WEBVTT

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 Acts chapter 8, that is page 916, as it says there in the bulletin in the Pew Bible, if

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 you want to turn along there.

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 Let me encourage you to do that as we look into God's Word together this morning.

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 And as you're turning there, I wonder if you've ever sort of paused to reflect on the question

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 of just what it is that gets you up in the morning.

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 What is it that motivates you or drives you, or maybe another way of putting it, what is

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 it that sort of puts wind into your sails?

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 This morning we're starting a new series in the book of Acts.

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 And Acts, I don't know about you, but Acts is probably one of the most exciting books

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 in the whole Bible.

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 It's this explosive history of the first three decades of the church, taking us from the ascension

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 of Jesus and the ascending of the Spirit in the 30s all the way up to Paul's arrival in

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 Rome, sort of the center city of the world at that time in the 60s.

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 One author wrote a book on Acts and titled it, 30 Years That Changed the World.

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 That's a pretty bombastic title.

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 I mean, 30 years that changed the world.

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 And yet, you know, unlike so many book titles, I think that one actually is not an exaggeration.

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 So why study the book of Acts now?

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 Well, you know, one of the interesting things as we're going to study this book of Acts is

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 you see that, you know, the early church, it was not just a sort of smooth highway to

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 the finish line.

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 That there were challenges, there were struggles, there were heartaches.

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 We'll see this morning in our text there were persecutions.

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 And yet, and yet, we see again and again and again that the power of God's Word produces

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 such a joy in His people that they are able not merely to endure these things, but to even

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 flourish in the face of them.

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 And that God's kingdom goes forth in unbelievable ways, even in the face of those things.

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 You know, as a church, we're seeking to be a community that's gathered, transformed, sent

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 forth by the gospel.

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 And Acts is a book that's going to give us the right kind of motivation for doing so.

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 You know, Acts doesn't just teach us how to do church or how to do mission together, how

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 to sort of do these things.

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 But it actually, when we listen to it, when we enter into it, it actually stirs our hearts

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 for doing so.

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 Because as we've said, it points us again and again to the power of the gospel of Jesus

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 Christ and the joy that erupts when the gospel does its work.

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 Now, a few years ago, you'll remember, some of you will remember anyway, that we studied

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 chapters 1 through 7 in Acts.

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 Who was actually here when we studied Acts 1 through 7?

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 Like three of you, right?

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 Because it was three years ago, and that means Trinity is a totally different place.

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 That was the sheepest hand raised I've ever seen.

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 It's like, I don't want to admit that I was here that long ago.

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 So, if you want to listen to Acts 1 through 7, you can jump on the website and you can listen

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 to those old sermons.

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 But we're going to pick up this winter and into the spring, we're going to pick up with

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 chapter 8.

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 And chapter 8's a good place to begin because it begins really a new section of the book.

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 It's one of really the major turning points in the story.

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 And quite frankly, it's one of the major turning points in the history of redemption.

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 The gospel in chapter 8 begins to break new ground.

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 And in that sort of newness is where we're going to pick up.

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 So, if you've turned to Acts chapter 8, let me read starting from the second half of verse 1.

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 Let me read this for us.

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 Luke writes,

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 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

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 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them Christ.

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 And the crowds, with one accord, paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they

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 heard him and saw the signs that he did.

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 For unclean spirits crying out with a loud voice came out of many who had them, and many

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 who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

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 So there was much joy in that city.

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 But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people

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 of Samaria saying that he himself was somebody great.

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 They all paid attention to him from the least to the greatest saying,

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 This man is the power of God that is called great.

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 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

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 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,

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 they were baptized, both men and women.

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 Even Simon himself believed.

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 And after being baptized, he continued with Philip.

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 And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

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 Now when the apostles of Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,

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 they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them,

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 that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

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 For he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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 And they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

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 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands,

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 he offered them money, saying,

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 Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

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 But Peter said to him,

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 May your silver perish with you,

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 because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.

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 You have neither part nor lot in this matter,

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 for your heart is not right before God.

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 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours,

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 and pray to the Lord that, if possible,

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 the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

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 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness

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 and in the bond of iniquity.

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 And Simon answered,

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 Pray for me to the Lord,

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 that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.

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 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord,

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 they returned to Jerusalem,

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 preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

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 You know, sometimes God does things in ways that we don't expect.

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 In chapter 1 of Acts,

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 before ascending to heaven,

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 Jesus told his disciples that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem,

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 and in all Judea and Samaria,

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 and to the end of the earth.

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 So, you have to expect that at some point,

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 as Acts unfolds,

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 the gospel is going to advance to those regions.

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 And yet here in chapter 8,

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 as we see the gospel going forth to Samaria,

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 and the church being established there,

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 in fulfillment of Jesus' very promise,

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 it all seems to be happening in ways

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 that no one would have expected.

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 It's not the neat and tidy,

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 or predictable,

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 or safe,

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 or comfortable way

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 that we think it all would happen.

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 And in each of these unexpected twists and turns of the story,

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 there lies a valuable lesson for us today.

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 And there are four I want to point out

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 as we walk through this text this morning.

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 And the first is this.

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 We see here that the gospel advances

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 by an unexpected circumstance.

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 This is verses 1 through 4.

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 Scan down over those verses again.

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 And as you do so,

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 I wonder if you've ever felt defeated,

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 or discouraged,

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 or ready to give up.

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 Our passage opens with this

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 massively disheartening scene.

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 The church seems headed for defeat.

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 Stephen has just been martyred.

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 A great persecution breaks out.

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 Believers are scattered.

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 Churches are ravaged.

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 Men and women in prison.

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 These first three verses are a discouraging picture indeed.

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 Some in the church may have even been thinking

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 whether or not God was really caring for them at all.

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 How could he allow this to happen?

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 But in verse 4,

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 Luke points us to this great lesson.

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 You see, God

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 is turning

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 this seeming defeat

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 into a triumph.

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 Persecution ends up

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 scattering the believers,

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 but the scattered believers

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 end up

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 sharing the gospel wherever they go.

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 It's as if this attempt

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 to stamp out

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 the fire of Christ.

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 Have you ever done that

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 when you're camping?

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 It's not a very

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 wise thing to do.

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 You sort of

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 stamp out the fire.

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 What happens?

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 The sparks start flying everywhere.

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 And that's exactly

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 what's happening to the church.

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 The sparks start flying

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 in all new directions

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 and they start lighting

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 fires of their own.

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 And one of those new fires

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 was in Samaria.

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 that God uses this instance

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 to initiate

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 a great new phase

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 of gospel growth.

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 The time for the gospel

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 to advance beyond

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 the walls of Jerusalem.

