YouVersion

I wonder, at this time, how much all these people mixed together. So did people from the synogogue for Freedmen visit and listen to Stephen? They nust have done for them to be offended, or maybe he visited them in their synagogue? And how much did they regard themselves as being part of a broader group? Perhaps what Peter and co. did and taught was seen as a radical new sect of Judaism? Stephen's miracles offended. In our church a friend of mine who helps to lead children's work was described as 'away with the fairies' during worship and singing in Unite prayer meeting by another leader who wasn't feeling this way. I know what he means, because, she has been with me to regional meetings held on the North West coast near Blackpool, summer 08, where they regularly experience the Holy Spirit in a different way to us at our church - there are manifestations, healings, etc. The guy who commented, his wife came with us once and found it shocking. So they have questions sometimes, are open at other times, critical at other times - and that's just people within the church!. I remember it was hard for me seeing other people experience the Holy Spirit so emotionally - it is like watching two people first in love who cannot keep their hands off each other - and they want you to share their joy and you just can't - it seems offensive! And Stephen is offensive here ! So my question would be, what was Stephen's journey like? What should our journey be like. I have offended by defending our experiences, but, what I really need to do is offend by being and doing - like this girl leader, my friend. So what we see here is the church had become focussed on internal maintenance - a genuine problem however that needed solving - the new men however, shifted the focus back to external mission again . . .indicated by new offense . .though this can be indicated by joy, eg Philip in Samaria, or by persecution, eg immediately following Stephens mob execution
Principles in " "
"Mission must be prime focus". It seems the early church went quiet for a bit whilst it had internal quarrels over provision to it's members. This was sorted by organising the appropriately gifted people (full of Holy Spirit, good character, gifts lined up to given task), therefore, we need "pastoral care" with "appropriately gifted people"

We see mission restored through the freeing up of apostles to do their work, "ministering the word".

"Appoint new people"
"Laying on of hands", for commisioning. for power, for healing