Have you ever been told, “You’re just like your dad” or “You’re just like your mom?”
Sometimes it's appearance. Other times it's your laugh, your habits, or your personality. What they're really saying is: "There's a family resemblance."
And here’s the strong truth: the people you're with shape who you become.
And that’s really the invitation of our passage today. Turn in your Bibles to Acts 6.
We’re going to meet a man today named Stephen. And when we look at Stephen, we’re going to see someone full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith, and grace, and power…full of wisdom.
But more than anything else, we’re going to see a man who looks an awful lot like Jesus.
So today’s message is simply titled: BE LIKE STEPHEN.
Acts 6—ya there?.
Last week we saw the church choose seven spiritually mature men to care for overlooked widows. Stephen was one of them. From last week’s text—Acts 6:1-7—Stephen is serving people. Let’s pick up his story in v8.
READ Acts 6:8–15
Stephen is serving and doing some amazing thigns in the name of Jesus. And the religious leaders don’t like it. Big surprise!
So they stir up trouble, produce false witnesses, drag him before the Sanhedrin—the same religious court that condemned Jesus and threatened the apostles.
And right in the middle of that hostile room, everyone looks at Stephen and sees that his face is like the face of an angel.
Today I want us to notice six qualities in Stephen's life worth emulating—not because Stephen was extraordinary, but because he was full of the Holy Spirit. If we want to resemble Jesus, we'd do well to BE LIKE STEPHEN.
Quality #1:
BE FULL
Luke seems determined to make sure we understand what filled Stephen.
Acts 6:3 says he was full of the Spirit and wisdom.
v5 says he was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
v8 says he was full of God’s grace and power.
Faith. The Holy Spirit. Grace. Power. Wisdom.
Stephen was FULL.
You would know this—especially if you still have little ones running around—whatever fills a cup spills out when it’s bumped. The same is true of us—and life has a way of bumping us, doesn’t it?
Pressure. Conflict. Disappointment. Criticism. Difficult people and circumstances. They all bump us —and when they do, whatever fills us spills out: anger, fear, pride.
But when Stephen was bumped—when he was criticized, lied about, arrested, and threatened— faith, grace, power, and wisdom spilled out.
Why? Because Stephen wasn’t FULL of Stephen. He was FULL of the Holy Spirit.
And notice where we first meet him. When we first meet Stephen he’s helping ensure that overlooked widows receive proper care.
Ya see, before Luke shows Stephen preaching, he shows Stephen serving. The Holy Spirit didn’t fill Stephen to make him important, but to make him faithful—first in caring for widows and then in bearing public witness to Jesus. That’s what we need too.
We don't manufacture this fullness. Peter tells us in Acts 2 that God's Spirit is given to those who belong to Christ. And as we walk with Him day by day, the Spirit increasingly produces His fruit in us.
And so, #1—Be like Stephen. Be FULL.
The second quality we see in Stephen comes from v15:
Acts 6:15 says: All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
That’s a striking detail. Stephen is surrounded by rage and false accusations. His life is on the line. Yet something about him is visibly different—he carries a calm, radiant peace that stands out in that hostile room.
STEPHEN LOOKED DIFFERENT
Luke is likely reminding us of Moses. After Moses spent time in God’s presence on Mount Sinai, we read in Exodus 34 that his face literally shined—reflecting God’s glory. The people could see that he had been with God.
Now Stephen—accused of speaking against Moses—stands before the religious leaders with a face like an angel. The point is powerful: Stephen had been with God, and it showed.
Church, the world doesn’t need us to pretend life is always easy. The world needs to see that we have been with Jesus.
Practically speaking, we do that when we practice—what I call—Holy Habits: time in God's Word, prayer, worship, obedience, and daily surrender. It’s not a one-time event, but a daily yielding.
So Be like Stephen: spend time in God’s presence until it shows.
Quality #3 to emulate in Stephen:
KNOW THE STORY YOU’RE IN
As we move into Acts 7—we’ll read the longest sermon in the book of Acts—it’s v2-53.
We’re not going to read it all today, but in v1 we read that the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” And his response is“Brothers and fathers—listen to me!”
And what follows for the next 51 verses is Stephen walking these leaders through there own history —from Abraham, through Joseph and Moses, to David and Solomon.
But this isn’t just a history lesson. Stephen shows them the faithfulness of God throughout time. God who calls His people, stays with His people, delivers His people, gives His people His Word, and ultimately sends Jesus—the Righteous One—to save His people.
Yet, running through his message is a painful pattern: God sends His servants, and His people reject them. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. Moses was rejected by Israel. The prophets were persecuted. And now Jesus—the One this whole story has been pointing to—has been betrayed and murdered.
Stephen knows the story he’s a part of. He knows that Jesus is the One to whom the whole story has been pointing.
Do you?
Because if you don’t know the story you’re part of, you’ll start believing that your life is the story— that everything is about your success, your comfort, and your plans.
But—hear me—you’re not the main character in the story…neither am I.
Jesus is.
We have been invited into God’s story…and that changes the way we understand our circumstances.
Stephen was able to look at the angry crowd around him and know, This has happened before. God’s servants have been rejected before. But that never stopped His plan before…and it won’t now.
The same is true for us. Whatever we face, God is still writing His story. Jesus is still King. The Spirit is still at work. And the mission is still marching on.
So Be like Stephen. Know God’s Word. Know God’s story…and where you fit within it.
The 4th quality Stephen shows us is to:
SPEAK TRUTH IN HOPE OF REPENTANCE
Stephen brings his sermon to a close with some of the strongest words in the book of Acts. READ Acts 7:51–53
Yikes! You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.
