The Purpose of Persecution
RLC Home Group Handout | September 6th, 2026
Jesus Stories “The Purpose of Persecution” Acts 7:55-8:4
Recap
As persecution breaks out against the church following Stephen’s death, we see that evil is real, destructive, and opposed to the work of God—but it is never sovereign. What appears to be the tragic scattering of the church becomes, in God’s hands, the sowing of gospel seed throughout Judea, Samaria, and beyond. Through Philip’s ministry in Samaria and his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, God fulfills Jesus’ promise that His witnesses would carry the gospel outward from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The cross ultimately gives us confidence that no evil, suffering, loss, or wound lies beyond God’s sovereign and redemptive reach.
References
Acts 1:8 — Jesus promises that the gospel will spread from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
Genesis 50:20 — What others intend for evil, God is able to sovereignly use for good.
Romans 8:28–29 — God works through every circumstance for our good, ultimately making us more like Jesus.
John 15:18–20 — Jesus warns His followers that they should expect persecution because the world first persecuted Him.
Isaiah 53:7–8 — Isaiah foretells the suffering of God’s Servant, which Philip uses to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Thesis Statement: “Persecution is, by definition, evil. Is fueled by hell, to oppose God’s work. And, is used by God, to plant new life."
Discussion Questions
Head
Is there anything that stood out or spoke to you in this week’s sermon?
Why is it important to recognize that “evil is real without treating evil as sovereign”?
What is the difference between persecution and trials? (Compare and contrast) See James 1:13-15
What is the difference between saying “God caused this suffering” and “God can redeem and use this suffering”?
Heart
When you experience suffering, are you more likely to question God’s goodness, His power, or His presence? Why?
Where in your life do you currently need to believe that evil may wound, but it does not ultimately win?
Have you ever experienced something painful that God later used in a way you could not see at the time?
Hands
The persecution that scattered the church also scattered the gospel. Where might God currently have you—perhaps somewhere you would not have chosen—where He wants you to faithfully represent Jesus?
How can you practically support a Christian who is experiencing persecution somewhere in the world?
What would it look like this week to trust God with a circumstance you cannot currently understand?