PassageWay Church

Acts 8:9-25 - To the Ends of the Earth: Believing for the Benefits (a Faith that Doesn't Save)

Jesus once compared the kingdom of God to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” So the servants asked, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he said, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers to gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but to gather the wheat into my barn.” Jesus used this parable to explain that in the world there are both genuine believers, the wheat, and false believers, the weeds.  In last week’s episode, we read that as a result of persecution, the church was scattered like seed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Philip, one of those who had been displaced, was a particularly gifted evangelist and went down to the capital city of Samaria. The people there were captivated when they heard his message and saw the miraculous signs that he did.  As we continue reading in Acts 8, the story turns to the response of one particular Samaritan man, a famous sorcerer named Simon. He, too, found Philip’s ministry compelling. Luke tells us that Simon also believed and was baptized. Though he might be mistaken for wheat, he was actually a weed. When he saw that the Holy Spirit came upon genuine believers at the laying on of hands by Peter and John, he offered money to have this same power. Simon saw the gift of God as something to be manipulated for personal gain, which revealed the true intentions of his heart. If a person’s heart hasn’t changed, he isn’t saved. The story of Simon warns against the kind of faith that doesn’t save. Don’t believe just for the benefits. Be broken over your sin.

Acts 8:1b-8 - To the Ends of the Earth: Taking the Gospel With You

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Perhaps you never intended to be in your current career field. Maybe you never envisioned yourself as the mother of 3 young children or living in a small midwestern town. Most often, life’s circumstances are the result of our own choices, both good and bad. However, you might find yourself in a certain situation because of someone else’s actions. How do you respond? With bitterness or resignation? In Acts 8 we read that in the aftermath of Stephen’s murder a great persecution arose against the church. Saul was tearing them apart, going house to house, dragging people off to prison. This resulted in the church being scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.  But what man intended for evil, God intended for good. Wherever those who were scattered went, they took the gospel with them.  One of those evangelists was Philip, who ended up in Samaria, a place despised by the Jews. But because of his powerful witness, the gospel continued its forward movement to the ends of the earth, and there was much joy in that city. Wherever life’s circumstances might lead, you can bring joy to that place by taking the gospel with you.

Acts 7:54-8:1a - To the Ends of the Earth: Mob Reaction vs. Christ-like Response

According to the organization, Open Doors International, 315 million Christians worldwide are living right now under extreme or very high levels of persecution. This past year alone, 4849 Christians have been murdered for their faith. 4712 imprisoned. The most dangerous countries to be a Christian are North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan. In North Korea, persecution is the result of dictatorial paranoia. In Somalia it is the result of Islamic oppression. The constitution makes it illegal to convert from Islam. Christians have no legal protections. In other places persecution is the result of clan violence, ethnic hostility, or organized crime.  We are blessed to live in a country that guarantees the free expression of religion. You and I cannot comprehend this kind of systemic oppression. Even so, perhaps you’ve been shunned by a family member because of your faith. Maybe you’ve missed out on a promotion at work for reasons of conscience or gotten turned into HR for saying something perceived as imposing your religion. Maybe you’ve been excluded from a group of friends because you talk and act differently. How should a Christian respond to persecution, however severe? At the end of Acts 7 we read the dramatic conclusion to Stephens’ speech. The members of the Sanhedrin were enraged. They drug Stephen outside the city and stoned him. Though the angry mob was filled with hate, Stephen was filled with the Spirit. He responded like Jesus. Expressing his faith in Christ and love for his enemies, Stephen was a powerful witness of eternal consequence. There in the murderous crowd was a young man named Saul who would one day take the gospel to the ends of the earth. You never know who’s watching. Regardless of the mob, respond like Jesus.

Acts 7:1-53 - To the Ends of the Earth: Contending for the Faith

How confident are you in sharing your faith with others? Would you be able to explain the gospel to someone who asks? In a culture that pushes back against the exclusive claims of Christianity, are you prepared to respond? In Acts 7, we read that Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin and mounted a compelling defense in response to the charges of blasphemy leveled against him. Utilizing hellenistic rhetorical technique, Stephen begins with a narration of salvation history, revealing a deep and abiding knowledge of God’s faithfulness. In the second part of his speech Stephen turns to a series of declarative statements, revealing an understanding of the people’s rejection. They had ignored God’s law and mistakenly thought they could confine Him to a particular place. Finally, Stephen concludes with an emotional appeal to his listeners. Their rejection of Jesus continued a historical pattern of disobedience to God. Stephen was not guilty of blasphemy. His accusers were. They would be wise to stop resisting the Holy Spirit and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Stephen’s speech is a model for all disciples. We should at all times, be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in us to anyone who asks, contending for the faith with all wisdom.

Acts 6:8-15 - To the Ends of the Earth: The Marks of a Spirit-filled Witness

What makes for a good pitchman? One of the most iconic in recent memory was the actor Dennis Haysbert, who advertised for Allstate Insurance. His most famous role was probably President Palmer on the television series, 24, which lended gravitas and authority to his persona. His distinctive looks and deep voice were calm and reassuring. A good pitchman should be knowledgeable, articulate, credible, and trustworthy. As we continue to read in the book of Acts, the narrative starts to shift. Up until this point in the story, Peter and John had been the primary protagonists. Because of their preaching and teaching the church was well established in Jerusalem. But now, Stephen, one of the seven who’d been chosen to oversee the daily distributions amongst the widows, takes center stage. Because of Stephen’s witness, the gospel will scatter throughout Judea and Samaria. Stephen was the perfect pitchman. Not because of his good looks or fame, but because the Holy Spirit was so evident in his life. The Holy Spirit could be seen in his character and in his courage, as he boldly defended the gospel of Jesus Christ in the synagogues of his fellow Hellenistic Jews.  Just as Stephen followed in the footsteps of the apostles, as disciples we are all called to be Spirit-filled witnesses in the spheres of influence where God has placed us, credibly calling others to faith in Christ.