Stephen doesn’t soften the truth. These leaders knew the Scriptures. They knew the Law. They honored the temple and talked about Moses. Yet—like their ancestors—they were resisting the Holy Spirit and rejecting the One God had sent.
But this is not Stephen lashing out in wounded pride. Before Luke records Stephen’s strong words, he tells us that Stephen was full of grace and full of the Holy Spirit. His words did not come from anger or superiority. He spoke the truth because they desperately needed to face it.
And that matters for us. When we speak the truth it should never be to win an argument, or embarrass someone, or put someone in their place. 2 Timothy 2:25 says that, Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.
The hope is repentance.
That's our goal too—not to win arguments but to see people repent. We can't change hearts, but we can faithfully speak the truth and trust the Holy Spirit to do what only He can.
So be like Stephen. Speak truth—in hope of repentance.
Now look at how the leaders respond to the truth.
READ Acts 7:54–56
Here’s #5—Be like Stephen—
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS
The religious leaders were furious. They gnash their teeth. Violence was about to erupt. But Stephen—Stephen looks up.
And what does he see?
The glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
A couple things to notice—first, don’t miss the contrast.
On earth, Stephen is being condemned by an unjust court. In heaven, Stephen sees the true Judge. On earth, people are lying about him. In heaven, Jesus knows the truth.
On earth, Stephen appears to be defeated. In heaven, Jesus is standing in victory.
And that’s another thing to notice. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is usually described as seated at the right hand of God. His saving work is complete. He is enthroned and ruling as King. But here—Jesus is standing.
It’s fun to think about why Jesus might be standing, but we don’t know. Scripture doesn’t tell us. Whatever the reason, one thing is unmistakable: Stephen is not alone.
It reminds me of the confidence Paul tells about in Romans 8:34: Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Stephen’s vision assures us that Jesus is not absent when His people suffer. He reigns, He intercedes, and He holds the final verdict. Stephen could face the rage around him because his eyes were fixed on the reality above him.
So where are your eyes?
If your eyes remain fixed on the anger, the fear, the division, the uncertainty around you—you’ll eventually be overwhelmed by it.
Look up. Have faith. Jesus is alive. Jesus is King. Jesus stands with His people. And no suffering we experience for Him can overshadow that reality.
Be like Stephen. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Finally, these five qualities come together in one beautiful reality. Stephen’s fullness, his reflection of God’s presence, his understanding of God’s story, his courage to speak the truth, and his focus on Jesus all flowed from the same source—the Holy Spirit. And produced the same result: Stephen looked like Jesus.
And that’s the sixth and most important quality worth emulating: BE LIKE JESUS.
Look with me at how it all comes together in his final moments.
READ Acts 7:57–60
The crowd covered their ears, rushed at Stephen, dragged him outside the city, and began stoning him to death.
And as the stones began to fly, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” That sounds familiar, doesn’t it? From the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” [Luke 23:46]
Then Stephen cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Again, just like Jesus. From the cross Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” [Luke 23:34]
Stephen didn't simply preach about Jesus. In the worst moment of his life, he responded like Jesus. That's what it means to be like Stephen.
You know we’ve been talking a lot about being a witness, right? Acts 1:8. The Greek word translated “witness” in Acts is the word martūs. It’s where we get our word martyr and it carries both ideas—someone who testifies with their words and someone willing to lay down their life.
Stephen embodied both. His greatest witness wasn’t only the powerful sermon he preached. It was the grace he displayed while being killed.
Anybody can love people who love them back. Anybody can forgive when the hurt is small. But forgiving the people throwing stones at you? That isn’t natural—that isn’t even Stephen—that’s Jesus living through him.
This wasn’t Stephen excusing what they did. Their sin was real and evil. Forgiveness doesn’t call evil good. Forgiveness let’s God be the One to take care of things.
Stephen could forgive his enemies because he had already entrusted himself to Jesus—and that’s what we can do too.
And did you notice the young man standing nearby?
v58 says the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. Saul is watching. In fact, the very first verse of chapter 8 says, And Saul approved of their killing him.
Remember that name—Saul. We’re going to come back to Saul in a couple chapters—but for now, just realize that Stephen died praying for the people killing him—and one of those people would soon be transformed by grace and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Never underestimate what God may do through Christlike forgiveness.
Church, this is what spiritual maturity looks like.
It’s not simply knowing more about Jesus. It’s becoming more like Jesus. It’s forgiving our enemies. It’s entrusting ourselves to God. It’s responding to hatred with grace.
It’s remaining faithful—even when faithfulness costs us.
Ultimately, being like Stephen…means being like Jesus.
CONCLUSION
And if you’re thinking, “I could never live like this,” you’re right—at least not in your own power.
Stephen became like Jesus because he was full of the Spirit of Jesus. And if you belong to Jesus, that same Spirit lives in you.
So here’s the takeaway for today—a simple prayer to carry into this week—Jesus, fill me and form me.
Before your feet hit the floor each morning, pray: Jesus, fill me and form me.
Then, before the difficult conversation, the stressful meeting, or the moment when someone gets on your last nerve, pause and pray it again: Jesus, fill me and form me.
When someone hurts you: Jesus, fill me and form me.
When your eyes become fixed on everything wrong around you: Jesus, fill me and form me. Fill me with Your Spirit. Form me into Your likeness.
Because the goal isn’t for people to say, what an impressive person. The goal is for them to see the family resemblance—that we have been with Jesus—to experience His grace…hear His truth… witness His love.
So, Church—be FULL of the Holy Spirit. Live in God’s presence. Know His story. Speak His truth. Keep your eyes on heaven. Become like Jesus. In short—as you walk into this week—BE LIKE STEPHEN.
LET’S PRAY.
