SERMONS
Big Idea: Jesus takes ugly pasts and gives them beautiful purposes
1) Saul's ugly past (8:1-3; 9:1-2)
2) Saul meets Jesus (9:3-9)
3) Saul's eyes are opened (9:10-19)
4) Saul the persecutor becomes Saul the preacher (9:20-25)
5) Saul the foe becomes Saul the friend (9:26-31)
Three Lessons:
Jesus loves even his fiercest enemies (Lk. 6:27-28)
So, we can also love those with ugly pasts (2 Cor. 5:14-19)
And, we can trust him to repurpose our own ugly pasts (1 Tim. 1:12-17)
Big Idea: God schedules divine appointments in unlikely moments
God clears Philip's schedule for a divine appointment. (8:26-30)
God prepares an unlikely man for an unlikely moment. (8:31-34)
Philip steps into his divine appointment with the gospel. (8:35-38)
Gospel growth springs from an unlikely moment. (8:39-40)
Big Idea: God sends gift-givers, not salespeople
God turned persecution into proclamation. (8:1-4)
Philip declared and demonstrated the good news. (8:5-8)
Simon was amazed by true greatness. (8:9-13)
The gift of God cannot be bought. (8:14-24)
Big Idea: Only a life full of Jesus could move from asking “How could I?” to “How could I not?”
The Narrative
1. Stephen and His Enemies (6:8-15)
2. Stephen's Defense (7:1-53)
3. Stephen's Execution (7:54-60)
Big Idea: How we handle communal conflict will either make us or break us
How we handle communal conflict will either make us or break us
1. The threat of division can cripple even the strongest church. So, fight to protect our unity.
2. We must not ignore our brothers and sisters when they hurt or are in need. So, we must listen humbly and act lovingly.
3. Churches that truly honor Jesus take a both/and approach to proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel So, do good and keep the main thing the main thing.
