The book of Acts recounts the spread of the early church and the manner in which Christ works to take the gospel from Jerusalem, to Samaria, and finally to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). Your sermon from Acts 8:1–25 must focus on Philip’s work in Samaria. To start with you must explain how the events following Stephen’s death resulted in believers leaving Jerusalem to go elsewhere. You must then focus on the conversion of the Samaritans and the paganism of Simon. Two big applications that need to be emphasized are the inclusiveness (catholicity) and the exclusiveness of God’s church. God’s church is catholic (universal), meaning every Christian believer ought to be welcome amongst God’s people. The church may not exclude anyone on the basis of ethnicity or gender. At the same time, the church is exclusive. We are a gathering of believers who submit to Jesus Christ and there is no place for tolerating pagan thinking and ideas.
1 And Saul approved of his execution.And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.