Acts 8:1-8 | [The] Word Travels

 Sermon Text:

“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.” (Acts 8:1–8 ESV)

Quotes used in sermon:

“Did not some of you, at one time, the moment you awoke in the morning, begin communing with God? Were there not red-letter days, when, from morning light to evening shade, you were in fellowship with the Most High? You had your burdens, but you always carried them to Jesus; and you had your joys, but you always shared them with Him. You lived for Him; your heart was warm towards Him; you walked with Him in constant communion, but, now, can you really live without even thinking of Him? Can you be happy without thinking of your God? Have you a better house than you used to have, and more money, more friends, and more of this world’s good things; and now you forget your God, and go the whole livelong day without any communication between soul and Him? Ah, then, you have indeed gone down in the world, and up; you are getting poorer and poorer; God help you! If you had come to me, and told me that you had lost everything, but that you loved Jesus better, I should have sympathized with you because of your trouble, but I should have congratulated you upon your grace. But now that you have got on so well in the world that you do not love your Lord as you once did, I can only pity you because of your dreadful prosperity, and mourn over the fearful loss, which you have experienced” – C.H. Spurgeon

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become." – Henry Martyn, missionary to India and Persia

"God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of His name among the nations. Therefore, let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose." – John Piper

"If God would grant us the vision, the word sacrifice would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that seem now so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short, we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ. May God help us ourselves by the eternities that separate the Aucas from a Comprehension of Christmas and Him, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor so that we might, through his poverty, be made rich." – Nate Saint, two weeks before he was martyred by the Aucas

Global Mission Song Lyrics:

Facing a task unfinished That drives us to our knees
A need that, undiminished Rebukes our slothful ease
We, who rejoice to know Thee Renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee To go and make Thee known

Where other lords beside Thee Hold their unhindered sway
Where forces that defied Thee Defy Thee still today
With none to heed their crying For life, and love, and light
Unnumbered souls are dying And pass into the night

(Chorus)
We go to all the world With kingdom hope unfurled
No other name has power to save But Jesus Christ The Lord

We bear the torch that flaming Fell from the hands of those
Who gave their lives proclaiming That Jesus died and rose
Ours is the same commission The same glad message ours
Fired by the same ambition To Thee we yield our powers

O Father who sustained them O Spirit who inspired
Saviour, whose love constrained them To toil with zeal untired
From cowardice defend us From lethargy awake!
Forth on Thine errands send us To labour for Thy sake

[Original Words by Frank Houghton. Original Music by Samuel Wesley. New Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Ed Cash, and Fionan de Barra; © 2015 OMF International, Getty Music Publishing (BMI), Alletrop Music (BMI), and Fionan de Barra (all admin. By MusicServices.org)]