Acts 8:4-8

Jesus gave very clear marching orders before He ascended into heaven.◦ “Go . . . and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt

28:19).◦ “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every

creature” (Mk 16:15). Do we follow His orders as we ought?

Everyone Preachedv 4

“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).◦ The apostles did not leave Jerusalem.

“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).

◦ “Ordinary” Christians left Jerusalem.

These “ordinary” Christians went everywhere preaching the word.◦ They didn’t want for the apostles to do all the work.◦ Too many Christians want to practice Christianity by

“proxy.”

Each Christians has been called to minister.◦ “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes

away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (Jn 15:2).

◦ “My brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God” (Rom 7:4).

◦ “You wicked and lazy servant” (Matt 25:26).

Atheist to a preacher: “If I believed what you Christians say you believe about a coming judgment, and that impenitent rejectors of Christ will be lost, I would crawl on my bare knees on crushed glass all over London, warning men, night and day, to flee for refuge from the coming day of wrath!”

Everyone Heardvv 5-7

Philip went to a city in Samaria and preached Christ.◦ “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has

come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

◦ Philip preached to people the Jews considered illegimate!

No one is unworthy of hearing the Gospel!◦ “God created man in His own image; in the image of

God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27).

◦ “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (Jn 3:16).

Philip performed a host of miracles in Samaria. Miracles were to confirm the word.

◦ The apostles “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mk 16:20).

◦ Heb 2:3-4.

What’s the application?We cannot perform miracles to confirm the word

In one sense, I believe miracles still confirm the word.◦ “Truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of

His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:30-31).

◦ If people have doubts, we need to take them to Scripture to see Jesus.

We also need authority for what we speak.◦ “I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father

who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak” (Jn 12:49).

◦ “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet 4:11).

Everyone Rejoicedv 8

“There was great joy in that city.” Samaritans likely had joy for two reasons:

◦ The Prophet of whom Moses wrote had come into the world.

◦ The people had a new lease on life.

As we share Jesus with people around us, they will also rejoice.◦ After the eunuch had found Jesus and was baptized,

“he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39).◦ Let us share the message of Jesus that people might

have joy!

Do you know the joy that Jesus gives?