Acts 8: 1-8

Growing the Church

Introduction:

As we come to this chapter we see that the church grew from a perspective that seems to be a tragedy but in reality it was the way God ordained, through the means of persecution. Tertullian, an early church father wrote: “the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the church.”


  1. The Wrong Approach to Christianity

    1. Another point of view

      1. The political arena – Acts 24:25

      2. The personal opinion


    1. Christianity proposition

      1. The Christian faith and teaching are the results of historical facts and actions.

      2. The book of Acts is historical



  1. The Right Approach to Christianity

    1. The message of the New Testament church was about Jesus of Nazareth, the very Son of God.

      1. The Four Gospels state the same emphasis

      2. The essential focus of the apostles – Acts 2:23,24; 4:2,33 ( Acts 17:18, 32; 23:6,8; 24:15,21; 26:23)


    1. New Departure – 8:1

      1. The Christian faith is not merely a Jewish religion. (comprehensive scope) John 9:5; Acts 4:12

      2. Christianity is the most influential factor in world history –

Acts 17:6


    1. Persecution

      1. What is the explanation of persecution?

Ans. It is a manifestation of a tremendous spiritual conflict – Eph. 6:12 cf. 8:1, 3


    1. Jesus came to defeat His enemies:

      1. He came to deliver us from the consequences of evil –

      2. Turn To: Col. 2:13-15


    1. Spreading the Gospel

      1. A powerful word – “therefore”

      2. God allowed persecution to strike the church; it became an instrument in His hand.

      3. We do not understand all the intricacies of God’s plan but we do know since He allowed persecution, He was behind it.



Pastor Nick Iamaio

Reformed Presbyterian Church 207 First Street, Fulton, NY 13069

Web Site fultonrpc.org

11/29/2009