Keep Your Eyes on Jesus (A Sermon on Stephen's Stoning)

Рет қаралды 7,817

Күн бұрын

This is a sermon on the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. Stephen gives us a model for how to respond to persecution.
Truth Unites is a mixture of apologetics and theology, with an irenic focus.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.
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00:00 - The Glory of Suffering for Christ
03:02 - Every Christian Will Suffer
07:07 - Don't Be Ashamed of Suffering!
10:10 - Feedback + Book Recommendation
12:12 - Scripture and Sermon Structure
13:46 - 1) Remember It's Not About You
28:02 - 2) Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
40:51 - Conclusion

Пікірлер: 133

@ElijahBRogers Жыл бұрын

I really appreciate the devotional videos alongside the more academic videos. It gives a breath of fresh air, like cracking open a window and feeling the breeze. Reminds me that we're here to worship Jesus. Love your work, cannot express my gratitude enough.

@katherinearons6943 6 ай бұрын

I agree!

@joshtraylor4891 Жыл бұрын

Gavin, to answer your question about this being valuable. This is absolutely valuable. I find that sometimes I just want to step away from the deep dives into historical theology and hear something that is extremely rich in devotion. I am just as interested in your Pastoral ministry as I am your Theology and Apologetics ministry. Thank you for your Puritan Spirit. I have been listening to your sermons on your church's website for the past couple of months and God has blessed me with so much encouragement. Bless you brother.

@commencater Жыл бұрын

I haven't watched this video yet, but I agree with this comment.

@brendangolledge8312 Жыл бұрын

I didn't know that I could listen to his regular sermons. What website did you find his sermons on?

@katherinearons6943 6 ай бұрын

Yes definitely!

@Lisa-xp6yg Жыл бұрын

Yes, please continue these sermons/devotionals. There are so many confusing and conflicting voices. Even in the church.

@aaronbarkley539 Жыл бұрын

My first ever sermon was on Stephen’s stoning, it was just something that really convicted me, fast forward a few months after and because of that sermon I became the children’s pastor at my church.

@TruthUnites Жыл бұрын

wow, cool!

@stevenyoung3752 Жыл бұрын

As a Steven, I've always loved the story of my namesake

@myselfpoker88 Жыл бұрын

Dr Ortlund, I value you and the work that you are doing. Please continue to do more sermons like this. I would love to see you interview other faithful conservative bible-believing protestants from different traditions, example, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Independent Baptist, Lutheran and everything in between, mainly focusing on the common faith we share as regenerated saints, (the same gospel etc) but also looking at secondary doctrine which we differ. God bless you from Australia.

@stevensmith-ef5sk Жыл бұрын

Sometimes if we just stop and relax, we'll realize that our bad encounter is a service medal from God. Great sermon. I'd like to listen to more from you.

@suswik3682 Жыл бұрын

A good "alert" against cults is to be aware of how the leaders are paranoid and elaberate on how they were and are persecuted. They are truely not at all persecuted. I love the way you divide up the teaching and I think this is a very timely subject. We have been so comfortable and used to freedoms many Christians do not have. It kept the early church more pure in respect to the apostles. Thank you for explaining this.

@kgebhardt1187 3 ай бұрын

May God bless you, protect you, and guide you, Mr. Ortland. All glory to God ❤✝

@miltrol3d77 Жыл бұрын

Please do upload more sermons/reflections.

@suswik3682 Жыл бұрын

Oh..watery eyes as I saw the title of this video. Amazingly described in the Bible.

@HiHoSilvey Жыл бұрын

When you mentioned Jesus standing during the stoning of Stephen, I think of Jesus standing with us during great affliction. I am reminded of Psalm 23. Jesus, the good shepherd, goes out ahead of us, but when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, and we can’t see our way forward, he drops back and walks side-by-side with us. He is standing with us during those times.

@Athabrose Жыл бұрын

This was great, very edifying. Thanks Dr. Ortlund.

@katherinearons6943 6 ай бұрын

I am SO blessed by your devotional videos. Please continue them.

