November 2, 2025 - The Church Always Grows During Persecution - Pastor Shawn Hamm

This powerful message takes us deep into Acts chapter 8, where we witness the dramatic transformation of the early church through persecution and the bold evangelism of Philip. We're confronted with an uncomfortable truth: persecution often precedes the greatest spiritual breakthroughs. Just as a great wave scattered the believers from Jerusalem, forcing them out of their comfort zones and into Samaria and beyond, we too are called to step beyond our safe spaces to share the gospel. The story challenges our modern tendency toward comfortable Christianity, asking us to examine whether we're truly disciples—a word rooted in 'discipline'—or merely pew warmers. Through Philip's obedience to minister to one Ethiopian official on a desert road, we see how one act of faithfulness can change an entire nation. The neurological insight about the anterior mid cingulate cortex reminds us that spiritual growth requires doing difficult things we don't want to do. When we push through discomfort, we literally grow stronger—both mentally and spiritually. This message calls us to be modern-day Philips: bold evangelists who point people to Jesus rather than to ourselves, who serve the marginalized on Christmas Eve rather than clinging to traditions, and who recognize that we're reaching far more people than we realize through faithful obedience.

Notes - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Iwnris6to7GM_zLSY8YPf3svGUTxZeFP/view?usp=drive_link