Acts Series 16 – Into Samaria: Show and Tell (Sown in Tears, Reaped in Joy)
Acts 8:1–8
This week’s message is the last of a mini-series that we have been doing over Acts 8:1-8. The first message of the mini-series two weeks prior was titled Scattered, but Planted (Falling Apart, but Falling into Place) and was about the immediate aftermath following Stephen’s martyrdom. The message was about how even when things seem to be falling apart, God remains faithful and at work. Last week’s message was titled Laying a Brick for Someone (Unseen, but not Wasted) which was about how we have opportunities to lay bricks in the lives of others and were invited to reflect on the foundations in our own lives and the types of bricks that we were contributing to the lives of others.
This week is the last message of the mini-series that focuses on the immediate aftermath of Stephen’s death. As Saul was ravaging early churches, the disciples were scattered to preach the word of Jesus. Philip is called to Samaria, a land well known for social and ethnic barriers between Jews and Samaritans. Despite the tragedies following Stephen’s death, we continue to see God at work through Philip and his disciples, and many were saved. The application point for this week is: Who is your Samaritan?
The land of Samaria in the Bible is a topic we had revisited in the past. In the book of John, we recall Jesus breaking those social, ethnic, and gender barriers to invite the woman at the well to receive living water. In a practical sense for us, the Samaritan can represent someone we have difficulty along with, whether due to personality, values, beliefs, past prejudices or misunderstandings. God invites us to leave our comfort zone to be witnesses to everyone, and in this verse, God leads Philip to Samaria.
Then, how can we apply this to our lives?
The Gospel needs to be seen and heard. To know who Christ is, Christ must be seen and heard. Pastor Daniel shared that when he was witnessing to a Muslim couple, although he heard the message of the Gospel and had the desire to believe, he shared that he wanted to see the evidence of Jesus Christ. In verse 6, Philip demonstrated God’s power through signs and miracles. Although we may not perform the same miracles today, we can demonstrate the most powerful evidence of God’s love through the transformation that Jesus brings into our lives. Our lives serve as our greatest testimony to the changed life that we lead by Christ’s love, through repentance, and forgiveness. While we remain imperfect, our ongoing transformation can be the living evidence of Jesus.
The Gospel should be shown by the love of Christ followers. House church shows the love of Christ to others. While we strive to live our lives in the secular world as Christ followers, house church is an avenue in which non-believers can personally witness and see closely Christian lives. We should reflect on the house church that we are building together and consider how our willingness to love, serve, and support each other become evidence of Jesus Christ to those watching.
The Gospel needs to be proclaimed. The goal of house church is to invite non-believers to church. While we love the relationships we build with non-believers whether friends or family, our goal is for them to receive Jesus. We may be hesitant to invite them to Bible studies, Receiving Jesus Meeting, or church services because of our fears of potentially damaging relationships and losing them in house church ministry. However, we should be mindful that our biggest fear is losing them in God’s kingdom.
Ultimately, this message brings the past three weeks together by remind us that God’s work continues through suffering, persecution, and loss. However, we are reminded that the Christian lives do not end there. Stephen’s death became the catalyst through which the Gospel was spread beyond Jerusalem and into Samaria. Christian life does not promise a life without suffering but it gives us the hope knowing the ending of our story is joy. Revelations 21:4 and Psalm 126:5, as well as verse 8 in the conclusion of this week’s sermon message encapsulates the Christian life, how God can transform our suffering into fruit for His kingdom. What is sown in tears will be met with joy and the ending of our story can be the beginning of something greater in God’s kingdom.
Reflection Questions:
What were your main takeaways from this week’s message?
Where is your Samaria and who is your Samaritan?
How would your house church show the love of Christ and the transformed life to each other and VIPs?
How could you invite people to hear and understand the Gospel of Jesus through RJM, LLBS, and the Sunday sermon?
