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).
88 - The Plan
87 - Recognizing God
86 - The Spirit of Truth
85 - Maintaining a Loving Heart
84 - Equipping Disciples
83 - Staying Attached
82 - Created for Authority
81 - The Greatest Reward
80 - I’m Coming Back
79 - The New Covenant
78 - What Jesus Saw
77 - The Greatest Miracle
76 - Escaping Betrayal
75 - The Secret To Happiness
74 - Dusty Feet
73 - Washing Feet
72 - Christ’s Victory
71 - Unchangeable Truth
70 - Dealing With Danger
69 - A Grain of Wheat
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