The Cost of Discipleship

Kyle Kauffman // April 6th 2025

The history of the church is bloody because the history of the church is full of suffering and persecution. While many people identify Stephen as the first martyr, in many ways he simply displays what was often true throughout the Old Testament: God’s people will be persecuted even to the point of death. Jesus told his disciples to expect that people would treat them the same way they treated him. We should never forget that being a disciple of Jesus throughout history has often meant that you will face persecution. And while the story of Stephen should sober us who live in the West and know very little of this persecution, it should also fill us with hope and fortify us for the day when we may face more severe persecution for our faith. Because in the story of Stephen we find that God rules over the suffering of his saints, uses it to advance the gospel, and reveals the prize that no persecution can ever destroy.

Acts 6:8-8:4