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 You see, God took

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 the seeming defeat

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 of Stephen's death

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 and the ensuing persecution

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 on an attempt really

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 to bring an end

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 to the movement of Christ.

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 But God takes that attempt

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 to bring the church

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 to an end

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 and does the exact opposite.

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 that instead of ending

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 the church,

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 the church begins

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 a whole new phase

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 of growth.

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 And of course,

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 as we study church history,

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 we see that God

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 has done this again

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 and again and again.

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 John Stott

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 in his commentary

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 on Acts

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 mentions the example

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 of China

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 as one of these.

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 In 1949,

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 after the Communist Party

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 took power,

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 all the Christian missionaries

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 in China

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 were forced to leave

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 the country.

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 And it seemed like

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 a disaster

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 for the cause of Christ.

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 But the reality

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 of what happened

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 as a result

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 was that many

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 of the expelled missionaries

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 went to other parts of Asia

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 and so spread the faith

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 in unreached places.

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 And in China itself,

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 Chinese lay leaders

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 ended up taking

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 the lead of the church

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 and the church

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 exploded in size

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 and in vitality.

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 It's been estimated

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 that the church

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 is some 30 to 40,

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 probably more times

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 larger than it was

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 today than when

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 the missionaries left.

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 You see,

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 the flame just simply grew.

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 But it's not just

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 church history

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 that teaches us

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 this lesson, right?

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 Don't we see it

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 in our own

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 personal stories?

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 That times of challenge,

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 times of persecution,

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 times of suffering,

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 these are often

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 the times

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 when the gospel

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 takes its deepest root.

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 That those are often

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 the times

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 when the gospel

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 ends up bearing

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 the sweetest fruit

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 in our lives.

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 So friends,

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 we need not despair

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 when hard times come.

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 We need not

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 lose hope.

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 Even as we grieve

00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:59.139
 this season of the church

00:11:59.139 --> 00:11:59.819
 that we're entering

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 into with news

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 that we've just

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 received today,

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 friends,

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 even this

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 is not cause

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 for despair

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 to lose hope.

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 It's a time to grieve.

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 It's a time to continue

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 to bear each other's burdens.

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 It's a time to continue

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 to pray fervently.

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 Ah, but friends,

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 it's not a time

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 to despair

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 to lose hope.

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 You know,

00:12:21.660 --> 00:12:22.600
 many students of Acts

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 have speculated

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 that perhaps

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 the early church

00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.259
 needed something

00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:27.080
 that was sort of

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 as massive

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 as a great persecution

00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:29.680
 that would dislodge them

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.400
 from their comfort zone

00:12:30.400 --> 00:12:30.840
 in Jerusalem

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 and send them out

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.040
 into the world.

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 And you know,

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.520
 we can't really say for sure.

00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.639
 That's kind of speculating.

00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:35.580
 But you know,

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.200
 we can know that

00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.080
 no matter what comes,

00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.080
 even if it be

00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:38.840
 great persecution

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.940
 like here in Acts 8,

00:12:40.280 --> 00:12:41.240
 God will always

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.000
 have a way in the end

00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.620
 of using it

00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.200
 for the advance

00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:43.820
 of his kingdom

00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:45.399
 and for our ultimate joy.

00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:46.940
 Which isn't that

00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:47.480
 a great comfort

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.460
 that Stephen's death

00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:49.080
 wasn't in vain,

00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:50.299
 that the great persecution

00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:51.120
 wasn't lost

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.779
 in God's plan.

00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:52.279
 That should give us

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.139
 great confidence

00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:53.960
 and comfort

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.600
 as we look ahead

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.159
 as a church.

00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:57.700
 That this is the great God

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:58.379
 that we serve.

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.759
 What happens in Acts 8

00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.879
 is that this scattering

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:05.019
 leads to a great advance

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:06.039
 of God's redemptive plan

00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:06.980
 to call all peoples

00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.379
 to himself.

00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.039
 And that brings us

00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.139
 to our second point.

00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:10.679
 We see that the gospel

00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:11.259
 advances,

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.359
 not just through

00:13:12.359 --> 00:13:13.439
 an unexpected circumstance,

00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:15.000
 but through unexpected people.

00:13:16.699 --> 00:13:17.379
 In verse 4,

00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:18.359
 we see that the apostles

00:13:18.359 --> 00:13:21.039
 who are sort of

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:21.799
 leading the church

00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:22.599
 up to this point

00:13:22.599 --> 00:13:24.239
 in the book of Acts

00:13:24.239 --> 00:13:26.139
 aren't the ones now

00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:27.019
 who are on the forefront

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:28.459
 of gospel mission.

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.019
 Who is it?

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:30.919
 The apostles

00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:32.000
 stay behind in Jerusalem,

00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:33.099
 probably to continue

00:13:33.099 --> 00:13:33.819
 their sort of

00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:34.459
 pastoral care

00:13:34.459 --> 00:13:35.399
 and presence in the city.

00:13:36.839 --> 00:13:37.959
 But it's not the apostles

00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:38.639
 who are on the forefront.

00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:40.000
 It's those

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.379
 who are scattered abroad.

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.319
 It's these

00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:44.840
 everyday Christians

00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:47.460
 who had jobs to do,

00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.819
 who had families

00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:49.500
 to take care of,

00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.439
 who had clothes to wash,

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.460
 who had meals to cook.

00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:52.279
 These so-called

00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.419
 ordinary Christians

00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:54.819
 are the pioneers

00:13:54.819 --> 00:13:56.179
 of this great

00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:56.860
 redemptive movement

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.259
 of God.

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.299
 Isn't that a wonderful

00:13:59.299 --> 00:13:59.960
 surprise?

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:02.019
 That in God's economy,

00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.939
 each one of us

00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:05.240
 has a part to play.

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:07.799
 That each one of us

00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.500
 has a role

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.120
 to take up

00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.560
 in the cause of God.

00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:13.500
 The early church

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.440
 is this great example

00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.000
 that for the first

00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.039
 300 years

00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.840
 of the church's growth,

00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:17.519
 the gospel spread

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.180
 to all corners

00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.100
 of the world

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.799
 through people

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:20.700
 just like you and me

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:22.220
 who had tasted

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:23.180
 the joy of the gospel

00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:24.620
 and couldn't help

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.259
 but share it.

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:28.820
 And then Luke

00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.480
 focuses in

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.560
 in verses 5 through 13

00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.840
 on a ministry

00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.960
 of Philip.

