Scattered
- Cornerstone Church
- Jul 26
- 4 min read
The Gospel continues to spread as we continue our journey through the Book of Acts. Be on the lookout this week for when the idea of the believers being “scattered” comes up, and be sure to record it! Jesus stated in Acts 1:8 that the disciples would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” That means that the Gospel is going out to not just ethnic Jews, but to all nations. This week will confirm that all are equally invited and empowered by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. However, Jesus did not say exactly how or when the spreading of the Gospel would happen. Persecution against the Church has begun, and believers are losing their property and even their lives for following Christ. God was then and is now faithful to completing His mission through sinners called by the grace of God and empowered by His Holy Spirit. God is working even when the Church cannot see the full picture, and that, in fact, is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Week 31
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Prayer Plan
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of Acts, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read John 4:9 & Read Acts 10:28-29. Who are some of the people groups that a first-century Jew would not associate with? Read Acts 10:34-35. How was Peter shown his prejudice for specific types of people?
Read Acts 8:5, 14-17. Describe the person/people who responded to the Gospel in this text? Read Acts 8:27-35-38. Describe the person/people who responded to the Gospel in this text?
Read Philippians 3:4-6 & Acts 9:1-2. Describe the person/people who responded to the Gospel in this text?
Read Acts 10:1-2, 24, 44-45. Describe the person/people who responded to the Gospel in this text?
Where did you see references to the church being scattered in this week’s readings? Read Acts 8:1, 4. Acts 11:19-21. What did the scattering of the believers produce?
SHARE IT.
Read John 4:9. What type of person or people do you love to hate or feel superior to? How is this contrary to the Gospel?
Read Acts 9:13-17. What type of person are you willing to overlook their sins to gain their approval? How is this contrary to the Gospel?
Read Acts 11:27-30, 12:25. How do you determine what you are willing to sacrificially financially give to needs in the church? How do you become aware of those relief needs?
Read Acts 10:25-26 & 12:21-24. What is the difference between these two passages, and what do you learn about how to approach God?
Read Acts 1:8. Pray for the Gospel going forward in your hometown, the USA, the West (similar culture like European nations), and another culture totally unlike ours (India or China).
FINAL THOUGHT
Jesus said in John 13:18-19, “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me. 19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he.” Jesus chose Judas by design so that the scripture might be fulfilled. Jesus designed his own betrayal through the free evil choices of men, and in the same way, the persecution of God’s church led to its scattering and flourishing. Satan committed suicide at the cross by God’s design in crucifying the Son of God. Jesus secured victory for those the Father has given Him by the evil acts of men. There is nothing in this world that is not under God’s sovereign hand and that will not lead to the eventual good of God’s people in the age to come. God is in control of even the betrayals and scatterings. And believers are assured of God’s love for them because Jesus was “scattered” and then gathered Himself by His own power, defeating sin and death, and so shall all Christians be gathered into God’s presence by that same power.
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