God At Work When Things Go Wrong – Scattered Part 1

In this series we seek to look back at one of the pivotal moments in the history of the church and see what lessons we can learn from it for our current circumstances. We will discover that what might seem as difficult or even tragic circumstances can be great catalysts for the mission of God.

Today we are looking at how God able to work through really difficult times to propel mission and commission of Jesus forward in ways people couldn’t have imagined. So if you are wondering what is going on at the moment, what is God up to, what hope is there for the church in these days then stay with us!

Let’s take a look at one of the very earliest pivotal moments in the history of the church, take a look at one man and how he was the catalyst for that pivot. His name was Stephen and Stephen first appears in the story of the church in Jerusalem in the New Testaement book of Acts which is the story of the first churches and the grwoth and expansion of the movement of Jesus. We are looking at various verses from Chapters 6, 7 and 8 and you can find those here.

Stephen was one of the people who was chosen to be a helper in the church in Jerusalem. And those appointments really helped the church and it continued to grow (Acts chapter 6 verse 7). But there was a problem…in Jerusalem it was fantastic, amazing, they continued to gather, they served those in need, they prayed, they preached and the message of God spread. It was great if you were in Jerusalem – it was busy and exciting and growing and the gatherings were great and people were being helped, but the mission of Jesus was for more.

Stephen was seized (Acts chapter 6 verse 8) and he was taken before the religious court. He gave a passionate speach (Acts chapter 7) and at the end of it he saw a vision of Jesus. It infuriated the court and so they rush at him and dragged him off and killed him (Acts chapter 7 verses 57-60).

This was a moment when it seemed like evil had prevailed and the church was suffering a defeat. A great persecution breaks out, but the church was scattered to Judea and Samaria, the very places Jesus had commanded them to go (Acts chapter 8 verse 1). No one would have wanted what happened to Stephen to happen, least of all God, but he has given human beings free will and sometimes that means human beings do evil things, but God is able to take even the most awful of situations and turn them to good.

To find out more about Next Steps at Andover Baptist Church check out the NextSteps web page.

Questions to reflect on in your small group or on your own:

  1. Describe a pivotal moment in your own life when you took big strides forward. What was that like?
  2. Do you think this current season might be a pivtoal moment in your life? Why?
  3. How do the Scribes and Pharisees feel about this woman?
  4. Why do you think the Apostles chose Stephen to help them in the church?
  5. What do you think it was like in the church in Jerusalem? Why do you think they struggled to fulfil the mission Jesus had given them to go beyond Jerusalem?
  6. Even in the struggles and the trials God was able to do something to propel the mission and vision of the church forward. What might God be doing in this season in our lives to move the mission and vision of the church forward?
  7. How can you play your part?

Listen to the full talk on our podcast below…

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