@fairhavenmusicministry Жыл бұрын

This was beautiful and so encouraging. Since I was a young girl, I always examined my life and felt..Do I love Jesus so deeply that I would be ready to even face persecution. Truly blessed sermon. May the Lord help us grow in His love and live and die in Him. Regards from Bangalore, India

@bonivermectin4087 Жыл бұрын

I'm not being stoned any time soon (God willing), but this is very timely 😅

@debrahunter5432 Жыл бұрын

I thoroughly enjoyed the sermon. My heart thirsts for biblical knowledge in any format . God bless your channel.

@Legolukify Жыл бұрын

More like this please! Fantastic sermon

@joeytso8734 Жыл бұрын

I love these devotionals. I listen to them during my workout always learn so mich

@jgiaq Жыл бұрын

Please keep posting sermons/devotional materials! I love it. Thank you 🙏

@HERObyPROXY Жыл бұрын

I recognise that Good Will Hunting reference 😉😄

@suswik3682 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful film dialogue in many scenes. Very moving.

@triplea6174 Жыл бұрын

Need to rewatch it

@sunnykim800 Жыл бұрын

Thank you yes, please more devotional, sermons

@IrishIronArmalite Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much brother. This was exactly what I needed. The Holy Spirit moved me to such a well of gratitude, joy, peace, and reverence for the work of our Lord Jesus, and the hoy of being with Him. Lately all I can think about is the New Kingdom and the reign of Christ. God bless you my brother. I look forward to seeing you, this side or the other.

@joshtraylor4891 Жыл бұрын

When you talked about it being an honor to go out as a martyr for Christ... I'm just not there yet. God has grown me so much in the past few years, and I do think I'm much closer to that than I was even a year ago, but I just can't imagine saying that, especially with a wife and a brand new baby at home... I want to be there, but I'm just not yet Gavin.

@Young_Anglican Жыл бұрын

I love the sermon videos! Would be cool if you did more

@artyomborsch3729 Жыл бұрын

Sermons are great , also I love the history of Protestant church it helped me answer question and kept me from going orthodox I've learned so much

@triplea6174 Жыл бұрын

Nice same here. Still interested in orthodoxy but taking a slow pace of digesting the history before making any jumps.

@michael7144 Жыл бұрын

I really like this

@tategarrett3042 Жыл бұрын

I think that videos like this are a wonderful and necessary part of your channel. Certainly your dialogues, debates, and discussions about doctrinal issues are valuable and fascinating, but having simple heartfelt sermons, and your videos on things like Angelic Fall Theodicy, and other subjects, brings the other half of the Truth that unites us into the picture. It makes your channel very different from many of the others that I see, which are filled only with all-caps REBUTTED videos, doctrinal challenges, and the like. Doing a sermon video like this every so often - weekly, monthly, or however often you choose - adds a real beauty and wonder to the channel that balances the apologetics videos you make quite well.

@eliburges-short2952 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant! And so timely, I'm teaching through the book of Acts too at the moment, at the youth level, and we literally just reached this passage - you've given me much to digest when considering how I will teach this chapter.

@CristianCo.9 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. I’ve been struggling with multiple things. Especially fear of being in the wrong tradition. This helped me remember to put Christ above all. I like content like this.

@Janice060813 4 ай бұрын

I love both types of videos;I can't express my gratitude enough for them.

@jonathanboynton2481 Жыл бұрын

Yes. These types of videos are a blessing!

@user-ji1oy4np8r Жыл бұрын

I think any content where you can say the church regardless of denomination could agree we all need to improve on like this topic of Steven is and will continue to be of great importance. Keep up the good work brother.

@eBibleCommentary Жыл бұрын

Doing the sermons is great!

@ChadGrindstaff Жыл бұрын

God bless you

@darthbanana7 Жыл бұрын

this is incredibly valuable gavin

@ShamgarSoA Жыл бұрын

I just recently read the martyrdom of perpetua and felicity. Brought me to tears. Definitely worth checking out!

@it.matters.alot.okayyy Жыл бұрын

I like this. Thank you. 🙏

@TbnrCJ Жыл бұрын

Very edifying, would love more of these. This was very encouraging to me

@princechukwuemeka2639 Жыл бұрын

I would greatly appreciate more content like this. Thank you for being a blessing

@jimamberg9467 Жыл бұрын

I liked this a lot! It was reading the stoning of Stephen years ago that lead me to giving my life to God. More sermons, please!

