The Scattered Church

Lots of changes in this COVID era and what is becoming the post-COVID world.

How we work, go to the dr., shop, visit with folks, go to school, even “go to church” has dramatically changed.

We didn’t willingly make most of those changes. And it has been difficult.

For the most part, humans are adaptable and we’ve (usually reluctantly) accepted the changes we need to make.

Far too often the church only acts when it is required by external circumstances.

We’ve been “scattered” away from our routine and reliance on the church building. Our traditional and comfortable ways of “doing church” have been disrupted and we’ve had to develop new ways of achieving eternal goals.

We have the same mission at the disciples did in Acts 1:8.

It is now time to recognize that God is moving us. We are “scattered” moreso that any recent generation could imagine.

As we continue to follow the Spirit through the book of Acts, we our spiritual ancestors experiencing a similar change in circumstances.

Persecution scatters the church away from Jerusalem.

The Church is Scattered

Acts 8:4 NLT

4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

What seems like a disaster is turned into the method to fulfill the mission.

People did what came naturally to them: They talked about the amazing significant transformation they had experienced in Christ.

We’re in the same situation now. Our pattern of life, worship, experience has been irrevocably changed.

The question we need to answer is just how much of Christ’s transformation are we experiencing and sharing?

Going to New Places

Acts 8:5–8 NLT

5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

Philip (deacon) traveled away from Jerusalem and wound up in a very different place.

Samaritan/Jewish relations had not been good for a very long time. For over 500 years, the Jewish people had looked down on samaritans as “half-breeds” and heretics.

Did it never occur to the disciples that there might be some folks outside of their comfort zone who would be open to experiencing the power and transformation of the gospel?

Philip demonstrates the power of Christ by healing and casting out demons. He showed them the power of God in a compelling way.

Result: people put their faith in Christ and were baptized.

Meeting New People

Acts 8:9–13 NLT

9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11 They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. 12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

Luke describes a specific person who was part of this Samaritan expansion.

Simon the Magician was well-known and influential because of his sorcery.

Seems likely that there were much more overt spiritual/magical capabilities in their day. Simon was not, however, using the power of God to perform these wonders.

Simon’s motivations for believing and following Christ aren’t clear. But Luke tells us he was amazed by Philip’s power. (Professional curiosity?)

When we scatter out into the world, we’re likely to meet folks who don’t think like we do. This is good.

Dealing With New Problems

Acts 8:14–17 NLT

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

As word spread of the (apparently) surprising conversion of the Samaritans, the Jerusalem church sent Peter and John to appraise the situation.

Probably to discover whether or not their conversion was legitimate.

Given the history between the two groups, it would be likely that there was some suspicion, concern on the part of the disciples.

Recall that, at one point in life, John had wanted to call down fire on a Samarian village that hadn’t welcomed Jesus.

The surprising result, though, was that these apostles not only were receptive to the Samaritan’s faith, they prayed for them to receive the Spirit they had received.

Observations:

Philip didn’t do this. Did he not know to do it, have an incomplete understanding of conversion? We can go out even if we think we don’t have enough knowledge or skill and tell our story.

It seems likely that the indwelling of the Spirit came to them in this order so that the original disciples could clearly see that God had accepted and included the Samaritans in the church.

The apostles overcame a legacy of racism, arrogance and hatred so that others could be saved. What about us?

The Spirit really is the universal connector of all people.

Acts 8:18–24 NLT

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” 20 But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” 24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”

But our experience is likely to include some Simon Magus types as well.

He probably thought that their business was just like his and tried to buy his way into it.

He makes an attempt to “control” the Spirit.

Peter nips this potential heresy in bud.

We need to be able to discern attempts to dilute the truth of God and confront it. In this case, bluntly.

Opening Our Eyes

Acts 8:25 NLT

25 After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.

This part of Acts marks a dramatic transition for the church.

Peter has begun to recognize that the God accepts all kinds of folks. Not just his kind.

Now, with the Samaritan clearly being saved and restored to God by the presence of the Holy Spirit, the church can truly begin to go on the mission.

Notice that they had to get to Samaria and traveled all that way without any indication that they shared about Jesus.

But now that they’re headed back, they stopped all the time to preach about Jesus.

With opened eyes, they now see opportunities everywhere.