1. Acts 8:1-4 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

2. Team Players Act 8:1-4 11 March 2012

4. Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Matt 24:14 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

5. God’s plan was that the Gospel go to the entire world! The movement started with the death of the First Martyr of the Church After Stephens death the church went outside of their comfort zone Church was scattered abroad because of persecution

6. Church grew more when they encountered persecution Sometimes God allows us to go through some things because in adversity we prioritize properly.

7. Stephen's story Acts 6:1-5 1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Greek Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. We must understand that as we grow we are going to have some problems.

8. Acts 6:2 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Bro. T.F. Tenney says, we have to keep the main thing the main thing!

9. Acts 6:3-4 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Our challenge as we continue growing will be in finding people willing to play their part....finding team players!

10. It is going to take the entire body working together in unity to win our community to Christ! Something special happens when everybody plays their position. The whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

11. Acts 6:3-5 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

12. The Sermon Of Apostle Stephens

14. 1 Corinthians 15:58 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. Only one Life it will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.