Adult Sunday School 3/24/24
Notes
Transcript
The Scattered Church
The Scattered Church
Last week you looked at Stephen and how he was martyred.
From Acts 6 and 7 you seen that sharing the gospel requires wisdom, boldness, and sacrifice.
This morning we are looking at Acts 8 and how the early church was scattered.
The persecution of Stephen did not restrain or suppress the gospel message but it rather served to spread the gospel as the church advanced its mission of proclaiming the gospel to all people.
I. The Church Experiences Persecution
I. The Church Experiences Persecution
1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
In Acts 8, the early church faced an awful persecution from Saul.
This persecution began to drive the church out of Jerusalem and scattered the people throughout the surrounding regions.
God used this persecution to awaken the church to obey Christ’s command to be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
The message of the gospel began to spread.
The gospel spread because Christians were taking the gospel with them wherever they went.
Saul had meant this persecution for great harm toward the church; however, God was using this persecution for good.
The gospel was going forth to new places so that people would come to know the eternal life that is found in Jesus Christ alone.
The persecution could not keep the church from spreading the gospel.
Passionate devotion must be directed in the right place, and that place is in Christ Jesus.
Henry Blackaby said in experiencing God, “Look for where God is at work around you and join Him.”
II. The Church Continues Proclaiming Jesus.
II. The Church Continues Proclaiming Jesus.
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.
The early church preached the gospel wherever they were scattered.
How is it that they could go about this?
How could they go about spreading the gospel?
It is because they knew and believed the gospel for themselves.
They knew the truth about Jesus and how it is the only message that saves.
They had been devoted to the apostles’ teaching, and they were devoted to spreading the gospel once they were scattered.
This demonstrates the great task that God has given to all believers.
All believers are meant to know and share the gospel.
They are called to be a witness wherever God places them.
You have been planted where you are for the purpose of spreading the gospel.
Therefore, bloom where you are planted.
Christianity’s message is meant to be preached all over the world.
God’s glory and His gospel are not confined or bound by a physical location or by country borders.
Charles H. Spurgeon said, “Let me tell you to be a soul winner is the happiest thing in this world. And with every soul you bring to Jesus Christ, you seem to get a new heaven here upon earth.”
God’s sovereignty over all of life encompasses the free action of human beings.
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
In ways we are unable to comprehend fully, the Lord’s plan as it goes forward through the choices of human beings as moral agents.
Even freely chosen sinful actions are factored into God’s overarching plan, as is the case with the crucifixion of Jesus - an event both purposed by God through foreknowledge and yet also carried out by the wicked decisions of human beings.
Knowing that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him, we trust in His promise to fulfill His plan, even when we do not understand our present circumstances.
As the church took the gospel to new places, people came to know Christ in areas where the gospel had not been preached.
As Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, God worked powerfully as the Messiah was proclaimed to them.
The Word of God brings joy, even in the midst of horrific tragedy.
Christ alone has the power to bring new life and joy out of death.
Christ alone has the power over persecution.
Christ alone has the power over Satan and evil.
Christ alone has the power to forgive sin and bring spiritual life.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Christ alone has the power to bring life where there is only death.
Christ alone has the power to bring light to where there was only darkness.
Christ alone has the power to bring joy in the midst of persecution.
Christ is reigning on His throne, and nothing will stop the advancement of the life-giving, joy-producing, God-glorifying gospel.
III. The Church Grows by the Spirit’s Power.
III. The Church Grows by the Spirit’s Power.
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)
27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.
33 “In humiliation His judgment was taken away;
Who will relate His generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
This Ethiopian official had travel all the way to Jerusalem to worship at the temple.
Due to the fact that he was a Gentile, he would not have been allowed to enter and worship within the temple but would have stood in the Court of Gentiles.
At some point - and at great expense - he purchased the scroll of Isaiah’s prophecy.
The only problem was that he did not understand what it meant.
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
God sent Philip to the desert to explain to this Ethiopian official how Christ alone saves.
Philip approached him through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Simple first steps of engagement are sometimes all we need to start sharing the good news of Christ.
Starting where people are at is a great way to share the gospel effectively.
God is often working in ways that we do not always fully see!
Through Philip’s faithful witness, this man was able to come to know the truth of Jesus and went back to Ethiopia rejoicing in his salvation.
We need to allow the Holy Spirit to use us.
He is looking for people who are willing, obedient, and available.
God will always lead us to opportunities to share the gospel.
We just need to obey.
When confronted with an opportunity to share the gospel, begin where people are at and focus on Jesus.
People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care!!
Because we have received new life in Christ and have committed to following Him, we seek to be available and obedient to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, able and willing to show Christ in all we do.
In our text we have witnessed the obedience of Philip.
He does not ask, “What am I supposed to do in the wilderness?”
Instead, he just goes.
Like Philip, we need to just be obedient and act as God leads.