00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:35.680
 And again,

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:36.620
 you know,

00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.780
 he's maybe not the one

00:14:37.780 --> 00:14:38.600
 we'd expect

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:39.600
 to be doing

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.680
 this groundbreaking,

00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.100
 bold mission

00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:43.180
 to Samaria.

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.879
 He's not an apostle.

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.620
 He's one of the seven

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.580
 that was named

00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.240
 in Acts 6

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.900
 to sort of help

00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:49.759
 with food distribution

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.620
 in the Jerusalem church.

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.580
 He's a mature believer,

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.040
 companion of Stephen,

00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:55.680
 but you know,

00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:56.200
 not sort of,

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:56.980
 not an apostle.

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.259
 But he's the one

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:01.040
 that God uses.

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.600
 And we'll later learn

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.980
 in Acts chapter 21

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.519
 that Philip comes

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.280
 to be called

00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.900
 the evangelist.

00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:13.160
 Isn't that great?

00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.900
 That this unlikely guy

00:15:15.900 --> 00:15:17.440
 ends up being known

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:18.620
 as the one

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:20.080
 who really broke ground

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:20.800
 for the gospel.

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.900
 And Luke's actually

00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:25.740
 going to spend time

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.040
 with him,

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:26.920
 the author of Acts,

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.360
 actually,

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.660
 as a companion of Paul.

00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.320
 He's actually going

00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:29.900
 to spend time

00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:30.360
 with Philip

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.280
 in Acts 21,

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.720
 we learn.

00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:32.439
 And that's probably

00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.279
 when Luke learned

00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.480
 or at least verified

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:36.399
 these accounts

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:36.959
 that we have written

00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:38.319
 for us in chapter 8.

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:39.819
 Luke's writing for us

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:41.139
 firsthand accounts

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.600
 from Philip himself

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.319
 of what happened

00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:44.980
 when God did

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.620
 this great work.

00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:48.240
 Now,

00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:48.799
 as we focus in

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.439
 on Philip's work here,

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.740
 consider how radical

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.919
 Philip's mission

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.879
 to Samaria is,

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.399
 after all.

00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:54.740
 I mean,

00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:55.799
 verse 5 just sort of

00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:56.419
 almost feels like

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.659
 a throwaway verse to us,

00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.679
 but it's wild.

00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:03.219
 Think of it this way.

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.759
 Many days,

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.659
 when I get home

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:06.179
 from work,

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.179
 my three-and-a-half-year-old

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:08.959
 son, Jack,

00:16:09.599 --> 00:16:11.139
 often has one thing

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:12.139
 on his mind

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.879
 as I step in the door.

00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:15.799
 He comes running

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.339
 down the hall,

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.939
 meets me at the door,

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.319
 and says,

00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:18.819
 Dad,

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.479
 let's wrestle.

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:26.060
 And of course,

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:26.940
 if you're wrestling,

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.139
 you have to come up

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.259
 with awesome wrestling names,

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:29.600
 right?

00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:30.960
 So, you know,

00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.759
 sometimes we go

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.080
 for our traditional superheroes,

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.159
 Spider-Man,

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.019
 Superman,

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.060
 Batman,

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:37.800
 whatever man.

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.420
 Sometimes we'll sort of

00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:41.980
 make up wrestling names

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.820
 of our own creation.

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.720
 Some of my favorite

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.639
 that Jack has come up with

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.659
 are Thunder Cruncher.

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.639
 It's a good one.

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.720
 Lightning Jammer.

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:52.060
 But sometimes,

00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:52.899
 Jack will look at me

00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.360
 and say,

00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:54.259
 Dad,

00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:56.940
 let's be bad guys.

00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.100
 Now,

00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:00.560
 I'm not sure where

00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.540
 he sort of learned

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:03.120
 the concept of bad guy.

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.480
 It was probably

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.519
 one of those corruptions

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.380
 induced by an older cousin

00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.480
 during a family visit.

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.720
 One of those

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.700
 sort of things.

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.600
 But you know,

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.779
 once Jack got the idea

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.600
 of bad guy

00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:14.799
 in his head,

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.460
 he's never forgotten it.

00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:17.700
 And he's kind of

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.700
 fascinated by it.

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:21.579
 And of course,

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.019
 it seems like

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.839
 every good story

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:24.000
 has a bad guy,

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:24.400
 right?

00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:26.279
 An arch nemesis

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.140
 that never seems

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.779
 to go away.

00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:29.039
 Always the sort of thorn

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.000
 in the hero's side.

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.779
 And the best bad guys,

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.279
 when you look at

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.779
 all the stories,

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.980
 always have some

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.019
 sort of connection

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.240
 or similarity

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.259
 to the good guys,

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:38.600
 right?

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:39.920
 You know,

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.620
 Darth Vader

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:42.299
 is actually Luke Skywalker's

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.640
 father.

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:45.140
 Or Gollum actually

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.079
 used to be a hobbit.

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.099
 So there's this weird

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.299
 sort of connection

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.119
 that the good guy

00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.139
 and the bad guy has

00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.059
 that makes it all

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.720
 the more poignant.

00:17:53.919 --> 00:17:54.240
 Well, you know,

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.199
 if you would have asked

00:17:55.199 --> 00:17:56.720
 most Jews

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.659
 in the first century

00:17:57.659 --> 00:18:00.579
 who their arch nemesis was,

00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:02.439
 who was the thorn

00:18:02.439 --> 00:18:03.379
 in their side,

00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:06.099
 they probably would have said

00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:07.659
 the Samaritans.

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:11.940
 What existed between Jews

00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.640
 and Samaritans

00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:15.019
 was bitter ethnic rivalry.

00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.279
 Sort of like we see

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.180
 in many parts of the world

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.860
 still today.

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.300
 Because the Samaritans

00:18:20.300 --> 00:18:21.360
 were actually sort of

00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:22.300
 distant relatives

00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:22.759
 of the Jews.

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.540
 When the ancient

00:18:23.540 --> 00:18:24.640
 northern kingdom of Israel

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:26.000
 was sort of conquered

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.920
 by the Assyrians

00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:28.000
 in the 8th century BC,

00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.080
 what happened was

00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:30.040
 the Assyrians deported

00:18:30.040 --> 00:18:31.000
 large numbers of people

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.900
 and then imported

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.660
 a bunch of foreigners

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.820
 and the Jews who were left

00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:34.540
 in the northern kingdom

00:18:34.540 --> 00:18:35.740
 sort of intermarried

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:37.779
 with the Jews who were left.

