Living Missionally: The Big Picture Starts With One

Acts 8:26-40

INTRODUCTION:

A- It is important that you and I Recognize and operate with the “big-picture” mentality.

1- We need to be missional Christians in our everyday life.

2- We need to live our lives with the recognition that “its not about me!”

3- We need to live tuned-in to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

B- Background

1- Phillip was not a pastor, he was a layman.

a- He was an ordinary man … a normal Christian.

b- He was a Christian who lived an on-mission life.

c- Because he lived a missional lifestyle, God used him in various ways.

his Spirit-filled life and service in the church led the people to set him apart as a leader of servants - a deacon.

His Spirit-filled witnessing opened doors for him to share Christ with people.

2- Phillip was a missional Christian who recognized the “big-picture.”

a- He recognized that his life was a part of the “big picture.”

1- His life was committed to Christ.

He was open to the Holy-Spirit’s direction.

He had no personal agenda.

He had a kingdom mind-set.

2- He served in ways that were outside of his comfort zone.

He left his home in Jerusalem because of the persecution. (Acts 8:1)

Acts 8:1 (NLT)

1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

He viewed the persecution as an opportunity and as God’s will.

He told people in Samaria about Jesus. (Acts 8:5)

Acts 8:5 (NLT)

5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.

God used Phillip’s witnessing to start a spiritual-awakening in Samaria.

In the middle of seeing God work in Samaria, God directed Phillip to walk down a desert road without a specific aim in mind.

God guided Phillip into the desert to meet one man.

(Acts 8:26-40)

Acts 8:26–40 (NLT)

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”

35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

TS: Phillip leaves us a positive example for missional living. In our text are some guiding principles that can help us live missionally.

I- STAY OPEN TO GOD’S MISSIONAL GUIDANCE. (Acts 8:26)

Acts 8:26 (NLT)

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

A- God’s guidance can come in various ways.

1- In verse one, God used circumstances to guide Phillip to Samaria.

2- In verse 26, God used an angelic messenger to direct Phillip.

3- In other scriptures, God used dreams, visions, and other ways to guide his servants.

4- God will use various ways to guide you and I in living missionally.

Impressions in our spirit

Interrupting our normal thought processes with urgent missional thoughts.

circumstances that place us in missional situations.

sometimes dreams

B- God’s guidance is progressive. (Acts 8:29)

Acts 8:29 (NLT)

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

1- God guided Phillip progressively in positioning himself to share Jesus with the man.

2- God will guide you and I progressively.

II- RECOGNIZE THAT GOD’S BIG PICTURE STARTS WITH ONE . (Acts 8:26-28)

Acts 8:26–28 (NLT)

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

A- It starts with the obedience of one person- YOU!

1- God’s big-picture mission focused upon the obedience of Phillip.

a- God did not send a team of people.

b- God did not send a pastor.

c- God sent Phillip.

2- God’s big-picture mission for today focuses on your obedience.

a- There are people that will not be reached by evangelistic teams or pastors.

b- There are some people who you alone can reach.

B- God’s big-picture mission begins with individuals.

1- God placed Phillip in the right place at the right time to reach one man.

a- God knew who the man was, where he had been (and why) and where he was going.

b- God had prepared the heart of the man to be open to the Good News of Christ.

c- One person matters to the Lord!

d- Unless individuals are won to Jesus, the world cannot be won!

e- Each one must reach one!

III- THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS OF MANKIND BEGIN WITH JESUS. (Acts 8:30-35).

Acts 8:30–35 (NLT)

30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”

35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

A- Listen to the questions that are asked.

1- Phillip was observant of the situation.

2- Phillip asked a question that led to deeper thought.

3- Phillip answered the question dealing with the issue at hand.

4- you and I need to be willing to listen and discuss the questions and issues raised. (1 Peter 3:15)

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

B- Point the questioner to Jesus

1- Don’t point them to church attendance, morality, etc.

2- Point them to Jesus.

Remember what Jesus said: (John 14:6)

John 14:6 (NLT)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

C- Help the person make their commitment to Jesus. (Acts 8:36-39)

Acts 8:36–39 (NLT)

36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

1- Don’t leave their eternal disposition in question.

a. If they are inclined to surrender to Christ, help them to do so.

b. If you are not likely to see them again on earth, help them make their commitment firm… help them make the additional steps to begin their walk with Jesus.

Try to connect them with a local church.

Get their info

Get it to someone to follow up

recommend a church

try to contact them and check in for encouragement

CONCLUSION: