The true people of God have always been persecuted by those who oppose God. But, as the Bible tells us, “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). As we consider the death of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, we see the ever-present divide between those who belong to God and those who belong to this world. But we also behold the glory of Christ, who empowers our witness and builds his church. In this sermon, Pastor Matt proclaims that it is the risen Lord Jesus who enables his church to overcome the world. Those who believe in Jesus, who boast in his victory over the world, will likewise conquer the world in the power of his love.