Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Attention Getting:

RESCUE THE PERISHING

Fanny Crosby, the blind hymn writer, wrote so many hymns we love to sing.

When she was up in years, she visited the Macaulay Rescue Mission in NYC.

She stood before a crowd of homeless, drug-addicted, alcoholic men.

She said, “is there a young man here who doesn’t have a mother?”

One young man timidly raised his hand.

He explained that his mother died when he was very young.

Fanny Crosby asked the young man to come to the front.

She gave him a big hug and kissed him on the cheek.

It touched her heart so much that she went home that night and wrote these words, “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave, weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus the Mighty to save.”

Years later, Ira Sankey was singing for D.L. Moody in St. Louis.

He rose to sing that song, but before he sang, he told that story.

As he told the story, a middle-aged man jumped up and shouted, “It was me! I’m the young man she wrote about.

She kissed me.

I could never get away from that moment.”

As a result of one simple kiss.....a young man came to Christ and his entire life was changed!

(https://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-dr-larry-petton-stories-evangelism-84096?ref=TextIllustrationSerps)

Textual Segment:

Ethiopia was considered “the end of the earth” by the Greeks and Romans, and Philip’s witness to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian comprises a “foretaste” of the completion of Christ’s commission (1:8) by the whole church in the subsequent chapters of Acts.

On the road from Jerusalem to Gaza he meets the Ethiopian eunuch ().

On the road from Jerusalem to Gaza he meets the Ethiopian eunuch ().

The History that follows, which makes up this lesson, is interesting since it is one of the few records in the New Testament of the process of individual conversion.

A brief sentence (), tells us that Philip continued his work as a preacher at Azotus (Ashdod) and among the other cities that had formerly belonged to the Philistines, and, following the coast-line, came to Caesarea.

Then for a long period—around eighteen or nineteen years—we lose sight of him.

The last glimpse of him in the New Testament is in the account of St. Paul's journey to Jerusalem.

It is to his house that St. Paul and his companions turn for shelter.

He has four daughters, who possess the gift of prophetic utterance and who apparently give themselves to the work of teaching instead of entering on the life of a wife and mother (, ).

One tradition places the scene of his death at Hierapolis in Phrygia.

According to another, he died bishop of Tralles.

It is interesting to note that this it is one of the few records in the New Testament of the process of individual conversion.

After this account:

(), tells us that Philip continued his work as a preacher at Azotus (Ashdod) and among the other cities that had formerly belonged to the Philistines, and, following the coast-line, came to Caesarea.

Then, for a long period—around eighteen or nineteen years—we lose sight of him.

The last glimpse of him in the New Testament is in the account of Paul's journey to Jerusalem.

It is to his house that St. Paul and his companions turn for shelter.

He has four daughters, who possess the gift of prophecy (, )

One tradition places the scene of his death at Hierapolis in Phrygia.

According to another, he died bishop of Tralles.

Relational Segment:

In the work of Philip, we can learn about witnessing.

We each have a share in the great commission.

There are those with whom God has appointments for us to share Jesus with them.

The first lesson is that to be an effective witness.....

1. Follow the Spirit

Explanation: God sent Philip to witness

Explanation: God sent Philip to witness

Explanation: God sent Philip to witness

God had a plan for the Ethiopian to meet Jesus

He chose Philip to make that introduction:

Through the message from God.

He moved Philip to be in the right place, at the right time, to deliver God’s message.

Application:

God still is in the salvation business an uses us in that process for reasons known only to Him.

We must be sensitive to the leadership of the Spirit.

Who knows what He has in store!

Divine appointments

The key is to trust His voice enough to obey!

Imagine if Philip had been hesitant and rebellious instead of obedient!

Let us follow the Spirit and be ready for those divine appointments.

The 2nd lesson we can learn from this text is to...

2. Begin where they are.

Acts 8:

Explanation: Philip met the eunuch where he was.

He was already interested in God

He was reading aloud from Isaiah

He already had questions.

He wanted a guide so he could understand.

Philip asked: Do you understand?

His response enunciates a basic principle that runs throughout Luke-Acts concerning the interpretation of the Old Testament prophetic texts—the need for a Christian interpreter.

The disciples themselves had needed such guidance, and Christ had “opened … the Scriptures” for them (Luke 24:45).

They in turn sought to explain the Scripture in light of Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem.

How indeed would this Gentile pilgrim from a distant land understand the real meaning of Isaiah’s servant psalms without a guide?

was the passage being read.

This passage displays the suffering and humiliation.

Philip explained that Isaiah was describing Jesus, the suffering servant of Israel.

Philip explained that Isaiah was describing Jesus, the suffering servant of Israel.

Isaiah 53:

Philip explained that Isaiah was describing Jesus, the suffering servant of Israel.

Application:

The Ethiopian believed and followed up with baptism.

Acts 8:

Application:

Application:

God draws people to Himself

It is no accident that a person opens the word of God.

We must begin at the point of connection God creates.

It may be through our testimony:

It may be through Scripture.

It may be while enjoying a sunrise as you camp together.

God’s Spirit can use any means to open the heart of the sinner.

That is His business

We need to follow Philip’s example to share Jesus.

It isn’t so much where we start… we must proclaim Jesus to them!

It isn’t so much where we start… we must proclaim Jesus to them!

The final lesson we can learn is to....

3.

Call for a Decision

Acts 8:34-

Explanation: