My Help Comes From You
Read more
Friday Prayer: Stephen's Courage
Father, Stephen served tables and then gave his life. He performed miracles and was killed for it. He spoke truth and died for it. As stones struck him, he prayed for forgiveness. As life left him, he asked you to receive his spirit. He died like Jesus - full of grace, speaking truth, forg
Friday Read: Stephen - The First Martyr
Stephen was one of the seven deacons chosen to serve tables and care for widows. But Acts 6:8 reveals he did much more: "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Serving widows didn't limit his ministry - it launched it. Faithfu
Thursday Prayer: Called to Serve
Father, the early church created deacons - Spirit-filled, wise people who served widows, managed food distribution, and handled practical needs. This wasn't lesser ministry but essential service requiring godly character. Stephen and Philip served tables before performing miracles and prea
Thursday Read: The Deacons - Serving in Practical Ways
As the church grew rapidly after Pentecost, problems emerged. Acts 6:1 records: "The Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food." The church had grown from 120 to over 5,000 believers (Acts 4: