The Cost of Standing for Christ

Services

SUNDAY  9 AM CONTEMPORARY SERVICE  10:10 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL  11 AM TRADITIONAL SERVICE

by: Rev. Dennis Roebuck

09/12/2025

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Devotion September 12, 2025

By: Pastor Dennis

Acts 7:57-58 “57. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58. dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Stephen had just delivered an incredible speech, and the members of the Sanhedrin were deeply offended; so much so that they literally dragged him out of the city to stone him. Verse 58 says “They laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Then, after they had stoned him, vs. 60 says “And Saul approved of their killing him.”

What We Should Know

We get a glimpse of the dreaded “Saul of Tarsus” here before he was converted on the road to Damascus. I read a fictional story once, of a time when Paul spent time with Peter. In those early days of his conversion, most people avoided Paul because of his anti-Christian background. Yet, Peter took him under his wing. I remember Paul saying to Peter that, while he wanted to see Jesus when he gets to heaven, he would first like to see Stephen. 

            Just as Jesus gave His life to fulfill God’s will, so Stephen gave his and Paul was deeply moved as he said in Acts 22:20 “I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing Him.”  How far are we willing to go to stand up for our Lord? Thank God we don’t have to sacrifice our lives but how much are we willing to sacrifice? 

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Devotion September 12, 2025

By: Pastor Dennis

Acts 7:57-58 “57. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58. dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Stephen had just delivered an incredible speech, and the members of the Sanhedrin were deeply offended; so much so that they literally dragged him out of the city to stone him. Verse 58 says “They laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Then, after they had stoned him, vs. 60 says “And Saul approved of their killing him.”

What We Should Know

We get a glimpse of the dreaded “Saul of Tarsus” here before he was converted on the road to Damascus. I read a fictional story once, of a time when Paul spent time with Peter. In those early days of his conversion, most people avoided Paul because of his anti-Christian background. Yet, Peter took him under his wing. I remember Paul saying to Peter that, while he wanted to see Jesus when he gets to heaven, he would first like to see Stephen. 

            Just as Jesus gave His life to fulfill God’s will, so Stephen gave his and Paul was deeply moved as he said in Acts 22:20 “I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing Him.”  How far are we willing to go to stand up for our Lord? Thank God we don’t have to sacrifice our lives but how much are we willing to sacrifice? 

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Ginny Roebuck

This is such a meaningful description of genuine service and its requirement of sacrifice. That Paul would seek to find Stephen in Heaven and express his regret is very believable. Thank you for writing!!