Sermon Series: Acts Message #9 Acts 8

Pastor Andy Yamamoto First Love Church March 3, 2013

When Your World Turns Upside Down

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Acts 8:1-4 (NLT)

4. Always keep the Big Picture in front of you

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:56-60 (NLT)

1. God uses suffering for your good and His glory.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, Phil 3:10 (NIV)

Life Group Questions

1. Read Phil 3:10. How has suffering given you more opportunity to know Christ better? 2. Read Acts 8:1-4, Genesis 50:20, Phil 1:12. In whatever circumstance or condition that you are currently in (regardless of how much you like or dislike it), how might God use you to preach the good news? 3. Read Acts 1:3, 8:12, 28:30-31. What is your gospel? How is it similar or different to what the first followers of Jesus understood it to be? 4. Read Acts 7:56-60. If what God gets out of our lives is the person we become, how are you doing with this? What needs to change? 5. Pray that Christ will be formed in ourselves and each other (Gal 4:19)

2. Cultivate a Missional mindset

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Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Phil 1:12 (NLT)

3. The Good News really is good news

But now the people believed Philips 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 (NLT)