The Surprising Ways of God

Sunday, July 6, 2025
Pastor Alex Chen

Outline

  • The Great Trials God’s People May Face

  • The Sovereign Ways of God That Can Be Just So Surprising

  • The Gift of God That Cannot Be Bought

  • The Deeply Divided Truly United in Christ

The Great Trials God’s People May Face

v.1-4 -- And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2  Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3  But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4  Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word

The Sovereign Ways of God That Can Be Just So Surprising

v.1-4 -- And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2  Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3  But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4  Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word

Acts 1:8 -- 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 end of the earth.”

v.1-4 -- And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2  Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3  But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4  Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word

The Gift of God That Cannot Be Bought

v.18-20 -- 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 this power also, 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 the gift of God with money!

The Deeply Divided Truly United in Christ

v.14-17 -- 14  Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15  who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16  for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.