Everybody's Got a Story

Brian O’Neal opens by reintroducing himself to the Northshore congregation, mentioning his role with the Biblical Foundations team and his growing connection to the church over the past year, particularly through a tour of Turkey and Greece. He transitions into the morning’s sermon, focusing on Acts chapter 8, specifically the first eight verses, and gives some humorous commentary about being corrected after the earlier service. O’Neal reads the passage, emphasizing Saul’s approval of Stephen’s execution, and highlights how this act triggered a widespread persecution of the early church in Jerusalem, scattering believers across Judea and Samaria. He reminds listeners that Saul, later known as Paul, is still at this stage an enemy of the church, and cautions against jumping ahead to his conversion too quickly.

He explains the context leading up to this moment: after Pentecost, the Jerusalem church grew rapidly and became a vibrant community, but also faced internal challenges, especially cultural divisions between Hebraic and Hellenized Jews. This tension led to the appointment of deacons, including Stephen and Philip, to help care for the community. Stephen’s powerful preaching angered religious authorities, ultimately leading to his martyrdom, an event that catalyzed the persecution described in Acts 8. O’Neal underlines how this persecution, while tragic, also served to spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem as believers fled and preached elsewhere. He encourages the congregation to view this early church story as part of their own story, inviting reflection on their role in God’s ongoing mission.