Ep 46. Stephen

• How do we know that Jesus actually existed?• Why is the story of his life more than just a biography?• What is it like to meet Jesus in person?

• Why didn’t he believe in Jesus to start with?• What caused him to change his belief?• Did he then pull rank as Jesus’ brother?

• What influence did his mother and grandmother have on his own faith?• Why was he trusted with so much despite his young age?• How significant was he for Paul, who’d been blinded by the light?

• How did he get his nickname?• What did he see in people that others couldn’t see?• How did he handle a major disagreement over the author of Mark’s gospel?

• How did a convinced persecutor of Christians become a history-shaping Christian himself?• Why did his lengthy trips by land and sea change the world forever?• What drove him to explain his transformed life with everyone he met?

• Why did he travel to an area where the people were despised?• What was the surprising impact of his message, even on a magician?• How did he explain some amazing news to a VIP on an old dusty road?

• Why did his qualifications help him to run the food bank?• What did he actually say that led to his execution? • How could he forgive those were stoning him to death?

• Why did this doctor choose to write such an accurate account of the life of Jesus?• How did he also come to pen the Bible book of Acts?• To what extent was he an important team player as the Church was first established?

• Why was Judas chosen to follow Jesus, knowing he would betray him?• As he had a problem with money, why was he asked to look after the finances? • What damage is caused by pre-meditated betrayal?

• Why was Herod the Great so paranoid?  • How did his descendants also pose a serious threat to Jesus and his followers?  • What can be learned from their bad example about good leadership?