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:39.660
 So what happened was

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:41.279
 is that, you know,

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.460
 the Samaritans,

00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.640
 the people who still live

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.599
 in that old northern kingdom,

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.420
 ended up being seen

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.500
 by most Jews in the south

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.680
 as sort of half-breeds.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.519
 And to make matters worse,

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.099
 most Samaritans claimed,

00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.480
 and they all did really,

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.420
 to serve the same God

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:54.900
 as the Jews,

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.640
 but they rejected

00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.380
 large portions

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:57.079
 of the sort of

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.000
 Hebrew scriptures.

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.180
 They even built

00:18:59.180 --> 00:18:59.920
 their own temple,

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.200
 you know.

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.079
 So they weren't just

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.359
 sort of, you know,

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.700
 weird ethnically.

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.279
 But they were also heretics.

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.559
 You know,

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.339
 this sort of

00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:16.359
 age-old dispute

00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.339
 between Jews

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.079
 and Samaritans

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.099
 just went for

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.940
 hundreds of years.

00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:22.720
 And they basically

00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.359
 treated each other

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.240
 with ongoing suspicion

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.980
 and hostility

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.279
 and sometimes even violence.

00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:27.059
 Now, consider,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.480
 if that's the case,

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.640
 how radical it was

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.200
 for Philip,

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.440
 having been driven

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.660
 from Jerusalem

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:34.019
 because of persecution,

00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.500
 where does he go?

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:38.279
 He makes a beeline

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.960
 for Samaria.

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.759
 That is strange.

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.660
 I mean, as a Jew,

00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.420
 these were people

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.420
 he had been brought up

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.700
 to despise.

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.619
 And as soon as he

00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.759
 sort of steps out,

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.579
 that's the first place

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.039
 he's headed.

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:57.220
 he goes to one of their

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.539
 most prominent cities.

00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.339
 Luke actually doesn't

00:19:59.339 --> 00:19:59.960
 mention which one.

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.220
 He says,

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.240
 the city of Samaria.

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.539
 He goes to one of their

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.500
 prominent cities

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:05.899
 and starts loving them

00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:07.079
 and sharing the good news

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.659
 about Jesus,

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.000
 the kingdom of God

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.339
 and the name of Christ.

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.279
 I mean,

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.899
 think of what that would

00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:13.579
 look like today.

00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.680
 Think of a place

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.099
 in the world

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.559
 where there's been

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:17.579
 long-standing religious

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.579
 and ethnic strife.

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.339
 Belfast

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:20.799
 in the 70s and 80s,

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.919
 the Balkans

00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.720
 in the 90s,

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.000
 Rwanda

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.859
 in the 90s,

00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.720
 Israel and Palestine

00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.859
 today where people

00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:28.559
 hate each other.

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:33.220
 what power

00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:36.240
 could so transform

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.259
 a young person's

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.079
 heart

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:40.579
 who's been born

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.419
 into that kind

00:20:41.419 --> 00:20:42.200
 of intense strife

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.700
 and hastery

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:44.779
 such that

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:46.599
 he or she

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.480
 no longer

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.419
 views the other

00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.779
 as an enemy

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.460
 to be hated

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:52.019
 but a neighbor

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.759
 to be loved.

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.359
 What

00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:58.599
 must have done

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.939
 a thing like that?

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.240
 Friends,

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.519
 you see,

00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.799
 Philip had learned

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.539
 the deep

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.719
 and essential

00:21:07.719 --> 00:21:08.959
 truth

00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:10.119
 of the good news

00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:10.659
 of grace

00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:12.299
 which is this,

00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.719
 that on the one hand

00:21:14.719 --> 00:21:16.619
 what the gospel

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.099
 tells us

00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:17.740
 that regardless

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.259
 of your background

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.959
 or culture,

00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:20.919
 regardless of your

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.519
 religion

00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.799
 or your moral performance,

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.419
 even everyone

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.700
 is hopelessly

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.220
 sinful

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.519
 and selfish

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.600
 and in need

00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:30.160
 of rescue.

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.759
 But on the other hand,

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.740
 no one

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.900
 is beyond

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.560
 the reach

00:21:37.560 --> 00:21:38.680
 of God's

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.320
 free mercy

00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:40.120
 and grace

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.720
 in Christ.

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.960
 That what

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.740
 God did

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.500
 through Jesus'

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.080
 life,

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:45.720
 death,

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.539
 resurrection

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.320
 and ascension

00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.259
 is for all

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.900
 who believe.

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.759
 The whole concept,

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.300
 in other words,

00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:54.320
 of bad guy,

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:54.940
 had been

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.580
 utterly

00:21:55.580 --> 00:21:56.580
 deconstructed

00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:57.440
 and demolished

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:57.980
 for Philip.

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.120
 There no longer

00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.940
 were good guys

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.920
 and bad guys

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:02.200
 in his moral world.

00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:03.920
 He began

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.779
 to see the truth

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.920
 that everyone

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:08.240
 is a sinner

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.220
 in need of grace.

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.140
 That he couldn't

00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:12.880
 look at other

00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:13.519
 people anymore

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.120
 and say,

00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.380
 you're out.

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.380
 That he couldn't

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.920
 look at people

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.779
 anymore and say,

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.000
 there's no way

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.740
 you could be in.

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:25.880
 Friends,

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.579
 and if you let

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.039
 the gospel

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.960
 sink in like that,

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.319
 it will

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.319
 revolutionize

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.140
 your life.

00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.259
 When Philip

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.039
 takes the risk

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.380
 and goes to Samaria

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.440
 and starts telling

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.980
 them about the

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.420
 good news

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:38.819
 of the kingdom

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.339
 of God

00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.000
 and the name

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.359
 of Jesus,

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.200
 what happens?

00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.839
 Lo and behold,

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.140
 the fact that

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.079
 they're Samaritans

00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:46.039
 doesn't stop

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.779
 God from working.

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:47.980
 In verses 6

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.279
 through 8,

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:48.720
 the message

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.379
 rings out

00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:49.960
 and God

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.579
 confirms

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.420
 Philip's preaching

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.279
 with powerful signs

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.039
 as a demonstration

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.299
 that this is

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.859
 his truth.

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.160
 Come to redeem.

00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:58.000
 And even in

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.460
 verses 9

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:58.859
 through 13,

00:22:58.960 --> 00:22:59.339
 we see that

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.019
 even though

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.839
 this particular

00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.619
 city had been

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.619
 bound in

00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:02.839
 sort of

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.359
 deception

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.099
 and lies

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.799
 by a local

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.119
 sort of

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:05.740
 charlatan

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.539
 magic worker,

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.299
 that even though

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:08.779
 they had been

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.819
 sort of clouded

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.480
 in spiritual

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.079
 deception,

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.599
 not even that

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.440
 stopped God

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.460
 from breaking

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.299
 through and

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.099
 opening up

00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:16.740
 life and joy

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.539
 in Christ for them.

