Point one: The truth of the Gospel will offend religious and cultural systems.

Point two: The Holy Spirit enables us to stand for the truth of the gospel.

Point three: Standing up for the Gospel is costly.

World Watch List: Nations where Christians are facing most extreme persecution

  1. North Korea

  2. Somalia

  3. Libya

  4. Eritrea

  5. Yemen

  6. Nigeria

  7. Pakistan

  8. Sudan

  9. Iran

  10. Afghanistan

  11. India

Discussion Questions:

Watch the past message, then choose questions to discuss with your Growth Group.

  1. What was something that stood out to you from this past Sunday’s message? Share what you learned and how it will impact your life.

  2. Have you ever felt uncomfortable or out of place because of your faith? What was that like, and what did you learn from it?

  3. In Acts 7:51-54, Stephen calls out the religious leaders for resisting the Holy Spirit. Why do you think some people struggle with accepting the truth of the Gospel?

  4. In 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, Paul says that Christ crucified is "nonsense" to some people. Why do you think the message of Jesus can be hard to accept in today’s culture?

  5. Stephen faced false accusations and was stoned for his faith. What are some challenges or risks you might face when standing up for the Gospel?

  6. Acts 6:8-10 highlights Stephen’s boldness and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. Can you think of a time when you felt God helped you speak up with boldness? How did that experience affect you?

  7. In Acts 7:55-56, Stephen saw Jesus in heaven and received strength to stand firm. When you’re faced with difficult situations, what gives you the strength to stay true to your beliefs?

  8. In light of Stephen’s experience, what does it mean to you personally that “standing up for the Gospel is costly”? How do you feel about taking that kind of stand?

  9. Thinking of the list of persecuted countries, why do you think persecution still happens today? How can you support the global church?

  10. After reflecting on Stephen’s faith and courage, what is one specific way you feel called to stand up for the Gospel in your own life?