OLUMC Sunday Preview

5th Sunday after Easter

Today’s Scripture Lessons can be found here.

In today’s reading from Acts of the Apostles, we hear the story of Stephen, which includes violence and death. We invite you to care for yourself gently during this time. You are always welcome to step out or connect with a pastor.

Stephen steps onto the pages of Acts of the Apostles as one of the first deacons of the early church—chosen not for status or power, but because he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” He was a table-setter, a bridge-builder, someone entrusted with caring for those who were being overlooked. And yet, Stephen’s story quickly expands beyond service into bold witness. He speaks truth with clarity and courage, telling the story of God’s faithfulness in a way that unsettles those in power.

In Acts 7:55–60, we encounter Stephen at the end of his life—standing firm in his faith, even as the cost becomes painfully clear. His vision of Christ, his words of forgiveness, and his refusal to return violence for violence echo the very heart of the Gospel. Stephen becomes the church’s first martyr, but more than that, he becomes a witness to what it looks like to trust God all the way through.

This Sunday, we’ll explore Stephen’s story as a mirror for our own moment. What does it mean to live with that kind of courage? What does faithfulness look like when the world feels hostile or uncertain? And how do we hold onto a vision of God’s presence when everything around us seems to be unraveling?

Together, we’ll reflect on how Stephen’s witness invites us into a deeper kind of discipleship—one rooted not in fear, but in love; not in retaliation, but in grace; not in silence, but in truth spoken with a Spirit-filled boldness.