Acts 8:1-8

Introduction

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Karate Kid

There are a lot of memorable move quotes that are part of our vocabulary. When you say that line it’s undeniable. You are taken back to that moment, that scene, or that storyline.

“I’ll be back.” “This is Sparta.” “Bueller? Bueller?”

And of course, “Wax on, wax off.” Mr. Miyagi’s unconventional way to teach Daniel LaRusso is one that is not easily forgotten. Here is this guy that is seemingly playing with Daniel LaRusso and not really trying to help him. It is only after Daniel realizes that his teacher was using all of that pain and seemingly meaninglessness to build him up and equip him.

Need

Saints, we focus so much at the circumstances in front of us that we forget to ask, “God, how are you using this in my life?” We need to remind ourselves that “God is using this moment so he can use me.”

Referent

Acts 8:1-8

Organization

Paul’s Preparation (vs. 1-4)

Philip’s Proclamation (vs. 5-8)

Sermon in a sentence:

God is using this moment so he can use me.

Paul’s Preparation (vs. 1-4)

Context

-Luke uses vs. 1-3 really as a conclusion to the previous section and setting up the next two sections of Philip’s ministry.

-Luke pairs Stephen and Philip together as part of the 7.

God even used Paul’s sin to prepare him to endure persecution and appreciate the true grace of salvation.

Notice that Paul is persecuting the church not from “pulpit to pulpit”/”steeple to steeple” but “from house to house”. I had a conversation with a pastor this week. He said that the “house church” concept is foreign to a lot of pastors. We don’t have to have all the answers. But this is the normal operating procedures of a church. Let us seek the leading of the Lord and plan for what is next for us.

God used Paul as a means to spread the gospel to Samaria (Acts 1:8 “8 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.””)

Everyone was preaching the gospel.

Remember Philip and Stephen were not apostles! They were “just” deacons. I have been a part of a lot of churches in the Bible belt. I have personally never had a deacon that had this level of biblical knowledge and confidence.

The regular Joe was preaching (evangelizing) as they went.

Yesterday, I was at work. I was talking with my fellow technician and my pharmacist. I was talking about my coworker had a lot of different jobs and experiences in her life. She was a professional wrestler. She also did the three year Bible college program their church had. I joked with her and said that no one can say she lived a boring life. My pharmacist said he had a really boring life. Well a shaky first half but a really boring last.

I was laughing to myself because, I have the most basic boring life story. I only had one girlfriend. I married her at 18. We have three kids. I am a pastor and my wife is a homeschooling stay-at-home mom. If that doesn’t sound like the most boring testimony in the world then I don’t know what does? But then I thought about all the difficult things God has used to bring us to today. I can dismiss those things as just normal parts of life. Or I could forget how amazing the gospel is.

Don’t forget that God has used the good, the bad, the ugly, and even the boring to prepare you to be used by God.

Philip’s Proclamation (vs. 5-8)

Philip was a deacon that went evangelizing to Samaria.

Philip was not an apostle. He was supposed to be over the food ministry.

Philip didn’t just take care of the Hellenistic Jewish widows, he went to Samaria.

2. The entire city was impacted by Philip’s ministry.

We can’t become so focused on our house church that we forget about those without the gospel.

How can God use our congregation and our unique situation to bring the joy of the gospel to Southern Indiana. I really think Clarksville needs a church like ours. We also need to work with other churches to advance the gospel, not our name.

Application

Repent and believe.

“God is using this moment to use me.”