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One reason why reading the book of Acts is so important, is because it's a reminder of
something significant. We read Acts and we can hear, maybe ever so faintly hear, this call that echoes down through the centuries... "There is a cause, there is a story being written that is worthy of your life."

As I read the ending of Stephen's story, I realize that as the stones of hardship, suffering, perhaps even persecution come raining down on us, the most important question is, "Is it worth my life? If what happens to me is what happened to Stephen, would my last thoughts be, "God what a waste." Or would they be "God thank you for counting me worthy of suffering for Jesus?" Which leads to the question, "Is He worthy?" The life of Stephen cries out, "Yes."

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If I lay it all on the line, God’s gonna waste my life. That's the thought that comes to mind when I read Stephen's sermon in Acts 7. Sure Stephen was filled with passionate courage and preached it straight to the Jewish religious leaders. But then look at what happened. And we think, "If I say yes to God, he's going to send me to the last place in the world that I'd ever want to go and then make me do the last thing in the world that I'd ever want to do for the last person in the world that I would ever want to know. And then he's going to have me die penniless; friendless and obscure." Like God is just waiting us to say yes so that He can consume, ruin and waste our lives.

But here's what I believe, "He's your Father, Father God, and if He is waiting for anything, He simply waits for us to say yes to the incredible destiny of someone who is a child of King. There is a cause...a story being written that is worthy of your life. It's the story of Christ.

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Acts chapter 6 is a turning point in our movement. Up until Acts 6, the only names you ever hear about is Peter and John, once in awhile James. Everyone else is part of a group, or just a number. But after Acts 6 it changes. After Acts 6, everyone has a mission. Ministry is handed off from a few leaders to everyone. In chapter 6, it's Stephen. He's preaching, healing, serving widows. In Acts 8, Philip becomes an evangelist. In chapter 9, Saul gets written into the story. Then it's Dorcas the seamstress, followed by Lydia the church planter, Priscilla the teacher, Philip's prophesying daughters and the list goes on and on.

Because that's what happens when the Spirit comes and fills up the followers of Christ.
Everyone has a part. The mission is placed in the hands and hearts of ordinary men and women who loved Jesus and were filled with His Spirit.