Week 10 | The Persecution of the Church and the Spread of the Gospel

Big Idea: Persecution scatters believers, spreading the gospel.

Scripture: Acts 8:1-25

Intro:

I once heard a story from my friend Livvy, a guy I know from my time living in Colorado. He shared a tale about a friend’s wedding and how a seemingly harmless prank turned into a complete disaster.

On the night of the wedding, Livvy and the rest of the wedding party thought it would be hilarious to put glitter in the vents of the newlyweds’ car. The plan was simple: when the couple started the car and turned on the A/C, glitter would shoot out in a sparkling cloud.

And that’s exactly what happened. As soon as the car was turned on, fine glitter sprayed all over the couple and every inch of the car. But if you know anything about glitter, you know it’s notorious for being impossible to clean up—especially when it gets into fabric.

The prank ended up having far-reaching consequences. No matter how hard they tried, Livvy’s friends couldn’t get rid of the glitter embedded in the car’s seats and every crevice. In the end, they had no choice but to sell the car because the glitter was everywhere. What started as a funny joke turned into an expensive and unforgettable lesson about the unrelenting power of glitter!

Tension:

Why am I telling you this? Because as we dive into this passage today, there’s one key truth I want you to hold onto: The church thrives under persecution.

At the very beginning of the church’s story, we see persecution rear its head almost immediately. But rather than extinguishing the movement, it becomes the spark that spreads the gospel far and wide—just like the glitter in the story I shared earlier.

Once that glitter is out, you can’t contain it, you can’t control it, and you certainly can’t remove it. That’s exactly how the gospel works.

As persecution intensifies, the gospel doesn’t diminish—it grows. It crosses barriers, spreads into new regions, and enters the hearts of countless people. Men and women hear about who God is and what He has done through Jesus Christ, and they are captivated. They want to know more. They share the good news with others. Churches are planted, and the message of hope and salvation takes root in places it had never reached before.

Over time, this unstoppable movement transforms entire communities, cities, and nations.

Fast forward to today, and we are living proof of this. This is why CBC exists here in High Point.

Our church is a direct result of that gospel movement—the same movement born out of persecution. We are here today because the gospel continued to spread, no matter the obstacles, and we now carry the torch forward. Let this remind us of the power and resilience of God’s church and inspire us to be part of His ongoing mission.

Big Idea:

Persecution scatters believers, spreading the gospel.

Truth:

Last week, we explored the powerful speech delivered by Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, as recorded in Acts 7. In this speech, Stephen traced the rich history of Israel, showing how God had been at work throughout their story, pointing everything toward the coming of Jesus.

He boldly proclaimed that just as their ancestors had rejected God and persecuted His prophets, the leaders of Stephen’s day had rejected Jesus—the very One to whom those prophets had been pointing all along.

Stephen’s words cut deeply, but instead of leading to repentance, they enraged the religious leaders. This fury culminated in a tragic and brutal moment: they dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death, making him the first recorded martyr of the Christian church.

At the center of this dark event was a man named Saul, who stood by in approval, overseeing the execution. Saul, who would later encounter Jesus in a life-altering way, would go on to become Paul the Apostle—a man whose ministry would radically shape the church and spread the gospel across the Roman Empire.

Though this moment stands as one of the darkest in early church history, it was not without purpose. God, in His sovereignty, used Stephen’s martyrdom to push the church forward.

The persecution that followed scattered believers, spreading the message of Jesus to new regions and igniting a global movement. Even in the face of tragedy and opposition, the gospel advanced, showing us that God’s plans are never thwarted, even in the darkest of moments.

As we read the passage today I want us to keep some truths in mind:

The Expansion of the Gospel Beyond Jewish Boundaries: Acts 8 marks a pivotal transition in the early church, moving the focus of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Samaria and beyond. This chapter underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel, as Philip’s ministry reaches the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and signaling the church’s mission to all humanity.

Philip’s Role in Evangelism: Philip exemplifies Spirit-led personal evangelism, particularly in his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Philip uses Scripture (Isaiah 53) to explain Jesus as the suffering servant, leading to the eunuch’s baptism and joy. This narrative highlights the essentials of effective ministry: a willing servant, the Spirit’s guidance, and the power of Scripture.

The Warning Against False Faith: The account of Simon the Sorcerer serves as a cautionary tale about counterfeit faith. Despite professing belief, Simon’s desire to buy spiritual power reveals a corrupt heart. This emphasizes that true faith requires sincere repentance and humility, rejecting spiritual pride and worldly ambitions.

