In this sermon, Pastor Ben Pantoja presents the life of Stephen from Acts 6-7 as a powerful parallel to the life of Jesus Christ. He explores Stephen’s example of living a short, spirit-filled life that remains impactful today. The sermon is organized around three main “nuggets” of wisdom:

• A spirit-filled life draws attention and contention: Stephen was a powerful “attention-getter” who was full of grace and power. The pastor emphasizes that when one lives for Jesus, they will inevitably face opposition or contention, much like Stephen did when he was falsely accused and brought before the council. (3:55–18:37)
• Truth-telling stories reveal the real issue: As a student of the word, Stephen challenged the Jewish leaders by pointing out their resistance to the Holy Spirit. The pastor introduces the term theophony—an appearance of God to humanity—to explain how God manifests in our lives today, not just in grand events, but through the small, daily ways He interacts with us. (18:39–31:44)
• The present power of God in life means death to self: Stephen was ultimately killed for his faith, but the focus remains on his reaction to his attackers. Even while being stoned, he displayed the grace of Christ by asking for forgiveness for his murderers. The pastor calls this “death to self,” urging the congregation to live in total surrender to Jesus. (31:47–39:54)

Ultimately, Pastor Pantoja challenges the congregation to live their lives without apology, consistently demonstrating that Jesus. The sermon concludes by reminding the audience that they are called to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Christ, living by faith in the Son of God. (43:35)