"From Stones to Scattering: The Cost and Expansion of the Gospel" Description:Acts 7 and 8 mark a turning point—where the gospel collides with fierce opposition, and the Church is forced out of its comfort zone into its true calling. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stands trial and delivers a Spirit-filled, history-defining message. With boldness, he confronts the hardness of Israel’s heart and calls them to repentance. The response? Rage. Stones fly. Stephen sees heaven open. But the enemy’s attempt to silence the gospel only spreads it. Acts 8 shows that what man meant for destruction, God used for distribution. Saul begins his rampage—but so does the Church’s movement beyond Jerusalem. Philip preaches in Samaria, unclean spirits flee, and an Ethiopian official encounters the saving message of Jesus on a desert road. This sermon walks through the cost of conviction and the beauty of obedience. From the courage of Stephen to the obedience of Philip, these chapters reveal a gospel that cannot be confined—and a God who works powerfully through both persecution and personal encounters. If you’ve ever wondered how God uses pain, pressure, or the unexpected to move His people forward, Acts 7–8 makes it clear: the Church was never meant to stay still.