Session 5

Session 5 A Spirit-Empowered Evangelist

THEOLOGICAL THEME: The miracle of regeneration takes place when a willing Christian shares the with a Spirit-prepared listener.

If we are to believe the secular narrative for how the world works, then most of life is a game of chance. The events that shape our lives, careers, and relationships are all an accident. We are in the right place at the right time, and suddenly we meet our spouse. A chance encounter leads to a dream job. Or worse, happenstance leads to horrible accidents, mistakes, and misery. If this story were true, then all we would have to hope for in the world is good luck, and all we could point to for what makes life good and beautiful comes by accident.

What “chance encounters” have you experienced in life or heard about?

In the Scriptures, there are no accidents; there is no such thing as chance. Rather, chance encounters Voices from reveal themselves to be divine appointments. the Church Throughout the Book of Acts, we see examples of “I want to tell people about “chance encounters” that prove to be providential. the meaning of the cross. Not the cross that hangs on the One example comes from , where Philip, an wall or around someone’s evangelist and follower of , is prompted by neck, but the real cross of …With all my heart God to go on a journey that leads to an encounter I want to leave you with the with an Ethiopian and the expansion of the truth, that he loves you, and kingdom. The Spirit orchestrated this meeting, is willing to forgive you of all your sins.” 1 and He continues this work today, leading –Billy Graham to use the Scriptures to show others Jesus so they can believe in Him for eternal life.

Date of My Study: ______55

© 2017 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser. 1. Be available and obedient to the Spirit’s prompting (Acts 8:26-29).

26 Now an of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from to Gaza.” This is a desert place.27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a , 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 , and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

When we think about sharing with a lost world, we often focus on the hostility and resistance that Christians experience. That’s not without justification; often the world’s reaction to the gospel is visceral, violent, and harsh (as we saw in the previous session). But that’s not always the case. The story of the Ethiopian reminds us that the Lord is working in the hearts of many to draw them to Himself, and they are responding.

In this case, the Ethiopian knew enough to come to Jerusalem to look for Him, but in many cases, people will look wherever some semblance of hope and spirituality can be found. People rush to these transcendent promises because they’re hungry. They’re desperate, and they will cling to whatever hope they can find. If we’re attentive, we can see it happening all around us, and we just might be able to point them to something more deep, lasting, and meaningful in Jesus.

How have you witnessed people looking for hope and meaning in all the wrong places?

Philip was sent by God for just such an encounter. Upon hearing the angel’s command, Philip obeyed, dropping what he was doing and heading out on the road. Just a few verses earlier, Philip was enjoying a thriving ministry in Samaria (8:4-8). So, one could imagine that a command like this might be met with some inner resistance. Any thriving work is hard to leave, and doing so takes a great deal of faith. Philip, of course, had such faith and hit the road, traveling through the wilderness until he encountered a single chariot bearing a single Ethiopian man.

56 Personal Study Guide There are many reasons for this encounter not to have happened. Philip had a good thing going in Samaria; he might have just stayed home and enjoyed the community he was already a part of. The Ethiopian might not have come to Jerusalem to worship God; there was surely no shortage of religious opportunity in Africa at the time.

Likewise, Philip might not have overcome the social anxiety that would likely have accompanied 99 Essential this encounter. Not only was the Ethiopian Christian Doctrines ethnically different from Philip, a hurdle 85. Mission of the Church significant enough at any point in history, but he The church is a sign and was also of a higher social status than Philip. Luke instrument of the kingdom of God, a people united by faith tells us that he was a high official ofCandace, “ in the gospel announcement queen of the Ethiopians.” Philip was an ordinary of the crucified and risen King Jesus. The mission of Jew living in , a commoner; approaching the church is to go into the someone of the Ethiopian’s higher station world in the power of the Spirit and make disciples wouldn’t have been easy. by proclaiming this gospel, calling people to respond The sent Philip in spite of all of these in ongoing repentance and faith, and demonstrating things, inviting him to overcome several layers the truth and power of the of fear and resistance. His prompting ran against gospel by living under the lordship of Christ for the commonsense expectations, reminding us that glory of God and the good the kingdom of God advances in surprising and of the world. counterintuitive ways.

