After the Christians were scattered out of Jerusalem, Philip the Evangelist did what, in that time and culture, would have been unexpected: He preached the gospel to people in Samaria. Learn why this would have been a big deal, and what this teaches us about having an understanding that all kinds of people need Jesus.

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Stephen is most known for being the first martyr of the Christian faith. What specifically did he say that led to his violent demise? And how did God use Stephen's death and the subsequent outbreak of persecution to further His divine plan? In this episode we will explore these questions and much more.

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In our continued look at Stephen's words to the council, we see how he uses the story of Moses to demonstrate the continued unbelief of the Jewish nation in their history...and what that meant for them in their own day. It was a message that by no means was meant to be affirming!

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In the face of intimidating persecution in front of the council, Stephen, just an ordinary guy who is filled with the Holy Spirit, turns the accusations thrown at him back onto his accusers. Learn how he uses the story of Joseph and Moses and indict his enemies of being men of unbelief.

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Aside from the fact that Stephen was the first Christian martyr in history, we don't know much about this tremendous character is Scripture, other than what is said about him in Acts 6 ad 7. In this episode, we will talk about how God used a plain, ordinary guy like Stephen in a very powerful way. You will see that you do not need to have impressive credentials in order for God to use you magnificently for His glory.

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Can internal issues of a church distract it from its primary mission? Yes, and the early church faced this potential problem. But in Acts 6, we see how the apostles wisely and masterfully solved their problem at hand while at the same time leaving the door open for the word to continue to spread. This episode is especially relevant to pastors and church leaders today!

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How did the apostles handle this second wave of persecution against them, and what can we learn from this? As we finish up our study of Acts 5, you'll be amazed at the attitudes of God's people after they were physically abused by their persecutors.

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While the early church in Jerusalem continued in its vibrancy, the apostles once again find themselves in a bind with the council. Learn how they maintain a spirit of obedience against the grain of increasing persecution, and what that says to us today.

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Consider the wonder of Christ's coming to earth from my favorite Christmas passage.

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As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we consider how Jesus demonstrated true Christmas spirit...and it's in a story that we normally don't associate with the holiday. What did Jesus do, and why was it so amazing? We talk about it in this episode.

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com