Stephen's Sermon, Part 2

Aim: To persevere through this world through our faith in Christ.

Doctrine: Life in the church covenant on earth has both its lows, and its highs. This reflects the fact that believers are crucified with Jesus, and (later) are risen with Him; this teaches us dependence, and the need to be grateful.

Exegesis: Appreciating the church's downs, and ups: God redeems His beleaguered people (vv. 9-10); God feeds His bedraggled people (vv. 11-14); God quickens His deceased people (vv. 15-16).

Further application: Why today's text is such a comfort to the church: because in Jesus we already possess all God's promises (by faith), and we know that we always triumph in Christ (by faith).

Key verses: vv. 9-10 ''And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles...''