Viral: Part 32 - Persecution Ratchets Up

In Acts 12:1-11 we see how King Herod Agrippa I ratchets up the persecution of the early church. The Apostle James, part of Jesus' inner circle of disciples, is beheaded as King Herod scapegoats the Christians in order to ingratiate himself to the Jewish leaders. His plan is to kill Peter shortly thereafter, but God interrupts his plans with another miraculous prison break. In this sermon, we deal with the question of God's sovereign choice. Why does God save Peter but not James? Both were key leaders and beloved by Jesus. In asking this question we explore the issue of our own acceptance of God's will when it doesn't perfectly align with our desired outcomes. This passage also reminds us of the power of prayer.