Acts 7

Reliance is meeting together bi weekly to study through Acts and discuss any thing else pertinent to the church. 

Acts chapter 7.... Stephen was a mighty man of God, brave and steadfast in his faith.....

So most of the chapter is Stephen speaking to the Sanhedrin, they had brought him in on charges, but he defended himself by reminding them of their history,  from Abraham to Jesus, trying to convince them that God indeed lives outside the temple. That God was made manifest through his Son, Jesus Christ.  Of course in the end, they rejected the promise and stoned Stephen to death. Our concentration today though is on Stephen's faith. 
              

..........So how does this apply to a church plant

God used Stephen. He shared with the Sanhedrin regardless of the repercussions. Ok in reality, we are probably not gonna be stoned today in the great USA... but how far are you willing to go to share the truth? Are you ready to be ridiculed, to be labeled a Jesus Freak? Are you willing to be shunned by you co-workers or even your own family because you shared Jesus? Stephen knew the one thing that mattered was God, he knew his own life was at risk but he continued, he continued with the truth. Are you ready to share the truth? Not that you are gonna push Jesus on people and just blatantly condemn people but when you are truly living for God, it is evident in your life and others will see it and you will be ridiculed and persecuted in a sense.... Are you ready for this? Stephen just put the truth out there and he was stoned to death for speaking the truth. 
Reliance wants God to use us wherever we are...Mold us into the servants HE wants us to be. Wiling and ready to be poured out and emptied for his service !!!!