Sermon Title: Finding Purpose in Persecution

People were bent on destroying the church, Saul too.

People were hurt. Imprisoned. Historians would say many even died from these raids.

4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. - Acts 8:4

Greek word is OUN
What that means is simply this: “Okay, you just read that - and that is totally legit - and devastating, BUT don’t stop there.”

Something happened as they scattered, they brought the gospel, the good news that Jesus saves, with them, as the text says, “wherever they went.”

5 Philip, for example... Who is Philip? One of the servants mentioned in Acts 6.

Important truth:
- You + your own strength = your own strength
- You + the power of the Holy Spirit = power, signs and wonders!

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. - Acts 8:12

There is that WORD again! BUT
Yes there was a man who did amazing things.
Yes there was a man who claimed to be great
Yes there was a man with a great following.

BUT - there was a greater message. The GOOD NEWS!

“Simon himself believed” exactly as the others did and “was baptized.”

“...And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

It was persecution that pushed them out of the city and back on the mission that Jesus had sent them on.

There was a purpose in the persecution.

There was a purpose in the persecution.