Faith Promise - What's Next - Day 08
Reading
Read Acts 8:4-25
Highlight
Acts 8 begins the story of the scattered church, where God uses the persecution that the church is facing to accomplish his original goal of the gospel spreading from Jerusalem to Judea, then to Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Philip, one of the Hellenistic Jews empowered to serve by the Apostles in Acts 6, leaves the region of Judea and takes the Gospel to Samaria. So the events recorded in Acts 8 are focused on the Gospel starting to cross some of the barriers that previously excluded people from being able to engage in worship.
The first group are the Samaritans themselves. Animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans was solidified when Assyria conquered Samaria (northern Israel), deported a significant portion of the population, and then repopulated the area with Assyrians. The mixing of cultures and races was the start of the distrust, but it was made worse when the Samaritans set up a second temple on Mount Gerizim. Eventually there was even armed conflict between the two groups. The grievances between these two groups were too great to be healed, even though the Samaritans worshiped Yahweh, accepted the first five books of the Bible as God’s Word, and believed that God would send a Messiah to reunite Israel. That is, until the Good News of Jesus came to the region, preaching that the Jewish savior had come but not only for the ‘pure Jews’ of Judea, but for the whole world.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read Acts 8:4-25
Highlight
Acts 8 begins the story of the scattered church, where God uses the persecution that the church is facing to accomplish his original goal of the gospel spreading from Jerusalem to Judea, then to Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Philip, one of the Hellenistic Jews empowered to serve by the Apostles in Acts 6, leaves the region of Judea and takes the Gospel to Samaria. So the events recorded in Acts 8 are focused on the Gospel starting to cross some of the barriers that previously excluded people from being able to engage in worship.
The first group are the Samaritans themselves. Animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans was solidified when Assyria conquered Samaria (northern Israel), deported a significant portion of the population, and then repopulated the area with Assyrians. The mixing of cultures and races was the start of the distrust, but it was made worse when the Samaritans set up a second temple on Mount Gerizim. Eventually there was even armed conflict between the two groups. The grievances between these two groups were too great to be healed, even though the Samaritans worshiped Yahweh, accepted the first five books of the Bible as God’s Word, and believed that God would send a Messiah to reunite Israel. That is, until the Good News of Jesus came to the region, preaching that the Jewish savior had come but not only for the ‘pure Jews’ of Judea, but for the whole world.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
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