An Ethiopian Heard the Gospel

Do you have a favorite Bible Story?

Maybe you like the story of David and Goliath. Or maybe Daniel in the lions den. Or maybe the story of John the Baptist who would eat locust and honey! What about the story of Jesus? The good news of Jesus? That is a true story and message, and only it has the power to save people!

The good news of Jesus was the message that changed the man in our story today’s life forever. And it too has the power to change your life forever and anyone’s life forever.

Main Point

Our main point for today is:

People learn about Jesus through reading God’s Word and hearing others teach it.

Let’s find out how this is true in our story today!

*watch lesson video

Philip and the Ethiopian Official

In our story today we have two main characters: Philip, who was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, also called apostles, and the Ethiopian official.

Now, the reason this man was called an Ethiopian official was for two reasons:

He was from Ethiopia - a place that in Bible times was right below Egypt.

He was an official - meaning, he was in charge of the Ethiopian queen’s money (which I’m sure was a lot!)

This Ethiopian man was a God-fearing man, and he came to Jerusalem to worship, and on the way back home, was sitting inside of his chariot reading from the prophet Isaiah, which is the book of Isaiah in our Old Testament. So,

Acts 8:29–31 CSB

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.” 30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Now, this is what was written by the prophet Isaiah which the Ethiopian man was reading:

Acts 8:32–33 CSB

32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.

Notice what the man said to Philip:

Acts 8:34–35 (CSB)

34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.

This points us back to our main point for today, that people learn about Jesus through reading God’s Word and through hearing it taught.

That is what we are all doing here at church today - I am teaching you from God’s Word, Pastor Marty is teaching your parents from God’s Word, and that is how we all grow in our relationship with Jesus, through God’s Word.

We learn by:

Reading God’s Word

Hearing it taught by others

The Ethiopian man is baptized

So Philip helped the man understand what the prophet Isaiah was saying and who he was speaking about.

Later as they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The Ethiopian man said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?”

So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the Ethiopian man went down into the water, and Philip baptized him!

And catch this: when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the Ethiopian man did not see Philip any longer. However, the Bible tells us this: the man went on his way rejoicing.

What reason would the Ethiopian man have to rejoice?

He became a follower of Jesus! He was spiritually dead, but now, he was spiritually made alive in Christ!

This is something worth rejoicing over. And it’s only possible through the power of Jesus, and the power of His Word.

Recap

So, in recap:

-People hear about Jesus through reading God’s Word, and through hearing others teach it.

-Philip helped the Ethiopian man understand what the Scriptures were saying, and because of that, the man became a follower of Jesus!

What does God want me to do?

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus, to trust in Jesus and believe in Him!

If you already do, He wants you to spend time in His Word and hearing it taught by others.

Not only that, but He wants you to be on mission, just like we’ve been talking about: He wants you to go and share the good news of Jesus.

How can we do this? By sharing God’s Word with others, telling them about Jesus from it.

Maybe you could share a verse that you learned here at church with someone and tell them about Jesus that way?

Who remembers Romans 10:9? That would be a perfect verse to share with someone who wants to know how to become a follower of Jesus.

What about John 3:16? That’s another great verse that tells people what Jesus has done for us.

What about 1 John 5:3? John reminds us that obeying God shows that we love Him. And remember: His commandments are not burdensome!

Closing

You can be on mission, and help share the good news of Jesus just like Philip did. Remember that through the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of God’s Word, you can share the good news of Jesus with anyone.

I encourage you: think of some people in your life you could maybe share a verse with like we talked about earlier. Someone you know who might not be a follower of Jesus. And pray that God would give you the boldness and courage to go and tell them!