@maryloumcdonough3133 Жыл бұрын

The time I listened is12:30 PST. I enjoyed it very much. I was especially blessed at your admonition to keep our eyes on the Lord. I agree there is nothing more valuable. Let us petition the Blessed Holy Spirit to remind us, inspire us and teach us how to do this. Another subject: I am in the middle of your book, "Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn't " Finding it to be mind expanding and delightful. Thanks for your dedication to Truth. May He continue to open up new vista's of Glory to us all. Love and prayers.

@mlj6293 Жыл бұрын

Yes. I loved it. I vote for more of these type videos. thank you

@emmaevangelista3216 Жыл бұрын

Yes please. More sermons :)!!

@johannagarcia9598 Жыл бұрын

Wow! What a blessing. Thank you so much Dr. Ortlund. Would love it if you could share more videos like this. Extremely edifying.

@makeda6530 Жыл бұрын

Yes, I love these! I’m usually just smiling and nodding with a lot of your other videos but I do enjoy those. I always get so sad thinking of Steven so this was very helpful for me, bless you!

@amfm4087 Жыл бұрын

More of these kinds of videos!

@duketta 4 ай бұрын

I love this sermon! 🙏🙏💖💖

@O.Z.13 Жыл бұрын

Saying this video added value to my life is a crazy understatement. This is borderline life changing. Thank you Gavin. Thank you Lord for videos like this!

@TruthUnites Жыл бұрын

so glad to hear that!

@twoshea749 Жыл бұрын

I have a feeling we are right on the edge of the worst persecution ever - it’s that sinking feeling we all have watching the world even though we know that the Christ is coming - we know what that means in between

@sherir6335 Жыл бұрын

I definitely see more devotional videos as valuable. I have often not had the mental capacity for listening to deep theological discussions for various reasons and often feel the need to take breaks from trying to figure everything out, but devotional-type things like this help me to rest and also remember what the core reason I keep moving forward is. Thank you for this video, I am not under any type of persecution right now but I need the reminder anyway, because it's too easy to lose focus whether persecuted or not.

@cleob9956 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this, Gavin! It is so encouraging and helpful!

@Daniel_Miller300 Жыл бұрын

Could you do a video on how sola gratia/sola fide was being preached before the Reformation? There's such a lack of information on this.

@teamhren1000 Жыл бұрын

Yes please, more of these.

@kevinberry9981 Жыл бұрын

I would look forward to, and be grateful for any homiletic offering you have, but I can’t ask you to give more.

@RayvenFE Жыл бұрын

I love the sermons! Keep them coming.

@natebozeman4510 Жыл бұрын

Loved this, Dr. Ortlund. You truly have a pastoral gift. And it's definitely valuable to us all.

@samcummings261 Жыл бұрын

Definitely… DEFINITELY do more videos like this!!! Great, encouraging, stuff!

@ryangahman4998 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, brother.

@correodenegocio Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I will definitely watch videos like this from you. All the best from Masaya, Nicaragua.

@nathananderson7111 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, God bless

@kale6264 Жыл бұрын

Yes pls continue these

@anonymouslyanonymous3037 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this sermon. At first i thought of a former pastor, who thought being held accountable for false teaching was persecution. But im glad i listened to the whole thing. Looking at Jesus.... Especially because i need to forgive. Nothing like perspective given by the word of God.

@paulh262 Жыл бұрын

Love the sermons, better than the philosophical arguments.

@TrevorJamesMusic Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this. God bless you, brother.

@Parks179-h 17 күн бұрын

Thankful for you, Brother.

@tiffanylopez6072 Жыл бұрын

More sermons/practical application please !

@ISayToMyself 28 күн бұрын

Pastor Ortlund, thank you!! I really needed to hear something practical but dealing with persecution. This was it. Very helpful.

@jrrgotmemes8835 Жыл бұрын

Love this format of sermon-like videos Gavin. ❤ very edifying.

@mrhandman4543 Жыл бұрын

Please do more of this brother ❤

@shirleylee2885 Жыл бұрын

Thank God that I found your channel from Mr Cook.

@NovellaFranca Жыл бұрын

These are great 👍

@marianhreads Жыл бұрын

37:25 This hymn came to mind, so cool you quoted it here! This topic has been on my heart, so I'm so grateful you shared this sermon. The nuance about what persecution is and ways to test situations were really helpful. But I am most encouraged by the call to focus on Jesus. Social pressure feels overwhelming at times, but life here is temporary and life with Him is forever.

