January 25, 2026
The good news of Jesus can reach all people through God’s power and our obedience.
How do we make sense of things not going according to (our) plan?
Acts 8:1 And Saul was agreeing with [Stephen’s] murder. Now there happened 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. 2 And devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering house after house, he dragged off both men and women and delivered them to prison. The Lexham English Bible
Acts 8:4 Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word. The Lexham English Bible
Acts 8:4 Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word [in all Judea and Samaria]. The Lexham English Bible
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.” The Lexham English Bible
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. New American Standard Bible (2020)
The good news of Jesus can reach all people through God’s power and our obedience.
Who is the good news of Jesus for?
God’s power reaches the despised, the deceived, the disqualified, the destroyers and the defiled.
The Despised: The Samaritans
Acts 8:6 And the [Samaritan] crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him and saw the signs that he was performing. 7 For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them, crying out with aloud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city…12 But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized. The Lexham English Bible
The Deceived: Simon the Magician
Acts 8:9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11 They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. New Living Translation
Acts 8:12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. New Living Translation
There are many rival powers, but they are no rival in power.
Acts 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him,“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” 24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.” New Revised Standard Version
Acts 19:18 And many of those who had believed came, confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 and many of those who practiced magic brought together their books and burned them up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found it was ⌊fifty thousand silver coins⌋. 20 In this way the word of the Lord was growing in power and was prevailing. The Lexham English Bible
The Disqualified: The Ethiopian eunuch
The Destroyer: Saul of Tarsus
Acts 9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring them tied up to Jerusalem. The Lexham English Bible
Acts 9:3 Now as he proceeded, it happened that when he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him,“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting! The Lexham English Bible
The Defiled: Cornelius the Gentile
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message. 45 And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days. The Lexham English Bible
The good news of Jesus can reach all people through God’s power and our obedience.
Who does God use to advance the story and how does he do it?
The good news of Jesus can reach all people through God’s power and our obedience.
Romans 8:28 We know, in fact, that God works all things together for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. The New Testament for Everyone
The good news of Jesus can reach all people through God’s power and our obedience.