MESSAGE

Churches
in Action
Sermon Series
on the Book of ACTS
Sounding Out
Gods Word
Through
Persecution
Acts 8:1-40
God rules over the
sufferings of the
church and causes
them to spread
spiritual power and
the joy of faith in a
lost world.
I. Destruction
in Jerusalem
Acts 8:1-3
1.
1. And
And Saul
Saul was
was consenting
consenting
unto
unto his
his death.
death. And
And at
at that
that
time
time there
there was
was aa great
great
persecution
persecution against
against the
the
church
church which
which was
was at
at
Jerusalem;
Jerusalem; and
and they
they were
were
all
all scattered
scattered abroad
abroad
throughout
throughout the
the regions
regions ofof
Judaea
Judaea and
and Samaria,
Samaria,
except
except the
the apostles.
apostles.
2.
2. And
And devout
devout men
men carried
carried
Stephen
Stephen toto his
his burial,
burial, and
and
made
made great
great lamentation
lamentation
over
over him.
him.
3.
3. As
As for
for Saul,
Saul, he
he made
made
havoc
havoc of
of the
the church,
church,
entering
entering into
into every
every house,
house,
and
and haling
haling men
men and
and women
women
committed
committed them
them to
to prison.
prison.
II. The Spread of
the Gospel
Acts 8:4-6
4. Therefore they that were
scattered
scattered abroad
abroad went
went
every
every where
where preaching
preaching the
the
word.
word.
5.
5. Then
Then Philip
Philip went
went down
down
to
to the
the city
city of
of Samaria,
Samaria, and
and
preached
preached Christ
Christ unto
unto them.
them.
6.
6. And
And the
the people
people with
with one
one
accord
accord gave
gave heed
heed unto
unto
those
those things
things which
which Philip
Philip
spake,
spake, hearing
hearing and
and seeing
seeing
III.Joy in Samaria
Acts 8:6-8
6. And the people with
one accord gave heed
unto those things
which Philip spoke,
hearing and seeing
the miracles which he
did.
7. For unclean spirits,
crying with loud voice,
came out of
many that were
possessed with them:
and many taken with
palsies, and that were
lame, were healed.
8. And there was
 1.
God Makes
Persecution Serve
Mission
 "You shall receive
power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be
my witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria
and to the end of the
earth.
 2.
Stephen Is
Honored,
Not Blamed
Acts 11:19"the
persecution that
arose over
Stephen."
 3.
Adversaries Can
Become
Advocates
"But Saul was
ravaging the church,
and entering house
after house, he
dragged off men and
women and
committed them to
prison."
 4.
The Word of God
Is Good News and
Brings Joy
 3.
Adversaries Can
Become
Advocates
Sounding
Out Gods
Word
Acts 7:2-53
HYMN
Count Your
Blessings
When upon lifes
billows you are
tempest-tossed,
When you are
discouraged,
thinking all is
blessings, name
them one by
one,
And it will
surprise you
what the Lord
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your
blessings, see
what God has
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your many
blessings, see
what God has
many blessings,

every doubt will

fly,
And you will
keep singing as
 Are you ever
burdened with
a load of care?
Does the cross
seem heavy
you are called
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your
blessings, see
what God has
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your many
blessings, see
what God has
 So, amid the
conflict
whether great
or small,
Do not be
discouraged,
Count your many
blessings, angels
will attend,
Help and comfort
give you to your
journeys end.
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your
blessings, see
what God has
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your many
blessings, see
what God has
COUNT YOUR
BLESSINGS
(Offertory Song)
When upon lifes
billows you are
tempest-tossed,
When you are
discouraged,
thinking all is
blessings, name
them one by
one,
And it will
surprise you
what the Lord
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your
blessings, see
what God has
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your many
blessings, see
what God has
 So, amid the
conflict
whether great
or small,
Do not be
discouraged,
Count your many
blessings, angels
will attend,
Help and comfort
give you to your
journeys end.
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your
blessings, see
what God has
blessings, name
them
one by one,
Count your many
blessings, see
what God has
Prayer for the
Offering
Praise God, from
Whom all
Blessings Flow
Praise God, from Whom
all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures
here below
Praise Him above, ye
heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen.
Closing Prayer