Session 9: Stephen, an ordinary hero

Session 9: Stephen, an ordinary hero

What makes an ordinary person extraordinary? This powerful exploration of Stephen's story reveals that the answer lies not in our abilities, but in our surrender to the Holy Spirit. We discover Stephen as one of seven men chosen to serve tables—a seemingly menial task that required extraordinary qualifications: being full of the Spirit, full of wisdom, and of good reputation. This challenges our modern tendency to categorize tasks as 'important' or 'unimportant,' reminding us that everything we do for the Lord matters. Stephen's journey from table server to the first Christian martyr demonstrates that God's greatest work happens through ordinary people who are fully surrendered. His final moments—seeing heaven opened, Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and forgiving those who stoned him—weren't just a beautiful ending, but a fruitful death that impacted a young man named Saul, whose coats lay at his feet. That same Saul would become Paul, the author of most of the New Testament. We're reminded that as long as we have breath in our lungs, God has a purpose for us. Our lives aren't our own—we're prisoners of the Lord, called to surrender daily, to be His 'paint roller' used however He chooses, then discarded when the work is done.