Devoted to Teaching
OPENING THOUGHT
While believers generally agree that evangelism is an important responsibility for every Christian, very few members of the church can count more than five people they have brought to Christ. Not many can count even one. When it comes to evangelism, why is there such a discrepancy between what we know we ought to do and what we actually do?
THE READING (Acts 8:1-4, 26-40)
After persecution broke out in Jerusalem following the death of Stephen, the church was scattered into other parts of the world. Acts 8 records the teaching efforts of Philip in one of these areas, the province of Samaria.
EXPLORE
Discuss these questions to get a better understanding of the text.
Why did the Christians in Jerusalem “scatter”? What effect did this scattering have upon their evangelism? (v. 4).
Where did Philip scatter to? What do you know about this region?
Whom did Philip encounter on the road to Gaza? Why was the man he met in that place at that time?
What was the Ethiopian eunuch doing when Philip met him? How did Philip use this as an opportunity to teach him?
What did Philip teach the eunuch?
Whose idea was it to stop the chariot for baptism? Why do you think baptism was so urgent? (cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).Compare the eunuch’s state before he met Philip to his condition when he left him. Was there a transformation?
APPLY
Discuss these questions to envision what it would be like to practically live out this passage.
Can we blame persecution for the church’s lack of growth in the 21st century?
Who was Philip? Was he an apostle? (cf. Acts 6:5). Why was he teaching the gospel? Is evangelism a job that should be left to the professionals? (cf. Matt. 28:19-20).
Why don't we evangelize more? What can we learn from Philip about finding opportunities to share the gospel?
Read Acts 5:42. How frequently did the early Christians teach and preach? Where did they teach?
Discuss some practical ways we can plant seeds of evangelism among our friends, family, and neighbors.