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:21.220
 right before

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.839
 Philip's eyes,

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.579
 he gets to see

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.259
 that God

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.119
 is making

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.019
 the Samaritans

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.099
 full members

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.879
 of his family

00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:28.039
 on the basis

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.859
 of faith alone

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:30.619
 and nothing's

00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.420
 stopping it.

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.000
 Something totally

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.859
 new is underway.

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.839
 You know,

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.420
 one way of looking

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:39.940
 at this whole

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.599
 sort of portion

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.339
 of the book of Acts

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:41.960
 from chapter 8

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.839
 to chapter 12

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.779
 where the gospel

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.839
 goes to all Judea

00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:45.379
 and Samaria,

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.379
 it's almost as if

00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:46.920
 it's this great

00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.940
 transitional period

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.620
 it's as if

00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.720
 a great door

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.380
 is sort of

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.440
 turning on its

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.820
 hinge,

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:52.840
 opening up

00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.980
 more and more

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.380
 and more

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.080
 until by the time

00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.279
 we reach chapter 13

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:58.740
 the Gentile mission

00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.960
 is exploding out

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.779
 in full force.

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.600
 And you see

00:24:02.600 --> 00:24:03.080
 what's happening

00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:03.519
 here friends

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.279
 is that God

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.360
 is fulfilling

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.580
 all of his

00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:07.480
 ancient promises.

00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:10.259
 God is fulfilling

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.860
 his promises

00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.519
 to gather

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.220
 the lost sheep

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.720
 of Israel

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.380
 and not just

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:14.980
 those but to

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.360
 gather all nations

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.119
 to himself

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:18.659
 that God's

00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:19.279
 keeping his

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.659
 long promises

00:24:20.659 --> 00:24:21.339
 in his son.

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:24.699
 So we see

00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:25.159
 that the gospel

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.759
 advances through

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.879
 unexpected circumstances

00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:27.559
 and through

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.539
 unexpected people

00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.879
 and then third

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:31.179
 the gospel

00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:31.879
 advances through

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:33.240
 this unexpected

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.719
 initiation.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.399
 What happens

00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:37.439
 in verses 14

00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:38.059
 through 17

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.699
 of our text

00:24:38.699 --> 00:24:39.279
 this morning

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.299
 is something

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.059
 of an exegetical

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.859
 sort of quandary.

00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.359
 A lot of ink

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:44.959
 has been spilled

00:24:44.959 --> 00:24:45.479
 over it.

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.399
 But as we

00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:47.859
 take a step

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.259
 back

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.559
 what God's

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.219
 doing in these

00:24:50.219 --> 00:24:51.079
 verses is making

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:52.259
 it unmistakably

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.319
 clear both

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.240
 to the Samaritans

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.059
 and to the

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.859
 apostles and

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.539
 through them

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:56.959
 to the church

00:24:56.959 --> 00:24:57.419
 in Jerusalem

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:58.959
 that they

00:24:58.959 --> 00:25:00.079
 are members

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.240
 of one

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.439
 and the same

00:25:02.439 --> 00:25:03.479
 family.

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.599
 One

00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.240
 and the same

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.599
 body.

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.199
 One

00:25:06.199 --> 00:25:07.199
 and the same

00:25:07.199 --> 00:25:07.979
 church.

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.839
 That's what

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.299
 God's doing

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.579
 here.

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:11.839
 And God

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.459
 demonstrates

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.400
 this fact

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.380
 by doing

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:14.799
 something

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.400
 very

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.180
 very

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.079
 odd.

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.460
 What's

00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:19.779
 odd?

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.380
 Well

00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.380
 when the

00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:21.600
 apostles

00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:21.960
 come down

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.500
 from Jerusalem

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.620
 it becomes

00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.100
 evident to

00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.319
 them

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.960
 that the

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.400
 Samaritan

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.200
 converts

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.259
 they had

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.539
 certainly

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.039
 believed

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.360
 they had

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:28.620
 definitely

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.220
 been baptized

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.700
 that they

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.200
 hadn't

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.900
 received

00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:32.740
 the full

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.220
 indwelling

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.700
 presence of

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:33.940
 the Holy

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.299
 Spirit.

00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:35.460
 Now

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.579
 that would

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.039
 have struck

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.579
 them all

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.579
 as unexpected

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.380
 and even

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.100
 strange.

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:41.699
 And even

00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.119
 the language

00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:42.459
 of verse

00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.199
 16 which

00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:43.459
 is sort

00:25:43.459 --> 00:25:43.859
 of oddly

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.199
 kind of

00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:44.639
 constructed

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:44.919
 in our

00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:45.099
 English

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.539
 translations

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.219
 it sort

00:25:46.219 --> 00:25:46.779
 of suggests

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:48.000
 that something

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.599
 weird is

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:48.980
 happening.

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.399
 Do you

00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:51.799
 remember back

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.459
 in Acts 2

00:25:52.459 --> 00:25:53.699
 how Peter

00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:54.279
 made very

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.959
 clear in his

00:25:54.959 --> 00:25:55.459
 first sermon

00:25:55.459 --> 00:25:56.279
 after Pentecost

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.279
 that believing

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.779
 in Jesus

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.879
 getting baptized

00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.819
 receiving the

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.459
 Spirit all

00:26:00.459 --> 00:26:01.039
 go together.

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.639
 And the

00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.240
 rest of Acts

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.639
 and the rest

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:04.959
 of the New

00:26:04.959 --> 00:26:05.679
 Testament bears

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:06.240
 this out.

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:07.819
 What's

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.119
 belief?

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.639
 Belief is

00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.699
 personally trusting

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.220
 the good news

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.620
 of what Jesus

00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:10.960
 has done

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.319
 and relying

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:11.740
 on him.

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.400
 And the

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.799
 Holy Spirit

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.340
 is the gift

00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:13.580
 of the

00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.019
 Father for

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.400
 all who

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:14.860
 believe.

00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:15.640
 Filling

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.259
 believers with

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.900
 joy and

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.400
 power for

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.799
 ministry.

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.240
 And baptism

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.860
 is the outward

00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.680
 expression of

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.120
 all of this

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:21.740
 symbolizing

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.720
 cleansing from

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.519
 sin and

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.019
 the beginning

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.460
 of one's

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:24.960
 new life

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.180
 in the

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.640
 family of

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:25.880
 God.

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.340
 And they

00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:26.880
 all go

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.420
 together as

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.240
 one thing.

