Sermons on Acts 8:3-25:

How God Uses Persecution Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 23, 2013

Stephen's message was God’s final invitation to Israel. If Israel rejected the message, God would turn elsewhere to root and ground His church. Israel DID reject the message; in fact, Israel killed Stephen and launched a savage persecution against the c

The last time we were in our series in the Book of Acts, we saw that Stephen died as a martyr for Jesus Christ. Stephen preached a message just before he died. His message was God’s final invitation to Israel. If Israel rejected the message, God would turn elsewhere to root and ground His ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

A Study On Revival Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 23, 2013

In all this we see that the fruit of revival is more revival, the opening of hearts for both the preaching and receiving of the gospel. That was the case at this time in Samaria. There was a great revival going on.

Tonight’s passage shows us the great need for revival both within and outside the church. Let’s get into this long passage. READ v. 5. The preacher was Philip, a layman, one of the first deacons. As we said last week, the importance of this verse is in declaring that the first great ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:5-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Gall Of Bitterness

Contributed by John Mccormack on Feb 18, 2013

PUT AWAY BITTRNESS.

THE GALL OF BITTERNESS INTRODUCTION: THE MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY DEFINES GALL AS BITTERNESS OF SPIRIT OR RANKER, MEANING BITTER, DEEP-SEATED ILL WILL. SPIRITUAL INSIGHT: PETER, WHILE MINISTERING IN SAMARIA, ENCOUNTERED AN OPPORTUNIST NAMED SIMON. SIMON REQUESTED THE SAME POWER AND ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:23

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Christ Out Of Church

Contributed by Greg Nance on Feb 20, 2013

What do you get out of Church? If you don't get Christ, you miss it all!

Getting Christ Out of Church Acts 8:9-24 Have you ever said, “I just didn’t get anything out of that”? I hear of people who leave church services and say things like that. “I just don’t get anything out of church.” Perhaps you’ve said that yourself. I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Thermodynamics Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 19, 2014

When you know the Lord, He turns your pain into praise. He turns opposition into opportunity for the spread of the Gospel if you will take that opportunity to preach the Word to all without prejudice and without price.

Eagles are fascinating birds. Did you know a mother eagle constructs her nest with thorns and jagged rocks? These are the first things she lays down. Then she covers that prickly nest with wool, feathers, and the fur of animals she has killed. That makes the nest soft and comfortable, a nice home ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Revival, God Let It Start With Me. Series

Contributed by James Lee on Dec 4, 2015

I would like to thank Pastor Jerry Shirley for sharing this series on Acts. It has been a blessing as well as a great help. I have used these for our church, as I spend my days caring for my dying father.

Revival, God Let It Start With Me. Acts 8:1-8 I love to look back at church history. I especially love reading about those Great Revivals, where entire cities were turned upside down in the Name of Jesus! Some 200+ years ago a preacher named Charles Finney conducted Revivals in the North Eastern ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

“the Great Pretender” Series

Contributed by James Lee on Dec 4, 2015

I would like to thank Pastor Jerry Shirley for sharing this series on Acts. It has been a blessing as well as a great help. I have used these for our church, as I spend my days caring for my dying father.

“The Great Pretender” Acts 8:9-25 In the first eight verses of chapter 8 we saw revival come to Samaria as Philip the Evangelist preached the good news of Jesus Christ. Miracles were performed, souls saved. Just a few verses in and we see that wherever God sends genuine revival, Satan ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Baptist

Philip The Evangelist

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 29, 2014

Taking a look at the ministry of one of the pioneers of the new covenant church.

PHILIP THE EVANGELIST INTRODUCTION: Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he left his disciples with their mission statement-go into all the world and preach the good news. The new church had a new mission-go and make disciples. Here we are nearly 2000 years later and the church’s mission ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:4-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thankfulness In The Face Of Trouble Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Oct 25, 2013

Stephen has just been stoned, Saul is ravaging the church, and many believers are going to rancid prisons getting beaten and fighting off the rats, just because they love Jesus. is the basis for my Thanksgiving sermon. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Bear with me.

Here in chapter 8 of the book of Acts we are finally introduced to this Pharisee named Saul. Perhaps no other religious person in Israel had more of a zealous hatred for Christ and Christians. Let’s pay close attention to the very first verse of Acts chapter 8: “Saul approved of his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-40

Caution: Restoring New Testament Evangelism Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2014

This lesson examines what the Bible means when it talks about evangelism and then compares this to what we see being called "evangelism" today. Have we redefined evangelism to ease our consciences?

Introduction Our first lesson was a reminder of our mission. We have been given the green light to evangelize by the Lord, and this mission was given to each and every Christian, not just a select few. Each one of us are called by God to “love our neighbor as ourselves” and to have an ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Paul Sends Out Missionaries

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Dec 16, 2013

God's word gets published by those who oppose the Gospel and those who proclaim and promote it.

Paul Sends out Missionaries Acts 8:1-3 Introduction Last week we finished the powerful sermon of Stephen, who was martyred for his defense of the Christian faith. A great crowd held their ears and rushed upon him and stoned him. We noted that he followed the example of Jesus in forgiving those ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Reaching Out To Samaria

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 26, 2013

The gospel is not only for Jerusalem and Judea, but also for Samaria, and all the nations.

REACHING OUT TO SAMARIA. Acts 8:5-25. I. ORIGINS OF THE SAMARITANS 1. The schism (1 Kings 11:26-40; 1 Kings 12) 2. The city of Samaria (1 Kings 16:23-24) 3. The province of Samaria (2 Kings 17:5-41) People of the land unfriendly to returning Jews 1. Hindered building the Temple (Ezra ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:5-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Break The Spell

Contributed by Odon Bulamba on Dec 30, 2013

Every single human being has the chance to have friends and they will either be the same as you or different to you; some have trees as their friends, some have their pets as friends and many of us have human beings as our friends.

Acts 8:9-11 Every single human being has the chance to have friends and they will either be the same as you or different to you; some have trees as their friends, some have their pets as friends and many of us have human beings as our friends. There are three categories or friends: 1. Comrades ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News – Bad News For The Church Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Sep 8, 2014

Stephen's death and the following persecution was a bad news/Good News Scenario. On the one hand it was a very negative thing for the church. Yet God used this evil to motivate the church with the Great Commission they had previously ignored.

GOOD NEWS – BAD NEWS FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST Acts 8:1-4 Dorn Ridge Church Of Christ, September 07, 2014 INTRODUCTION: 1.) The story has been told of a man waking up in the hospital after a car accident. A.) As the man gains consciousness, his doctor says to him, I have good ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Persecuted Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 16, 2011

(Preached on July 4th): This message focuses on the first church-wide persecution in Acts. Attention is given to the implications the Gospel has for believers as members of both God's kingdom and a country.

* The difficulty in approaching a July 4th message: - We sometimes "read" America into Scripture when we shouldn't - Bible doesn't reference America as a country of predict the events of July, 1776 * If we're not careful, we end up using today to exalt a nation instead of Christ - We do not worship ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist