Faith, Martyrdom, and Forgiveness
The sermon presents an overview of two significant martyrdoms in biblical history, using these stories to explore how believers are called to respond to wrongdoing. The first tale is of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, who was stoned to death at the command of King Joash for reproving the king and the people for forsaking God. The second is the martyrdom of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who forgave his persecutors even as he was being killed. These narratives showcase contrasting responses to suffering—Zechariah called for divine justice, while Stephen exemplified forgiveness, reflecting the transformation Jesus brought to how we live and act toward enemies. The sermon ties these stories to the overarching biblical theme of sin breaking humanity’s relationship with God and Jesus’ sacrificial role in restoring that bond. It emphasizes God’s call to believers to live distinctively in the world, following Christ’s teachings on love, forgiveness, and grace rather than retaliation and anger. Ultimately, it presents a lesson on embodying God’s love and becoming a testimony of faith, joy, and worship in a broken world. This message challenges followers to live out their faith through forgiveness, reflecting Christ’s character amid adversity.