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.080
 But it

00:26:31.080 --> 00:26:31.460
 was evident

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.059
 to Philip

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.559
 and to Peter

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:33.960
 and John

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.259
 when they

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.720
 showed up

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.220
 strangely

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.600
 that the

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.000
 Samaritans

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.900
 hadn't received

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.400
 this promised

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.120
 new covenant

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.680
 and dwelling

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:40.920
 of the

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.480
 Holy Spirit

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.500
 even though

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:42.960
 they believed

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.240
 and been

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.560
 baptized.

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.500
 In some

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.380
 sense they

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:47.660
 were sort

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.019
 of like the

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.380
 original

00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:49.060
 disciples in

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.580
 Acts 1

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.080
 before

00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.740
 Pentecost.

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.540
 They believed

00:26:52.540 --> 00:26:52.880
 in Jesus

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.220
 they'd been

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.780
 baptized but

00:26:53.780 --> 00:26:54.500
 the full-on

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.100
 New Testament

00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:55.860
 ministry of the

00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.340
 Spirit hadn't

00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:56.880
 yet begun in

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.380
 their lives.

00:26:58.040 --> 00:26:58.580
 It hadn't

00:26:58.580 --> 00:26:59.259
 yet started

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.140
 for them.

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:01.780
 And the

00:27:01.780 --> 00:27:02.280
 million dollar

00:27:02.280 --> 00:27:03.120
 question is

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:04.720
 why the

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.080
 delay?

00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:07.019
 Why hadn't

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.519
 they received

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.980
 the Spirit?

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.039
 Well as I

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.440
 mentioned this

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.960
 passage has

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.639
 been read and

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.440
 interpreted in

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.960
 a number of

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.339
 ways.

00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:15.779
 Some will

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.119
 point to

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.619
 this text and

00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.059
 say that it

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.700
 teaches a sort

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.379
 of pattern to

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:19.839
 be imitated

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.160
 today.

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.859
 That every

00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:21.480
 Christian sort

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:21.980
 of needs some

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.480
 sort of post

00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.000
 conversion,

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.579
 post baptism

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.680
 kind of experience

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.619
 or imparting of

00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.279
 the Holy Spirit.

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.359
 For Roman

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:30.960
 Catholics and

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.460
 for some high

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.200
 church Anglicans

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.700
 that's really

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:32.920
 what the

00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.139
 rite of

00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:33.859
 confirmation is

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.279
 all about.

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.079
 That after

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.599
 your baptism

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.480
 that's when

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:36.740
 you sort

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.159
 of get the

00:27:37.159 --> 00:27:37.579
 fullness of

00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:37.859
 the Holy

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.179
 Spirit.

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.319
 For various

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.719
 sort of other

00:27:40.719 --> 00:27:41.359
 Pentecostal or

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:41.719
 maybe even

00:27:41.719 --> 00:27:42.500
 charismatic streams

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:42.919
 of the church

00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:43.559
 that's what being

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.279
 baptized in the

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.619
 Spirit is all

00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:44.740
 about.

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.319
 You're converted

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.119
 and then at a

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.879
 later point you

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.379
 get sort of the

00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:48.439
 full sort of

00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:49.319
 experience and

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.959
 presence of the

00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:50.219
 Spirit.

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:53.719
 Both

00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.419
 traditions as

00:27:54.419 --> 00:27:54.899
 different as

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:56.500
 they are want

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:56.859
 to sort of

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:58.179
 read Acts 8

00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:58.799
 this sort of

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.519
 moment as a

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.199
 sort of normative

00:28:00.199 --> 00:28:01.299
 and normal

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.179
 Christian experience

00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:02.679
 that after

00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.539
 conversion you need

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:03.959
 this sort of

00:28:03.959 --> 00:28:05.079
 second stage or

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.779
 this second

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.579
 experience.

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.559
 But friends I

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.000
 think it's pretty

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.839
 clear that that's

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.759
 not what this

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.419
 passage in Acts

00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:13.939
 8 means.

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.399
 On the one

00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.500
 hand you have

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.960
 to think that

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.619
 every narrative

00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.179
 in the Bible

00:28:19.179 --> 00:28:21.379
 isn't necessarily

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:23.079
 there to give

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.000
 us a pattern

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:25.119
 for how to

00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.199
 act now.

00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:28.179
 Everything in

00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:28.559
 the Bible is

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:28.960
 there for our

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.799
 edification and

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.480
 for our instruction

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.939
 and for our

00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:31.439
 learning and for

00:28:31.439 --> 00:28:32.199
 our growth but

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:33.079
 sometimes narratives

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.659
 in the Bible

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.860
 describe unique

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.920
 events from

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.259
 which we have

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.640
 something to

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.279
 learn yes but

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.820
 not necessarily

00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:38.400
 something to

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:38.779
 imitate.

00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:40.560
 And I think

00:28:40.560 --> 00:28:41.019
 that's what's

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.580
 going on in

00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:41.960
 Samaria.

00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:43.960
 God is doing

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:46.040
 something historically

00:28:46.040 --> 00:28:47.320
 unique in this

00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:47.759
 moment.

00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:49.279
 He's doing

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.240
 something historically

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.560
 unique to make

00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.340
 an incredibly

00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:54.360
 clear once for

00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:56.640
 all point to

00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.180
 the church.

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:59.900
 that God

00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.840
 delays the

00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:01.420
 pouring out of

00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:01.960
 the spirit and

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.100
 fullness until

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:04.299
 the apostles show

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:06.340
 up in order to

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.640
 demonstrate loud

00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:09.840
 and clear that

00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.500
 there's one

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:12.360
 gospel, one

00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:13.720
 spirit, and

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.539
 one church.

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.039
 Think of how

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:18.539
 easy it would

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.920
 have been for

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.600
 the all-Jewish

00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:20.980
 church in

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.500
 Jerusalem to

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.380
 remain skeptical

00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:23.779
 and suspicious of

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.720
 Samaritan converts.

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.060
 It would have been

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.000
 very easy, wouldn't

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.419
 it have been?

00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.440
 On the flip side,

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.099
 think of how easy

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.599
 it would have been

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.480
 for the Samaritan

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.259
 converts to sort

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:34.099
 of drift away from

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.639
 their brothers and

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.399
 sisters in Jerusalem,

00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.839
 maybe always thinking

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.559
 of themselves as

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.599
 second-class citizens,

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:40.379
 perhaps drifting away

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.419
 theologically because

00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:41.919
 they had no

00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:42.659
 connection and

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:43.359
 mooring to the

00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:43.819
 teaching of the

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.200
 apostles.

00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:47.079
 But instead of

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.879
 that, instead of

00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.779
 these divisions sort

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.480
 of dividing up the

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.000
 church right from

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:53.159
 the start, God has

00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:54.319
 the apostles show up

00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:56.279
 and see with their

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:57.659
 own eyes the

00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.480
 spirit fall on

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:58.700
 them.

