Acts 8:1 - And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
God
Your life is a series of Divine
God knows that for us there is a
Mark 4:16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Persecution brings
Stephen is honored by the devout, not blamed.
People come in three types: the
-uppers, the -uppers, and the -uppers.
Our adversaries can become
Our mission is not to just live a good life but to
When you learn that Jesus is all you have, you’ll learn that
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BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS
1) We saw how God used persecution to make the early church go places they never would have gone. The legendary country singer, Garth Brooks, has a song called “Unanswered Prayers.” Here is the chorus:
Sometimes I thank God For unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’
To the man upstairs
That just because
He doesn’t answer doesn’t mean
He don’t care
‘Cause some of God’s greatest gifts
Are unanswered prayers
The early church never would have asked for persecution to break out against them, but God was able to use it to create a movement of the early church. Can you think of a time where God did not answer a prayer, but looking back you can see how He wanted you to do something better? Describe/explain.
2) Read Hebrews 11:1 – 12:3.
3) The Greek word translated “endurance” or “perseverance” literally means “an abiding under; to abide.” In some New Testament verses, it is translated “patience.” Patience may be passive, that is, endurance under the general trials of life, Christian service or discipline. Patience may also be active (perseverance) which involves persistence in well-doing, fruit-bearing and running the appointed race despite trials and distractions of life. (Vines Complete Expository Dictionary, page 462-463). What do you learn about endurance and perseverance from reading Hebrews 11 & 12?
4) Read John 15:5; 14:6; 8:31-32. What does it mean to fix your eyes on Jesus, and why should you?
One truth providing a track for our journey is our life of dependent faith in the living Christ. When Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), He meant exactly what He said… . The same Word which tells us “Apart from Me you can do nothing” also says “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). The key words are through Him. That is diametrically opposed to a life of self-improvement, self-development, or self-control…It is imperative that we are not concentrating on “living by faith in Christ” but on “living by faith in Christ.” We can make ourselves nervous wrecks worrying about how much faith we have and trying to conjure up more, while totally missing Him who is the object of our faith. We “grow in grace” by focusing on Him “who is full of grace and truth.” We are called first and foremost to a Person… There is a striking parallel between the baby’s dependent relationship with its mother and our life of dependency on Christ. Because of its dependent life, a baby in the womb could say, “For me, to live is Mom.” In the same way, we can say, “For me, to live is Christ.” —Bob George, “Growing in Grace.” p. 22-26,78
5) Using a dictionary, define perseverance and endurance. Then write your own definition based on wisdom you have gained from the Scriptures.
Perseverance =
Endurance =