What are some ways you’ve been surprised by how God has led you, your church, or your friends to be on mission?

How can we cultivate a heart willing to respond obediently to the Spirit’s leading, no matter the risks?

Session 5 57 2. Guide people through the Scriptures and show them Christ (Acts 8:30-35).

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.

More evidence appears here to show how God was laying the groundwork for this encounter. The Ethiopian was immediately receptive to Philip, inviting him up onto the chariot to explain the Scriptures to him. Not only that, he happened to be reading a passage from the that overtly talks about the sacrificial death of Jesus. The whole conversation was teed up for Philip to point this man to Jesus.

Philip didn’t have the credentials of a Bible scholar or a teacher of the law; again, he was an ordinary Voices from guy. But because he was filled with the Spirit and the Church because of what he’d seen and experienced in his “Jesus is the one and only own life of faith, he responded with confidence mediator between God and clarity. and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Therefore, I believe that interpreting God’s word In the short passage that follows, we’re given all we must be mediated through Jesus Christ. He is the lens need to know about whether or not a Bible teacher through which we see is reliable. It’s the simplest litmus test in the world, the scriptures.” 2 actually. They read a passage from Isaiah, and –Ed Stetzer the Ethiopian invited Philip to explain it, asking who the passage was about. And Philip “opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.”

58 Personal Study Guide Do you think it is possible to tell the good news about Jesus from anywhere in the Scriptures? Why or why not?

Jesus manages to embody all that the Old Testament longs for and points to. Even the broader story of the Old Testament—exile from the garden of Eden, longing for the promised land, exile (again) at the hands of the Babylonians—points to Jesus as the conquering King who defeats , sin, and death and brings us back home to God.

We can judge the faithfulness of Bible teaching, including our own, by this simple question: Who is the hero of the story? If it’s anyone or anything but Jesus, we’ve missed the point. Too often our conversations around the Bible get tangled up in the ethics of the Bible or the facts of the Bible. We’re eager to be “right” about this point or that one, and we lose sight of the real point and purpose of the Bible.

Philip’s faith was his most important credential as a Bible teacher. His faith was what made him able and willing to follow the lead of the Spirit as he was sent here and there, and it was what made him able to hear God’s Word and see Jesus in it.

What are some reasons we might feel intimidated to try and explain the Scriptures to an unbeliever?

Session 5 59 3. Lead others to respond in faith (Acts 8:36-40).

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 .

All of the elements of true conversion are on display here. The Ethiopian was eager to believe, not compelled, and certainly not pressured to convert. Philip had explained how the passage of Scripture he was reading pointed to Jesus, whose death and resurrection reconciles us to God. It seems he also explained enough so that the Ethiopian was eager to identify with Jesus through .

“What prevents me from being baptized?” he asked. That question was crucial. Some might have Voices from offered a variety of reasons not to baptize him: Church History he was an Ethiopian, not an ethnic Jew; he was a “The instrument that Philip eunuch; he was a foreigner. But of course, Philip, uses is the Word of God, filled with the Spirit, didn’t put any stock in those not such an indescribable and imaginary word—as hindrances. It is clear the Ethiopian believed what some ‘angelic’ and fanatic he heard about Jesus—that He is the Lamb of theologians dream—but the very same word that is God who takes away the sin of the world—and so, contained in the Scriptures. Philip baptized him without delay. For out of these must come all sermons, and the whole doctrine of salvation is taken, Evangelism and conversion really are that simple. neither must we look for any new kind of doctrine unheard We can share “just the facts,” however, without of until this day.” 3 asking people to make something of them. But –Rudolf Gwalther the goal of evangelism isn’t just to share what we (1519-1586) know with people; it’s to invite them to join us in following Jesus. The hope of an evangelist is to help someone see Jesus as Lord and that His life, death, and resurrection takes away the sins of the world and brings us home to God the Father. In Philip’s short conversation with the Ethiopian, this miracle happened. He saw Jesus as Lord and was ready to follow Him into the waters of baptism.