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.779
 That they get to

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:03.519
 be the authoritative

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.700
 witnesses of what

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:06.240
 Jesus Christ does in

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.659
 Samaria.

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.599
 And he does it

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.279
 through means of

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.279
 their own prayers,

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.839
 which is very

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.579
 interesting, as if

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:14.419
 to say, you're one

00:30:14.419 --> 00:30:16.460
 family, you're

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.359
 together in this.

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.039
 Now, of course,

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:21.179
 Luke doesn't say how

00:30:21.179 --> 00:30:22.159
 they knew the spirit

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:22.980
 came upon them at

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.319
 last.

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.519
 Maybe it was

00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.220
 speaking in tongues,

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.139
 miraculous signs.

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.039
 Maybe, honestly,

00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.839
 maybe it was just a

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.659
 deep and pervasive

00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:30.559
 sense of joy, of

00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.019
 joy and gladness that

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.539
 just filled them when

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.319
 the spirit came.

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.460
 But whatever it was,

00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:42.519
 you have to see that

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:44.919
 God is forging a

00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:47.819
 single body that

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:50.279
 spans our ancient

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.939
 divisions of

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.820
 ethnicity and

00:30:51.820 --> 00:30:51.840
 ethnicity and

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.900
 nationality and

00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.920
 language and

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.420
 culture.

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.620
 God is saying that

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.640
 the church is going

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.500
 to be the one

00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:00.400
 place where the

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.460
 animosities that

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.720
 divide us are at

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.880
 last healed through

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:05.620
 the balm of the

00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.000
 gospel.

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.700
 That's the lesson

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:11.100
 from this unexpected

00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:11.759
 initiation.

00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:16.120
 That's the point that's

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.779
 being driven home.

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:20.339
 one last episode that

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.519
 Luke includes as he

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.420
 wraps up his account of

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.259
 how the gospel came to

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.599
 Samaria.

00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:25.299
 Fourth, we see that the

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.940
 gospel advances through an

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:28.639
 unexpected rebuke.

00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:29.920
 You know, if the lesson of

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.200
 verses 14 through 17 and the

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.240
 lay of the spirit is sort of

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.460
 an outward corporate lesson

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.519
 about the unity of the body,

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.619
 then what happens in verses

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:37.500
 18 through 24 is more of an

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.759
 inward and individual lesson

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.079
 about the state of our

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:41.579
 hearts.

00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:47.119
 Peter rebukes Simon and

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.679
 even exposes him as a

00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:51.399
 counterfeit who's in grave

00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.460
 spiritual danger.

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.960
 Now, of course, the surface

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:58.119
 lesson here is that trying

00:31:58.119 --> 00:32:00.119
 to buy spiritual power and

00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:01.460
 position is wrong.

00:32:02.379 --> 00:32:04.220
 In fact, that practice came to

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:06.000
 be known as Simon-y, named

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.019
 after you got it, Simon.

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.859
 How's about that for a

00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.339
 namesake?

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:14.279
 But there's a deeper lesson.

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:18.539
 Twice in his rebuke, what

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.139
 does Peter mention?

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.859
 The heart.

00:32:22.659 --> 00:32:24.059
 Simon, he says, your heart's

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.619
 not right.

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.699
 Pray that God will mend the

00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:29.099
 intentions of your heart.

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:33.419
 Peter could see that Simon's

00:32:33.419 --> 00:32:36.519
 heart was still riddled with

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:39.599
 all the same motivations that

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.899
 he had before his supposed

00:32:40.899 --> 00:32:41.500
 conversion.

00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:45.219
 Peter sort of, with spiritual

00:32:45.219 --> 00:32:46.240
 insight, sees that there's

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:48.179
 been no sort of fundamental

00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:49.480
 change.

00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:50.939
 No real new birth.

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.199
 Even though Simon had

00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:53.819
 professed.

00:32:53.939 --> 00:32:54.740
 Even though Simon had

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.240
 believed.

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.459
 Even though it seemed like he

00:32:56.459 --> 00:32:57.619
 was making a good start.

00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:02.240
 This instance exposes that

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.379
 maybe it wasn't a real start

00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:03.980
 after all.

00:33:05.439 --> 00:33:06.759
 You see, Simon, what did he

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.099
 want?

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.240
 He still wanted to have

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.180
 power over people.

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.259
 He still wanted to control

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.379
 them.

00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.400
 He still wanted people to look

00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:14.220
 at him and think that he was

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.980
 someone great.

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:17.220
 Wasn't that the difference

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.700
 between Simon and Philip when

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.799
 the gospel came to Samaria?

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:22.000
 Simon had been there preaching

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.539
 himself.

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:24.140
 I'm somebody great.

00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:27.000
 Philip came preaching Jesus,

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:28.980
 the one who's truly great.

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:32.240
 And people saw finally the one

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:34.259
 who was their redeemer and

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.819
 their savior.

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.680
 Christianity, it seems for

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:41.400
 Simon, was just merely a means

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:43.440
 to sort of getting his old

00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.539
 desires for pleasing and

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.220
 serving himself.

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:47.420
 He saw Christianity in his

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:49.180
 heart just as a new method to

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.019
 make himself great.

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.360
 And Peter calls him to

00:33:54.360 --> 00:33:54.740
 repent.

00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:58.120
 Which is pretty impressive,

00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.579
 that rebuke in itself, when

00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.259
 you think about it.

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.740
 I mean, Simon, after all, was

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:04.500
 sort of the celebrity convert

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.640
 in the church, right?

00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:07.519
 He was the magician-turned

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.860
 Christian that everybody was

00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:09.500
 talking about.

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.179
 It would be sort of like the

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:12.800
 notorious atheist professor

00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:14.119
 suddenly getting baptized and

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.019
 calling himself a Christian.

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.699
 He'd end up on all the

00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.440
 Christian magazines.

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:19.079
 He'd probably write a book.

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.860
 He'd start a speaking tour.

00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:23.119
 Veritas Forum would be

00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:23.679
 calling him up.

00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:29.359
 But Peter doesn't get caught

00:34:29.359 --> 00:34:30.019
 up in all that.

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:34.619
 He sees Simon's heart and does

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.519
 the most gracious thing

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:37.759
 imaginable and says, repent,

00:34:37.919 --> 00:34:38.159
 Simon.

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:43.619
 And Luke leaves it open-ended.

00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.259
 He doesn't tell us whether

00:34:47.259 --> 00:34:48.980
 Simon actually repents or not.

