Acts 8:1–8 recounts how persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, fulfilling Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel. Though they lost security and unity, God used their scattering like seeds in the wind, bringing the message of Christ to new places—turning trouble into great joy through salvation, healing, and transformation.

Stephen defends himself by recounting Israel’s history, how the nation repeatedly rejected God’s deliverers yet God continued to offer salvation. He accuses them of idolatry and misunderstanding the law, tabernacle and temple. Stephen’s gaze toward Jesus grants peace as he forgives his killers, urging believers to keep eyes on Christ.

Peter 1 outlines spiritual building blocks—faith, virtue, knowledge, and more—promising stability and fruitfulness to all who grow in Jesus with diligence and remembrance.

This Sermon by Pastor Mike captures the arc of Stephen’s speech: the persistent resistance of God’s people through generations, the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan despite that resistance, and the ultimate rejection of Jesus, the Promised One. It also aligns with the themes of location (God meeting people outside the expected “holy” places), obedience, and spiritual pilgrimage emphasized throughout the message.

Peter urges church leaders to lead humbly and believers to live with humility, trust God, and stand firm in faith. He reminds them that suffering is temporary, but God will restore and strengthen them.**

The early church faces growing challenges—division, unmet needs, and rising opposition. This message explores how the apostles responded with wisdom, choosing seven Spirit-filled men to lead with compassion and integrity. Among them, Stephen steps forward as a powerful example of faithful service and bold witness. Join us as we learn how godly leadership, servant hearts, and Spirit-empowered courage are vital for the Church today.

Peter urges believers to arm themselves with the mindset of Christ—ready to suffer in the body to live for God’s will instead of human desires. He reminds them that they’ve already spent enough time living in sin, and now their lives should reflect transformation. Though others may not understand their change and may mock or judge them, everyone will one day give an account to God. Even those who have died will be judged, but the gospel was preached so that all may live according to God’s Spirit.

The supernatural work of God is not just a story from the early church—it’s a living reality for every believer today. God’s power is not limited by our circumstances, our failures, or even death itself. We see this in the miraculous healing of Jerry, who was medically dead for 30 minutes, and in the ongoing testimony of changed lives among us. The book of Acts reminds us that the same Spirit who filled the apostles and empowered their witness is at work in us, calling us to be continually filled, because we “leak” and need His presence daily.

Life is full of distractions and worries, and it’s easy to let our focus drift to the things that seem urgent—money, security, daily needs, and the anxieties of tomorrow. But Jesus calls us to something deeper and more freeing: to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This isn’t just a nice saying or a verse to memorize, but a radical invitation to reorder our priorities and trust that God will provide for us as we put Him at the center of our lives.

In the early days of the church, we see a powerful move of the Holy Spirit, marked by unity, generosity, and a deep sense of God’s presence. The believers were not only proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus with boldness, but they were also living out the gospel in practical ways—caring for one another, meeting needs, and demonstrating radical obedience. There was a spirit of great grace among them, a lavish outpouring of God’s favor that brought peace, joy, and wisdom. No one in the community lacked anything, because those who had more than they needed freely gave, selling extra properties and possessions to provide for the needs of others. This wasn’t coerced or manipulated giving, but a genuine response to God’s love and the prompting of the Spirit.