John Rogers and the Fire of a Faithful Witness | Acts Chapter 7 | Joe Consford

Good morning, and welcome back to The Morning Meditation Podcast. I’m glad you’re here today as we continue our journey through the Scriptures—slowly, thoughtfully, and with purpose. This morning we’re in Acts chapter 7, and tomorrow we will begin Psalm Day 7 in our monthly Psalms cycle. Before we read, let’s quiet our hearts and ask the Lord to speak to us through His Word. SCRIPTURE READING — Acts Chapter 7 (KJV, selected verses for meditation) (You can paste this directly into ElevenLabs.) Acts 7:1–4 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran… Acts 7:22–23 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. Acts 7:48–49 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands… Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool… Acts 7:55–56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:59–60 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. TODAY’S STORY — A Moment From Baptist History “John Rogers and the Fire of a Faithful Witness” As we read Acts 7, we’re reminded of Stephen—faithful, courageous, and unshaken in the face of death. There’s a story from Baptist history that echoes this same courage. John Rogers was an English preacher in the 1500s and the first man burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary. He had translated and helped publish William Tyndale’s English Bible. For that “crime,” he was condemned to die. On the morning of his execution, he walked through the streets of London with a calmness that shocked the crowds. His wife and ten children stood along the roadside. They weren’t allowed near him, but he smiled, lifted his hands toward them, and kept walking. A witness wrote that Rogers went to the stake “as though he were walking to his wedding.” What gave him such peace? The same thing that strengthened Stephen: A clear conscience… A bold testimony… And a Savior worth dying for. Rogers’ final words were simply Scripture—truth he had spent his life sharing. Stephen and John Rogers stand as reminders that the gospel has always been carried forward on the shoulders of courageous believers who believed Christ was worthy of everything. THREE REFLECTIONS 1. Faithfulness Is Built Long Before the Fire Stephen’s courage wasn’t created at the moment of persecution. It was the product of a life spent obeying, serving, and walking closely with God. Courage grows quietly in ordinary faithfulness. 2. God Honors Those Who Stand for Truth When Stephen looked up, he saw something no one else in Scripture ever saw: Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. It’s as if heaven rose to its feet in honor of His servant. 3. A Soft Heart Is the Greatest Miracle Stephen’s last words were forgiveness. So were John Rogers’. So was Jesus’ on the cross. A hard world needs Christians with soft hearts. OUTRO Thank you for joining me today on The Morning Meditation Podcast. Tomorrow we continue with Psalm Day 7 as we meditate through the Psalms each month. If this podcast has been a blessing to you, you can find past episodes, show notes, and a place to subscribe at: 👉 consfords.com/podcast May the Lord help you walk in courage, conviction, and compassion today. Have a blessed morning.

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