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.779
 Later church tradition will

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:53.960
 suggest that Simon didn't.

00:34:55.080 --> 00:34:56.800
 And that he became sort of a

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.040
 grand heretic in the early

00:34:58.040 --> 00:34:58.420
 church.

00:34:59.220 --> 00:35:00.100
 Perhaps that's the case.

00:35:00.160 --> 00:35:00.960
 We don't know for sure.

00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.600
 You know, Simon, after all,

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:09.340
 interestingly, in verse 23, 24,

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.900
 he doesn't pray for forgiveness,

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.340
 does he?

00:35:12.040 --> 00:35:12.960
 He just prays that the

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.440
 consequences won't come upon him.

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:18.240
 But you know, the real point for us

00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:20.039
 isn't to speculate about Simon.

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.760
 But the point for us is to examine

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.700
 our own hearts.

00:35:25.780 --> 00:35:27.099
 And friends, that's why we come to

00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.740
 the Lord's Supper.

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:31.440
 On the one hand, this is the table

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:33.119
 where all who trust in Christ are

00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.579
 welcome.

00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.780
 And we've seen in our passage that

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:37.920
 God does something out of the

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.940
 ordinary to drive home the unity that

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.820
 we have in Christ.

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:43.300
 Jew, Samaritan, Gentile, rich, poor,

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.000
 male, female.

00:35:44.820 --> 00:35:45.880
 We're one in him.

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.220
 And that's part of what's being said

00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:47.800
 here at the table.

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:49.400
 That through faith alone in Christ,

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.139
 our sins are forgiven.

00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:51.559
 And we take this bread and cup

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:54.280
 together as a sign of what he's

00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.639
 done for us and as a sign of our

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:55.920
 unity.

00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:59.659
 But this table is also a time where

00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.980
 we need to examine our hearts.

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:04.599
 And seek God's freely offered

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.159
 forgiveness.

00:36:05.159 --> 00:36:08.500
 And to receive his freely extended

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.019
 fellowship.

00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.860
 To look down in.

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:15.199
 And to be turning away from those

00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:17.260
 ways in which God shows us we're

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:19.340
 still being selfish and still being

00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:20.179
 self-motivated.

00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:23.539
 The table is a place where we lay our

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:25.420
 old motivations before God in prayer.

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:28.179
 And ask him again to forgive us for

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:28.860
 Christ's sake.

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:31.079
 And to change us by his spirit.

00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:35.440
 And to be confident that he's

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:37.739
 promised to do so for all who

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:38.119
 believe.

00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:43.340
 So friends, as we wrap up and come to

00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:43.760
 the table.

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:46.719
 Span this whole sort of section.

00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:49.219
 We see that God will often advance the

00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:51.239
 gospel in unexpected ways.

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.400
 But in the end, as we sort of take

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:55.699
 stock of this passage and read the

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:56.900
 summary in verse 25.

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.380
 Don't we see that one thing has been

00:36:59.380 --> 00:36:59.960
 constant?

00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:03.239
 Amidst all the unexpected events,

00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:05.280
 there's been one utterly expected.

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:07.679
 But utterly wonderful thing running

00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:08.619
 through the whole passage.

00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:13.139
 And it's the word, as verse 25 puts it.

00:37:14.139 --> 00:37:16.480
 The gospel of Jesus Christ, the word of

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:18.619
 the Lord, creates the church.

00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:21.460
 Amidst all the changes, all the

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:24.460
 circumstances, that will remain the

00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:28.319
 same exciting, powerful, thrilling reality.

00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:32.039
 So friends, as we launch out on this new

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:35.340
 study of Acts, let's expect God to do

00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:37.400
 things perhaps we didn't anticipate.

00:37:38.160 --> 00:37:41.039
 Let's expect God to move in ways that are

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:42.039
 maybe a bit unexpected.

00:37:43.620 --> 00:37:46.580
 But let's also look forward to the ways in

00:37:46.580 --> 00:37:49.760
 which his powerful word will do what it's

00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:51.000
 always done.

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:52.000
 Let's pray.

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.000
 Let's pray.

00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:56.480
 Bring joy to all people and bring life to his

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:56.880
 church.

00:37:58.059 --> 00:37:58.860
 Let's pray.

00:37:58.860 --> 00:38:06.740
 Lord, as we come to your table now, we pray that

00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:08.760
 through faith you would feed our hearts.

00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:12.140
 Jesus, as we remember your cross and what you've

00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:16.500
 done for us, Lord, would we be strengthened once

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:21.579
 more as we partake in this act, proclaiming your

00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:22.460
 death until you come.

00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:23.699
 Amen.

00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:28.699
 Well, friends, I wonder if those who are serving this

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.599
 morning would come up.

00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:37.139
 If you're here this morning and you're a Christian, if

00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:40.159
 you've turned from sin and placed your trust in Jesus

00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:43.519
 Christ as your Savior and as your Lord, then you're

00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:45.639
 welcome, friends, to partake in these elements with us.

00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:47.879
 The way we sort of practice this here at Trinity is

00:38:47.879 --> 00:38:50.980
 that we'll pass around the bread first, pray, and

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:52.819
 then we'll eat it together as a sign of that unity, and

00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:54.339
 then we'll do the same thing with the cup.

00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:57.779
 If you're here this morning and you're just spiritually

00:38:57.779 --> 00:39:00.279
 searching, if you're not sure where you are with

00:39:00.279 --> 00:39:01.759
 Christianity, we're glad you're here.

00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:03.539
 You're always welcome to join us.

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:06.659
 But as the elements sort of come around, just pass them

00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:06.960
 by.

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:10.599
 This is the sort of thing that Christians do to express

00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:12.079
 outwardly their inward faith.

00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:15.400
 So simply pass it by and instead use this time for

00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:16.200
 spiritual reflection.

00:39:17.160 --> 00:39:19.079
 Instead of taking the elements of the bread and the

00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:22.160
 cup, instead consider taking Christ himself.

00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:24.840
 He's the one that these elements point to.

00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:29.500
 Well, with those thoughts, friends, let me read some of

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:31.300
 Paul's words from 1 Corinthians 11.

00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:35.400
 He says,

00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:37.280
 I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you,

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:39.900
 that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed,

00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:43.820
 took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and

00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:46.580
 said, this is my body, which is for you.

00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:49.039
 Do this in remembrance of me.

00:39:50.660 --> 00:39:51.960
 Craig, would you pray for the bread for us?

00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:55.599
 Let's pray together.

00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:55.619
 Let's pray together.

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:55.639
 Let's pray together.

00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:58.639
 Amen.

00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:28.619
 Thank you.