Read Acts 8:1-9

Acts 8:1–9 ESV

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. 9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.

Throughout Scripture, we see a recurring and profound theme: God’s ability to take what was intended for evil and use it for good, ultimately bringing about His redemptive purposes.

This theme reminds us of the sovereignty of God, who weaves even the darkest moments into His perfect plan for the salvation of many. In this case, God uses the persecution of the early church, a situation meant to silence and destroy the followers of Christ, as the very catalyst to propel the gospel beyond the borders of Jerusalem and into the farthest reaches of the known world.

The message of salvation, which had been proclaimed first to the Jews in obedience to God’s plan, faced rejection by much of the Jewish leadership. Yet, instead of halting its progress, this rejection became the launching point for the gospel to be shared with the Gentiles.

This pivotal moment expands the scope of God’s kingdom beyond the boundaries of Israel, fulfilling the promise that through Abraham’s descendants, all nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

This divine redirection not only ensured the growth of the church but also paved the way for people like us—those who might never have heard the good news otherwise—to know and experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

It’s a testament to the power of God’s plan, one that transforms persecution into proclamation, rejection into revival, and exclusion into inclusion, as He invites people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into His eternal family. The spread of the gospel in the early church is not just a historical event; it’s the reason you and I have the hope of salvation today.

What an incredible reminder of the depth of God’s mercy and the unstoppable nature of His mission to redeem the world.

Read Acts 8:9-25

Acts 8:9–25 ESV

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

As the gospel begins to reach the Gentiles, an extraordinary truth emerges: the power of God is unmistakable, undeniable, and transformative. It is on full display in the lives of those who hear and believe, and it begins to turn the world upside down. This divine power, however, also captures the attention of those with less-than-pure intentions.

Among them is Simon, whose curiosity is piqued—not by a desire to glorify God, but by the opportunity to exploit His power for personal gain.

God is not a commodity to be traded, a tool to be manipulated, or a means to an end. God’s power is not something to be harnessed for selfish ambition, fame, or wealth. Instead, it is a reflection of His majesty, holiness, and sovereignty.

God alone deserves the glory. He is the Creator, not a creation to be used. He is the Giver of life, not a resource to be drained.

To approach God with the intent of using Him undermines His greatness and insults His character. The call of the gospel is not to use God for our purposes but to submit ourselves fully to Him, surrendering our desires, ambitions, and lives to His will.

The example of Simon warns us of the danger of a heart focused on self rather than on the glory of God. It challenges us to ask: Are we seeking God for who He is, or are we trying to use Him to get what we want? The proper response to God’s power and presence is not exploitation but adoration. He is worthy of our worship, our awe, and our complete surrender. Let us glorify Him, for He alone is worthy of all praise.

Application

There are a couple of applications we can look at for this passage in our everyday life. And it is important for us to remember that we are in a different context yet there is still much to be drawn from this passage in acts.

When you hear the word of God, are you humble or are you resistant?

God desires for his people to follow after him, and yet a lot of the times even believers respond with hard heartedness towards him.

In what ways is God trying to get your attention and you're ignoring it just like the Jewish leaders?

Do you see God as somebody to be used?

God desires relationship with us yet so often we use him. We use him to feel good about ourselves after we sin or we use him as a way to respond to hard times and then get mad at him when he doesn't do what we want.

Do you seek to honor God or yourself?

Landing

The passage in Acts 8 invites us to reflect on the unstoppable power of the gospel and the role each of us plays in God’s mission. From the scattering of believers due to persecution to the personal evangelism of Philip and the warning of Simon’s misguided intentions, we see that God’s work is always advancing, even in the face of opposition. This truth should fill us with both awe and conviction.

As we leave today, consider this: the gospel didn’t stop with the early church—it continues through us. We are part of the same movement, called to share the good news with humility and boldness.

Are we letting the gospel flow through our lives like glitter, impossible to contain, spreading to every corner of our communities and beyond?

Or are we resisting its transformative power, holding back what God wants to do in and through us?

Take a moment to examine your heart.

Are you humbly receiving God’s Word and allowing it to shape you?

Or are you responding with resistance or a desire to use God for your own benefit?

Let this passage challenge you to align your heart with God’s mission, seeking His glory above all else.

As we close, let’s pray together. Let’s ask God to soften our hearts, make us receptive to His Word, and use us to spread the gospel in ways that honor Him. May we be faithful carriers of this message, shining His light in a world that desperately needs His hope and truth..

Pray