Sermon Notes
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Guest speaker Mark Porter’s supplied slides connect Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8 with the church’s scattering in Acts 8:1. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will give His people power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 8 then records believers being scattered from Jerusalem throughout Judea and Samaria.
Series: Holy Spirit
Speaker: Mark Porter
Date: August 9, 2026
Notes source: Speaker-provided slide instructions only; no sermon transcript or full manuscript was available.
Acts 1:8 — Power to witness
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 8:1 — Scattered into Judea and Samaria
“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.”
From the supplied slides
- The Holy Spirit gives believers power to bear witness.
- Jesus names Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth as the widening reach of that witness.
- Acts 8:1 records the church being scattered from Jerusalem throughout Judea and Samaria.
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Scripture references
Acts 1:8; Acts 8:1.