3.5.23 5.5.2024 Acts 8.26-40 Simple and Direct

Start:

Entice: You and I have common connections with every other person, regardless of the color of their skin, their cultural heritage, or even their embrace of an alternative lifestyle. We are all…

1. Made in the image of God.

2. Fallen and in need of salvation.

3. Eligible for salvation by the authority of Jesus.

Engage: We make it complicated by focusing on the obvious differences—because they are easily identifiable--instead of those invisible similarities. The gospel is not designed to be secretive or complex. The basic story, as we have seen over and again this month is simple and direct. It is not just a big picture story for preachers, teachers, and the leaders. This basic, common story of Jesus is profound enough to save us and simple enough that a bright child can understand it.

Expand: We meet Philip in Acts 6. He was a Hellenistic Jew appointed among the first deacons. Philip was a good man chosen to do an important job. Soon after he began that job, waiting tables, the Church encountered the first displacing persecution and many fled Jerusalem. As he moved through Samaria, it turned out that Philip was a useful preacher. And in today’s text we find that he knew the story so well that he could tell it in the intimate setting of a private conversation with a new friend he met upon the road.

Excite: Some of us are going to meet people like Philip did that day.

We will look at the color of their skin and see it is different.

We will look at their flamboyant dress and perhaps be uncomfortable.

But when we look in their eyes and hear their questions all that should be put aside as we lead a fellow image-bearer, out of her sin, into a saving relationship with Jesus. A part of my job as your pastor, preacher, and teacher is to equip you to tell this simple and direct story to the best of your ability with those people who are yours to meet. This text tells us that Philip was ready. How about you?

Acts 8:26–40 (ESV)

26Once upon a time, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Explore:

Every Christian should know the message with confidence so that they tell the saving story to someone who is lost.

Expand: Now obviously there is important “spiritual stuff “ going on, and big biblical truths. The key is to communicate all that truth and stuff with a few personal

touches. The first touch is making a

Body of Sermon:

1 Simple Connection.

Acts 8:29–30 ESV

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

1.1 Approach.

1.2 Engage.

The next step is entering into a

2 Strategic Conversation.

Acts 8:30–35 (ESV)

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

2.1 Ask good questions.

2.2 Provide a Biblical context.

2.3 Tell the story of Jesus.

The final touch is providing the room for

3 Spiritual Conviction.

Acts 8:36–39 ESV

36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

3.1 Response

3.2 Renewal

3.3 Rejoicing

Shut Down

Not every lost person is as spiritually sensitive as the man Philip met that day on that lonely, isolated, desert road.

Some are carrying invisible scars.

Some are nursing open wounds.

Some are crying silent tears.

We live in a world littered with

broken hearts,

bruised pride,

battered prospects.

Meet those people.

Talk to those people.

Tell them the story of Jesus.

Show love and compassion.

Be kind and considerate.

Be truthful and clear.

And pray for their change of heart.

What tales will never be told because I failed to go where the Spirit led? Whose life was unaltered because one of us decided to keep the obvious question to ourselves. Whose eternity is still at stake because we felt embarrassed, or tongue tied? We’ll never know.

What we can do is to be as available as possible to listen and respond to all those people on the road around us. When we respond with the story of Jesus, the Spirit is given room to change their story forever.