When Trouble Starts • 2/13/22

Sermon Notes: Acts 8:1-8

Series: Acts

Title: When Trouble Starts

Date: 2/13/22

Location: Perris Valley Church

 

Acts 8:1 (NIV)

And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 

 

The Church has always grown as the result of persecution.

 

Acts 8:3 (NIV)

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

 

Acts 22:4-5 (NIV)

I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

 

Acts 26:11 (NIV)

Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

 

For every spark we initiate to spread the Word of Jesus, other people are working hard to put out the flames.

 

Acts 8:4 (NIV)

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 

 

Those who were scattered instantly became missionaries.

 

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

Acts 11:19-21 (NIV)

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.

20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

 

 

Acts 8:6-8 (NIV)

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

 

Bringing Jesus, Brings Joy.