Sermon Summary

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our series through the book of Acts called Empowered. After Stephen was raised up to take the Gospel forward, Saul began persecuting Christians in a significant way, leading to the dispersing of believers throughout the region. God then raised up Philip who began attracting crowds in Samaria until the Holy Spirit told him to find one lost individual. The core of evangelism is found in one Christian sharing the Gospel with a nonbeliever. The divine shift in the narrative from mass to individual salvation reflects the heartbeat of Jesus to go after the one.

Acts 8:25–26 (ESV)

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. 26 Now 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.

Who Are You Reaching? 

  1. Angel – Angels are created, spiritual beings with moral judgment and high intelligence, but without physical bodies.

Types of Good Angels

  • Archangel (Dan. 10:12-13, 20-21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-9).
  • Cherubim & Seraphim (Ge. 3:24; Ex. 25:17-22; Eze. 1; 10; Rev. 4:6-8).
  • Messengers (Dan. 8:15-19; 9:20-23; Lk. 1:18-20, 26-28).
  • Ministering Angels(Ge. 19:1-16; Mt. 4:10-11; Heb. 1:14).
  • Warrior Angels(2 Ki. 6:8-18; 2 Th. 1:7-9, Dan. 10:1013, 20-21; Rev. 12:7-9). 
  • Worshiping Angels(Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11-12; 7:11-12).

1 John 4:1 (ESV)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

2. Philip the Evangelist

Acts 6:5 (ESV)

5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip…

Acts 21:8–9 (ESV)

8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.

Acts 8:26-27a (ESV)

26 Now 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.

3. The Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:27–28 (ESV)

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.

4. The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…

Acts 8:30 (ESV)

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

John 16:7–8 (ESV)

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Acts 8:30 (ESV)

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

How does God do this? 

  1. Impression (Acts 20:22, Acts 15:28) 
  2. Internal thoughts (1 Kgs. 19:11-12) 
  3. Gentle visions or a picture (Jn. 1:48, Acts 7:56) 
  4. Visions (Daniel 7:2-3) 
  5. Trances (Acts 10:9-10) 
  6. Dreams (Job 33:14-17, Matt. 1:20) 
  7. Angelic revelation (Gen. 32:24-30, Heb. 1:14) 
  8. Audible voice (Acts 9:4) 
  9. Scriptures (Daniel 9:2-3) 
  10. Other people (1 Corinthians 14:3) 
  11. Nature (Romans 1:19-20) 

Acts 8:30–40 (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. 

Reach The Lost by:

1. Going to the person the Holy Spirit sends you too. 

2. Sharing the Word. Answer their questions.

3. Telling them about Jesus. 

Acts 8:35 (ESV)

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

Acts 8:36–40 (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. 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.

  • Are you a Christian? 
  • Do you believe in Jesus? 
  • Do you love Jesus? 
  • Do you belong to Jesus? 
  • Have you submitted to Jesus? 
  • Have you surrendered to Jesus? 
  • 3 Aspects of Biblical Saving-Faith 
    • Knowledge (facts)
    • Agreement (assent)
    • Commitment (will)

Discussion Questions

  1. Think about the seed of faith that was planted in your heart when you chose to follow Jesus. Did a specific person plant that seed? How did they do it? Share with the group. 
  2. Pastor Chris shared a personal story of a man with bullet wound scars who shared the full Gospel to him in a time of need. Chris believed he was entertaining an angel in this encounter. Have you ever had an encounter like this?
  3. What is your natural bend when it comes to evangelism? Is there anything standing in the way of you preaching the Gospel openly? (Examples: fear of man, passivity, disobedience)
  4. Look through the list of how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Does the Spirit speak to you in a specific way? Share with the group.
  5. How can we grow in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? What role does obedience play in evangelism?

Application Questions

  1. Consider your answer to discussion question #3. Seek the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal what stands in the way. Repent of it this week and find refreshment in the Lord (Acts 3:19-20). 
  2. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal anybody in your life whom you need to share the Gospel with personally. Make a plan to meet with that person this week.
  3. Do you want to grow in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? Ask a prayer warrior in your life to pray over you in this area.