The Results Of The First Church’s Persecution Series

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 10

The Results of the First Church’s Persecution

Acts 8:1-25

Dismiss children for nursery (under 4) and children’s church (ages 4-7)

No Wed night for adults this week – resuming Mar 13th! (Ecclesiastes)

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”

-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)

-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)

-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)

- Last week we introduced one of the first elders of the church, Stephen

-- He also became 1st martyr for the faith, proclaiming God’s truth to the end

-- He was even so bold as to forgive those who were stoning him! (ref: grace)

- Today, I want us to focus on the impact of his life, the “What happened next?”

-- It is a wonderful encouragement to see how our testimony can affect others

- Read Acts 8:1-25 / Pray

Point 1 – Persecution of the Church disperses the Faithful

- FACT: The death of Stephen is a catalyst for the Gospel to be launched

-- RE: Jesus told them in Acts 1:8 they would witness …

-- After Stephen’s death, this prophecy begins to unfold as they scatter

- The fury of the persecution was fueled by an aggravated man: Saul (v1)

-- Saul was a man on a mission – a man angry at Christianity, happy to attack it

-- Talk more about him later, but know this, Saul’s education made him a Pharisee

-- Yes, he was a Roman citizen, but his education was in Pharisaical methods

- See: Persecution was launched quickly, on the day of Stephen’s death (v1)

-- Said another way: This assault on the church was met with the approval of Saul

-- Best way to know this: Paul held the coats of those stoning Stephen (6:58)

-- Greek: suneudokeó; to join in, or approving

- Result: The church was scattered abroad (into Judea and Samaria)

-- Consider: If the apostles fled Jerusalem, there would be no stabilizing leader

-- APP: If they left, there would be no one holding the church together

-- Yet, the message went out from that place into neighboring cities

-- This is a key to remember … Christianity is not about a building!!

- We know that many godly men buried Stephen (v2)

-- Why? His witness was honored; those who were faithful to Christ buried him

-- APP: He would have been given a hero’s death / funeral for the faithful

- At the same time, (v3) we see the magnitude of Saul’s persecution

-- Greek: lumainomai; corrupt, defile

-- Think of it like a wild animal set loose in your living room chasing a chicken

-- Once he started, he could not stop – he was compelled to continue

- RE: Paul’s education drove him to deny Christ, Jesus was repulsive to him, so:

• He stormed the homes of believers

• He arrested men and women

• He brought any forward that he could find to be killed

• He stormed every synagogue and punished believers who were present

• He brought many to their death and gave his approval to kill others

-- In short: He was a one-man wrecking machine on those testifying about Jesus

- So the result is that believers were scattered – went everywhere preaching (v4)

-- Greek: diaspeiró; disperse (in foreign lands)

- FACT: They were lay believers, untrained in formal preaching – just testifying

-- Their purpose was simple: to spread the gospel to anyone who would listen

- Do not lose sight of this truth: God used and uses persecution to:

• Strengthen the faith of believers to trust God

• Move believers out into deeper waters; to change their comfort zone

-- Shane: “Sometimes God loves on us, and sometimes, God shoves on us!”

- APP: Persecution may take many forms: simple verbal commentary to death

-- It can take place at home, at work, at school, in your hobbies, and even at church

-- But – no matter what … know this: God uses it for His glory to spread His word

-- BIG: If the word (the truth of God,) is being shared, then the results are His!

- TR: What are the results of God’s word being shared?

-- Well …. spoiler: the rest of this message is an excellent study of revival!

Point 2 – What does revival look like?

- FACT: There is a need for revival today – a true movement of God

-- Regardless of it being the 1st century or the 21st … He is still needed