60 Personal Study Guide How do the details of this story fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to His disciples (Matt. 28:18-20)?

As this story concludes, we see the two parted ways even more suddenly than they came together. What’s implied here is that something more than meets the eye took Philip away. It’s as if the Spirit carried him away and deposited him in Azotus. The Ethiopian, filled with the joy of being a new Christian and filled with the Holy Spirit, went on his own way back to his home, where one must imagine that the Spirit continued His work and the story of Jesus spread and grew roots in Africa.

The next leg in Philip’s journey, though, continued his ministry of expanding the kingdom among the . Azotus, where he suddenly appeared, was thirty miles away and wasn’t a Jewish enclave. The kingdom’s expansion to the non-Jewish world had officially begun. This expansion of the kingdom happened because of a willing and submissive heart that obeyed God’s call to leave the thriving ministry in Samaria and seek out one person who needed to hear the gospel. And this encounter no doubt fueled the joyful overflow of gospel proclamation from town to town as Philip traveled from Azotus to Caesarea.

Why is calling for a response vital when sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others?

Session 5 61 Conclusion

The Spirit, like the wind, is always on the move, quietly leading the church and its members to Voices from take each proceeding step and advancing the work the Church of the kingdom. Life in the Spirit is never about “As part of the Spirit’s work arriving but about continuing with a hopeful eye through us for the ‘common good,’ He empowers us to be toward the day when the gospel has been carried His witnesses…It is true that to every corner of the world and the whole earth God may have called you to is filled with the glory of God. be exactly where you are. But it’s absolutely vital to grasp that He didn’t call you there The most ordinary of circumstances might be a so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort divine appointment. A “chance encounter,” as the and superficial peace. His world often sees it, might be a crucial moment purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive in someone’s life. There are no coincidences. But on this planet, it’s because before we let this make us anxious or fearful of He has something for you to do. He placed us on this missing a key moment, let’s not forget that we earth for purposes that He never experience these moments alone. The Holy orchestrated long before we 4 Spirit accompanies us, guides us, and provides us were born (Eph. 2:8-10).” with these opportunities. He empowers us for this –Francis Chan work with boldness and with words, and He has already gone ahead of us to soften hearts and open ears to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. So as we go our ways in the world, let us go and make disciples for Jesus.

CHRIST CONNECTION: The Ethiopian eunuch was familiar with the Old Testament prophets but was unable to understand how their message was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Philip was led by the Holy Spirit to help the eunuch understand how Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead, in accordance with the ancient prophecies.

62 Personal Study Guide HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION

MISSIONAL APPLICATION: God calls us to be available and obedient to the Spirit’s prompting, able and willing to show Christ in all the Scriptures.

1. What attitudes and actions do you need to confess and repent of in order to respond obediently to the Spirit’s prompting?

