Life Lessons with Dr. Steve Schell
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
What had been an amazingly joyful season for the church in Jerusalem is suddenly thrown into turmoil. Stephen is publicly stoned and the temple authorities feel they now have enough popular support to send soldiers into the city to hunt down believers from house to house, to put them in prison and then to beat and execute them (Ac 22:4, 5, 19, 20; 26:9-11). The effect of this violence was to scatter believers. They fled the city for their lives. Luke says, “And there was in that day a great hunt upon the church in Jerusalem, and all were sown out into the rural country sides of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Ac 8:1). He pictures believers being sown like a farmer sows seeds. They were scattered far and wide through the surrounding country sides, being careful to avoid those cities where they might be recognized and arrested. At this point it might seem God’s work was severely hindered, but then Luke adds this statement, “Therefore the ones being sown passed through these regions preaching the word (about Jesus)” (Ac 8:4). With that one statement Luke shows us that this persecution didn’t stop the church, it expanded it. It turned a lot of people into missionaries. It forced them to go to Judea, Samaria and even the remotest parts of the earth. The very places Jesus had told His disciples to go after they were “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49).
83 - Spiritual Conversations - b
82 - Spiritual Conversations - a
81 - Paul's Hope
80 - The Gift of Truth
79 - Courageous Decisions
78 - Hearing Both Sides
77 - God's Overrulling Hand
76 - Learning To Listen
75 - Love Without Borders
74 - Repairing His Reputation
73 - Legalism or Liberty
72 - A Lonely Obedience
71 - Repentance and Faith
70 - Walk With Me
69 - Paul's Offering
68 - Dangerous Times
67 - Distracted
66 - The Real World
65 - Ministering God's Power
64 - Teaching the Word
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