected Him. Yet, they were not finished with Jesus. The day will come that the Son of the Almighty Living God, the name above all names, Jesus Christ, will demand that they hear Him, and they will. Israel is a called out group. They were called out of Egypt, by God, for a particular purpose. Israel was a called out group that was supernaturally gathered around the Lord, who took His place in their midst. The threefold movement in the redemption of Israel was similar to ours. God put His people under the blood, brought them out through the water, and baptized them in the cloud and in the sea, and gathered them around the table. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.
Acts 7 demonstrates through Stephen's final sermon that mature faith sees beyond immediate circumstances to God's eternal purposes, recognizing that spiritual blindness has always opposed God's work. Stephen faced his accusers not with self-defense but with biblical truth, showing how Israel repeatedly rejected God's messengers—from Joseph to Moses to Jesus. His prayer for his murderers while being stoned reveals the ultimate mark of Stephen-like faith: supernatural love that forgives even as stones fly.
"How does Stephen's speech point to Jesus? In today's episode, Emma Dotter talks about Acts 7-8 and how Stephen's message recounts the faith of those in Israel's history who were rejected by God's people, similarly to Jesus. You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"
In this powerful message from Everyday Mission, we look at the life and death of Stephen in Acts 6:8–7:60 and see what it truly means to live on mission for Jesus. Stephen's courage, conviction, and compassion weren't fueled by self-confidence—but by being emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit. His bold witness before opposition and his forgiveness in the face of death point us to Jesus, the One who empowers us to live and love beyond our own strength. Everyday mission isn't about being impressive—it's about being available for the Spirit to work through us.For more information about Integrity Church, visit our website, http://liveintegritychurch.org Connect with us on social media throughout the week to stay up to date on events and things happening at Integrity! Instagram: @integrity_church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveintegrity/
Stephen is stoned as the church starts to look more like Jesus. Persecution ramps up everywhere. And Philip preaches the gospel in Samaria. Have a listen. Show Notes: · Support 1517 Podcast Network · 1517 Podcasts · 1517 on Youtube · 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts · 1517 Events Schedule · 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: · Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird · Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales · Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug · The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts: · Daniel Emery Price · Erick Sorenson
Lord, Open My Lips is a daily devotional produced by Fr. Josh Fink and John Caddell in association with All Souls Church in Lexington, South Carolina. New devotionals are available every day. More information can be found at allsoulslex.org/dailyprayer.Original music is composed and recorded by John Caddell. Our liturgy is based on "Family Prayer" from the Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Lord, Open My Lips is a daily devotional produced by Fr. Josh Fink and John Caddell in association with All Souls Church in Lexington, South Carolina. New devotionals are available every day. More information can be found at allsoulslex.org/dailyprayer.Original music is composed and recorded by John Caddell. Our liturgy is based on "Family Prayer" from the Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Stephen's words highlight the words of Jesus that WHERE we worship is not important; true worshippers must worship in "spirit and truth" wherever they are: John 4 verses 21-24. Once again their persistent hard heartedness and their resistance to God had been evidenced in their crucifixion of God's Holy Son. At this point the hostile audience gnash - grind their teeth in anger - upon Stephen and drawing him outside the city to stone him. In his dying moment Stephen is granted a vision of the Son of Man, from Daniel 7 returning to set up his kingdom. He prays for their forgiveness - but omits Jesus' words that 'they knew not what they were doing'. Stephen asks that the spirit of his testimony be received as a witness of his life.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
In Stephen's speech before the Jewish Council, he gave a master class on the meaning of Old Testament history, which culminated in Jesus.
Through the ESV New Testament in 90 Days with David Cochran Heath
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Acts7-9 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
Stephen's Testimony Before the Sanhedrin Part 3 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
Stephen's Testimony Before the Sanhedrin Part 2 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
Stephen's Testimony Before the Sanhedrin Part 1 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
The Jewish leaders make some accusations against Stephen at the end of Acts 6. Oftentimes, Stephen's words in Acts 7 are seen as simply a historical recounting of the nation of Israel, but what if his words are designed to respond directly to the accusations?
Stephen's Testimony Before the Sanhedrin Part 3 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
Stephen's Testimony Before the Sanhedrin Part 2 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
God saves all kinds of people, even people we don't expect! Acts 10 helps us examine our own lives and possible ways that our beliefs may be too self-focused. We will not just look at a shift that God wants us to make, but how that shift could begin to play out practically for each of us.
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Isaiah8–9;Psalm84;Acts7 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org