May 19, 2019
Pastor Jeff Struecker
Sermon Notes
I. Nobody is unloved by Jesus
Acts 8:26-29
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”
II. Nobody is unable to understand the message
Acts 8:30-35
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. 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. 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.
III. Nobody is too unclean for baptism
Acts 8:36-40
As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in Azotus, and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Next Steps
I have never surrendered to King Jesus. Today, I pledge to him completely.
– I haven’t heard the voice of the Holy Spirit in a while. Pray for me to listen closely to him this week.
+ I will share my faith with somebody this week.
Discussion Questions
1. What (should) motivate us to share our faith with others? Responsibility? Love? Duty? Grace?
2. Is there anyone in your day-to-day life you pass by that you have not shared the Gospel with? How can you be more intentional about sharing your faith?
3. Read Matthew 28:16-20:
a. What does Christ require of us in The Great Commission?
b. What does it mean to “make disciples”? Are you in any disciple-making relationships currently?
c. What motivation and/or support do we have as we do The Great Commission?
4. Does sharing our faith require great understanding of all things? Are we required to be “professionals” of the faith just to share?
5. Is anyone unable to be saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Can one be “too unclean”?
6. What is the purpose of baptism? What does it represent?
7. Pray for a heart for the Lost around you and pray for opportunities to share the Gospel with someone this week.