@justinsankar1164 Жыл бұрын

Hey i actually was introduced to Gavin Ortlund proper through your book recommendation vid, thanks!

@michaelduplessis413 3 ай бұрын

Gavin I appreciate these so much, I wish u did more of this

@kale6264 Жыл бұрын

I recently discovered this channel and it has blessed me so much, thank you

@TruthUnites Жыл бұрын

So glad!

@siddharthabanerjee6155 Жыл бұрын

I've been watching your channel for quite some time now, but this is my first time watching a sermon of yours, and I must say, this was really, really good. I highly encourage you to continue making videos of this sort.

@adam7402 Жыл бұрын

Good will hunting, great movie

@BillyBob-sm3ku Жыл бұрын

These are awesome, would love to see more of these types of videos

@marksutherland4067 Жыл бұрын

Very blessed by all your videos Pastor, and these devotionals/sermons are valuable and a blessing. Thanks for your ministry 🙏

@ottovandyk Жыл бұрын

Felt some of Jesus in that sermon from you Gavin. Would really appreciate more of this content as well.

@reepicheepsfriend Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing!!

@godsgirl0019 Жыл бұрын

I LOVE this!!! Please do more of these!

@heatherknox3463 Жыл бұрын

Keep these type videos going- very edifying!

@wandacrowell6766 Жыл бұрын

I have been in a group of people and been mocked for my faith and that I’m active in my church. I ignored the comments and acted like I didn’t hear them.

@andrekershaw6244 Жыл бұрын

One-word reaction to this video: nourishing. This kind of expository and devotional preaching is so valuable, in addition to the more scholarly apologetic content you do. Its effect on my soul is akin to one of my favourite videos from your archive: the one on the intercession of Christ. Perhaps that one exemplifies a good middle-ground type of content as well: digging into Scripture and Church history for devotional, rather than primarily apologetic, purposes.

@TheNinjaInConverse Жыл бұрын

This is very valuable- I enjoy your pastoral engagement. You are very good at being personable on KZfaq.

@bridgettbalie 10 ай бұрын

Love the sermons! Please do more

@th-bi2vb Жыл бұрын

Yes please continue!

@davidjante1562 Жыл бұрын

So helpful!

@MontoyaBrandy Жыл бұрын

I love this! So edifying!

@TheRealQuartKnee Жыл бұрын

I found your channel via the interview you did with Redeemed Zoomer. This was the first video I clicked on, and it’s been absolutely fruitful and valuable ♥️ hope that helps!!

@TruthUnites Жыл бұрын

glad to be connected, thanks for the feedback.

@HearGodsWord Жыл бұрын

Possibly Gavin's best video. Have also listened to videos from Dane, Eric and Ray Ortlund in the last 24 hours...not deliberatey, but maybe thats the wonder of algorithms? Either way, keep speaking truth 💪

@danielsoriano1496 Жыл бұрын

Yes! Please continue with devos

@leod5609 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Gavin

@jaimeur5305 Жыл бұрын

Continue please

@jarednel Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this, Gavin. 💯😉 I think doing more of these is a great idea, as long as it doesn't detract from your primary content and main focus for this channel. ⚖️ Blessings! 👑

@johnmartin9477 Жыл бұрын

Amen Glory To God, I really enjoyed this sermon.

@caroldonaldson5936 Жыл бұрын

This was super and I'd love to hear more teaching on actual sermons - this one was challenging, encouraging & memorable - more please! Also would you still consider writing books for the lay person like myself? I think I recall you mentioning it was a possibility a while back?🙏❤️

@gabrielmartinez1036 Жыл бұрын

This is one of your best videos so far, i really see God working through you. About if this is valuable to us, i think yes, this kind of sermons are great to hear, i think if possible you should do more like this in the future. One topic i would like is marriage and family, since lately i started dating first time, so i think a biblical advice would help me and thers, and also bringing some church fathers too.

@HectorTheGr8 Жыл бұрын

This is of great value to me, and I’m sure to others. Yes, I do enjoy your other videos, but I also would love more of these too. Can we have our cake and eat it too? 😊