2. How can we grow in our ability and confidence to share Christ from the Scriptures?

3. What are some ways you can do the work of a Spirit-empowered evangelist in the coming days?

Session 5 63 Notes

SESSION 1 SESSION 5 SESSION 9 1. J. Hudson Taylor, “The Source of Power,” 1. Billy Graham, quoted in “40 Courageous 1. Ray Ortlund, “Grace,” The Gospel in Ecumenical Missionary Conference: Report, Quotes from Billy Graham,” by Debbie Coalition, October 19, 2012, https:// vol. 1 (New York: American Tract Society, McDaniel, Crosswalk.com, http://www. blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/ 1900), 88. crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring- rayortlund/2012/10/19/grace. 2. , Against Heresies, 3.12.2, quoted quotes/40-courageous-quotes-from-billy- 2. John Stott, quoted in “Life in the Spirit of in Acts, ed. Francis Martin, with Evan Smith, graham.html. Truth: Roy McCloughry talks to the Rev Dr vol. 5 in Ancient Christian Commentary on 2. Ed Stetzer, “Don’t Miss the Story of John Stott” ThirdWay, October 1995, 17. Scripture: [WORDsearch]. the Bible,” The Exchange, http://www. 3. Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Brokenness, 3. Henry Blackaby and Melvin Blackaby, christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/ Surrender, Holiness: A Revive Our Hearts Experiencing the Spirit: The Power of march/dont-miss-story-of-bible.html. Trilogy (Chicago: Moody Bible Publishers, Every Day (Colorado Springs: 3. Rudolf Gwalther, Homily 61, Acts 8:32-35, 2008), 300. Multnomah, 2009) [eBook]. quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation SESSION 10 SESSION 2 Commentary on Scripture: New Testament 1. Justin S. Holcomb, in ESV Gospel 1. Kay Arthur, God, How Can I Live? (Eugene, (Downers Grove: IVP, 2016) [WORDsearch]. Transformation Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, OR: Harvest House, 2004), 92. 4. Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski, 2013), 1479, n. 16:14. 2. Rudolf Gwalther, Homily 30, :24-31, Forgotten God (Colorado Springs: David C. 2. Paul Mumo Kisau, “,” quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim Cook, 2009), 92. in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation Zondervan, 2006), 1355. Commentary on Scripture: New Testament SESSION 6 (Downers Grove: IVP, 2016) [WORDsearch]. 1. C. H. Spurgeon, “The Cripple at ,” SESSION 11 in Spurgeon’s Sermons, 8th series (New York: 1. “Pattaya,” Lonely Planet, 2017, https:// SESSION 3 Sheldon and Company, 1865), 244. www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/chonburi- 1. Basil the Great, Letter 22.1, quoted in Acts, 2. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, quoted in province/pattaya. ed. Francis Martin, with Evan Smith, vol. 5 in The Westminster Collection of Christian 2. Kyle Idleman, Gods at War: Defeating the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Quotations, comp. and ed. Martin H. Manser Idols that Battle for Your Heart (Grand Rapids: New Testament (IVP, 2001) [WORDsearch]. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, Zondervan, 2013), 12. 2. Joni Eareckson Tada, Glorious Intruder: 2001), 150. 3. Africa Study Bible, ed. John Jusu (Oasis God’s Presence in Life’s Chaos (Colorado 3. Trillia J. Newbell, United: Captured by International LTD, 2016), 1610. Springs: Multnomah, 1989), 82. God’s Vision for Diversity (Chicago: Moody, 4. John Bunyan, quoted in John Bunyan: His 3. Timothy Keller, Generous Justice: How 2014), 91. Life Times and Work, by John Brown (Boston: God’s Grace Makes Us Just (New York: Dutton, Houghton, Mifflin, and Company, 1888), 389. 2010), 91. SESSION 7 4. , “The Spirit of Bondage and 1. Justin Martyr, First Apology 67, quoted SESSION 12 of Adoption,” in The Works of the Reverend in The Early Christians in Their Own Words, 1. Graham Tomlin, The Provocative Church, John Wesley, ed. John Emory, vol. 1 (New York: edited by Eberhard Arnold (Rifton, NY: 4th ed. (London: Society for Promoting Carlton & Phillips, 1853), 82. Plough Publishing, 2011), 83. Christian Knowledge, 2014) [eBook]. 2. Elisabeth Elliot, Passion and Purity: SPECIAL SESSION—CHRISTMAS 2. Jeff Vanderstelt, quoted in “Every Believer Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ’s Is Called to Full Time Ministry,” Daniel 1. Phillips Brooks, “O Little Town of Control (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002), 85. Im, July 14, 2011, https://www.danielim. Bethlehem,” in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: 3. Robert E. Coleman, The Master Plan of com/2011/07/14/every-believer-is-called- LifeWay Worship, 2008), 196. Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2009) to-full-time-ministry. 2. Charles Wesley, “Hark! the Herald [WORDsearch]. 3. Heinrich Bullinger, Commentary on Acts Sing,” in Baptist Hymnal, 192. SESSION 8 20:21, quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung- 3. Ambrosiaster, to the Philippians, Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation 2.11.1, quoted in Galatians, Ephesians, 1. John Stott, quoted in “World Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament Philippians, ed. Mark J. Edwards, vol. VIII in Quotes” by Mark Struck, Desiring God, (IVP, 2016) [WORDsearch]. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: January 28, 2011, http://cdn.desiringgod.org/ New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) pdf/articles/20110128_mission_quotes.pdf. [WORDsearch]. 2. Hudson Taylor, quoted in Witness Essentials: Evangelism That Makes Disciples SESSION 4 by Daniel Meyer (Downers Grove: IVP, 1. Peter Riedemann, Confession of Faith, 2012), 18. quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim 3. David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation Faith from the American Dream (Colorado Commentary on Scripture: New Testament Springs: Multnomah Books, 2010), 216. (IVP, 2016) [WORDsearch]. 4. Nate Saint, quoted in Jungle Pilot: The 2. Eric Mason, Unleashed: Being Conformed Story of Nate Saint, Martyred Missionary to to the Image of Christ (Nashville: B&H, Ecuador, by Russell T. Hitt (Grand Rapids: 2015), 91. Discovery House, 2017) [eBook]. 3. Johann Spangenberg, Brief Exegesis 5. Basil the Great, Homily on Psalm 33.4, of :8-10, quoted in Acts, eds. Esther quoted in Acts, eds. Francis Martin, with Evan Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Smith, vol. V in Ancient Christian Commentary Reformation Commentary on Scripture: New on Scripture: New Testament [WORDsearch]. Testament [WORDsearch].

