Acts 8:1-4 / Scattered

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Acts 8:1 ESV
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.
“… and they were all scattered…”
This has significant meaning to the first century Jews.
DiasporaJewish nation scattered throughout the region surrounding Jerusalem.
Scattered by being exiled.
All came about because of their failure to follow God.
They had hoped the Messiah will re-unite them.
Instead what these early believers saw was persecution which led to another scattering of God’s people.
THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THEIR OBEDIENCE!!!
(New) Diaspora – Becomes the Christian church scattered throughout the world.
Initially preached Jesus only to the Jewish community
Initially scattered to Judea and Samaria.
This early movement of the church reveals an important lesson for us.
Acts 1:8 ESV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 Jesus said they would be His witness in Jerusalem, JUDEA, SAMARIA…
Now we see Christians scattered in Judea & Samaria.
One might think it was a result of human evil,
unless you read the scripture
realize that Jesus knew this would happen and was going to work through them during the trial.
Likewise- One might think persecution is an advancement of evil, but when you see it through the lens of scripture, you see it as an opportunity.
What Lessons can we find here?
Our trials do not surprise God
He works through them to accomplish His will. We are invited to be a part of that.
We are going to have trials no matter what, but we can choose to be a victim or a victor.
The church was/is never supposed to remain local.
(Acts 1:8 was prophetic)
Our focus should always be outward.
Even in our (internal) discipleship is a preparation to send people into the world with the Gospel.
Everyone is a missionary

What needs to true about me?

That’s what was true about the early church…but how should that shape you and me.
Acts 8:1 ESV
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.
· “… Except the apostles.”
Apostles would be the primary tools to establish and organize the Church.
Elders, pastors, teachers
But the initial spread of the gospel wasn’t done through them.
How can that be?
We are all given the Holy Spirit.
There are different members of the body Christ
There are different gifts in the body of Christ
(There are different stories in the body of Christ)
There is ONE God.
In the church we have many different roles (shepherd, teacher, servant, mentor)
But there are some roles that are shared by all of us.
Personal Evangelism.
Spreading the Gospel is my responsibility.
Acts 8:4 ESV
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
“…went about preaching the word”
– wherever they went
Does this mean you live your life “in mission”?
Always in call.
How do you answer the question, “What have you been up to?”
You don’t need to hit everybody with the Bible.
But you should love everybody with the truth.
I will preach the Gospel of Christ Wherever, Whenever, However God sends me.
Consider the depth of their faith in Christ.
Many of them (if not most) saw Jesus die yet did not believe until their conversion at Pentecost.
Now they see Stephen killed because of their new religious belief, then the subsequent widespread persecution that puts them all on the run.
Yet their faith was strong enough that they preached Christ wherever they went.

Live your life! But life it for Christ and tell others about it.

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