The Christian Intention; Acts 8:1-4

Delivered during the Sunday Morning Worship Service, 7/13/2025. In last week's study of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, we witnessed a phenomenon of "intentions". For the sovereign intention of God and the evil intention of satan became focused on the same objective-- the Crucifixion of Christ. But where satan meant it for evil, God meant it for good. In this message we will step out of Luke for another illustration of this principle in the book of Acts. But this time satan's intention is to crush the fledgling church by severely persecuting Christians. But once again we will see satan's intentions backfire on him as the persecution only served to scatter Christians abroad where the church spread like wildfire. We will use this illustration from church history to explore Christ's intentions for His church. In an age when the church has strayed far from her calling, it is essential that we fashion our intentions, both individually as Christians and corporately as His church after the life and intention of our Lord. And thereby live out the Christian intention.