How Can I Follow Christ Series

New testament evangelists were not the

sAC 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road-- the desert road --that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."

34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.tereotypical evangelists of today

Woman at the well - Demonized man among the tombs

Philip - meals on wheels

JJ dramatizes the story

The Big Idea Eph 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Why is the gospel moving into Samaria - and Ethiopia - God will not be stopped

Telling good news begins where the other person is

Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. scattered = sowing seed

The Eunuch was well on the way at the start of this story. Everyone is on the road, all at different points. Go to the place where they are. Does that mean go into a bar or nightclub - for a few of you - yes. Where is your friend - never been to church

Sharing good news begins with their story

Angel = messenger - told Philip - run up and meet this man - obey directions

Eaves dropping - looking for openings - didn’t have to wait long. We need to be familiar with scripture so we can use it as a starting point. We need to be familiar with culture so we can use it as a starting place too.

Culture = news, movies, art, books, magazines, TV

Eunuch - began with Isaiah, with Stephen it was Jewish history, with your friend somewhere else

Keys of sharing your faith 1 on 1

- Respond to God’s call (how do you hear it - is everyone called?) Act on hunches

- listen to their story before telling yours

- Be familiar with the good news story - both from the Bible and your own life

- know how and when to ask questions, peak their curiosity

- remember it’s all about Jesus - the good news of Christ

What exactly is so good about the good news?

We have reduced the truth and mystery of the gospel from a volcano to a party favor

The gospel has been trivialized - instead of the central defining truth about our lives it becomes a subplot. We have eliminated the danger, stripped it of its energy and surprise. The good news is more shocking than Howard Stern!

1. We have a problem, SIN

All your struggling - trying - self improvement plans have pretty much bombed