Great Persecution = Great Revival

This message explored Acts 8:1-25, focusing on how persecution led to the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem. We learned that God's mission is unstoppable, even when His people face great challenges. The persecution that arose after Stephen's martyrdom scattered believers, but it also resulted in the Gospel being preached in new places, particularly Samaria. This demonstrates how God can use even difficult circumstances to advance His kingdom.

Takeaways:

Our response to persecution reveals our availability to God. We can either be silenced or use it as an opportunity to preach the Gospel in new places.

God sometimes calls us to share the Gospel with those we're most prejudiced against, challenging us to overcome our biases and truly live out Christ's love.

Salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are not things we can earn or purchase. They are freely given by God through faith in Jesus Christ.