128 Personal Study Guide About the Writers

Unit: 1 The Gospel Project® Mike Cosper is the founder and director of Harbor Adult Personal Study Guide ESV Volume 6, Number 2 Winter 2017-18 Media, where he develops podcasts that help Christians navigate a post-Christian world. Previously he served Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources for 16 years as one of the founding pastors of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax General Editors oversaw Sojourn Music—a collective of musicians writing songs for the local church. He is the author of four books, Brian Dembowczyk Managing Editor including (most recently) Recapturing the Wonder.

Daniel Davis Content Editor Katie Orr (special session), creator of the FOCUSed15 Josh Hayes Bible study method, is passionate about equipping busy Content and Production Editor women to experience God daily. She is a teacher, speaker, Ken Braddy podcaster, and prolific writer for blogs, magazines, and Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Sunday School curriculum. A former Cru (Campus Kelley Crusade for Christ) staff member and mother to three Director, Groups Ministry young children, she and pastor-husband, Chris, are part of the church revitalization movement. Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by email to [email protected] or mail to Unit: 2 Content Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Jason C Dukes (sessions 7-9) has been a church Nashville, TN 37234-0102; or make comments on the Web at lifeway.com. starter, a church renewer, and tries to be a - maker. He’s currently the Multiplication Minister with Printed in the United States of America Brentwood Baptist Church near Nashville, Tennessee.

The Gospel Project®: Adult Personal Study Guide ESV He has authored books and periodically blogs, which you (ISSN 2330-9393; Item 005573553) is published can learn more about at LiveSent.com. He and his wife, quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Jen, are thankful for their seven children. Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2017 LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or Daniel Im (sessions 10-12) serves as the Director write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For bulk of Church Multiplication for NewChurches.com at shipments mailed quarterly to one address, email [email protected], fax 615.251.5933, or write LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also a teaching to the above address. pastor at The Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, and We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any author of No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts That Will mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To Transform Your Ministry and Planting Missional Churches. review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit He is married to Christina, and they have three children, www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are Victoria, Adelyn, and Makarios. taken from the English Standard Version® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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