Called to Break Down Barriers

Transcription

1 Church/Home Theme: God s Unfailing Love Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus. Lesson Scripture: Acts 8:26-39 LESSON 11 Week of August 13 Lesson Overview 1 Life Need Realize that God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus. 2 Bible Learning See how God prepared an opportunity for Philip to share the Gospel. Suggested Material: Adult Teacher s Resource Kit: Reproducible handout The Call of God in Acts 3 Bible Application Explore the process of how we share the Good News. Suggested Material: Adult Teacher s Resource Kit: Reproducible handout Surely He Took Up Our Infirmities 4 Life Response Be open to opportunities to share Jesus. Suggested Material: Words and music for the hymn I Love to Tell the Story 90 Called to Break Down Barriers Philip witnessed great success in his work in Samaria people came to Christ and the number of believers grew. However, the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, directed Philip to leave this ministry and go to Gaza by way of the desert road. Philip obeyed and followed the Holy Spirit s leading. On this road, Philip encountered a treasurer of the Ethiopian queen Candace, who was returning from Jerusalem and reading the scroll of Isaiah. The treasurer had no understanding of what he was reading. The Holy Spirit Will Guide The Holy Spirit directed Phillip to come alongside the Ethiopian s chariot, and when Philip heard him read Isaiah aloud from a scroll, Phillip asked if he understood the words. The Ethiopian said no and asked Phillip to explain. The apostle knew God had given him an open door to a prepared heart for the Gospel message. God Opens the Heart This particular passage from Isaiah described the humiliation Jesus came to suffer (Isa. 53). The Scriptures compared Jesus to a tender, innocent lamb led away to face an excruciatingly painful death. Many times the Gospel is presented as something that an individual must do for God. But the Bible says the truth begins with believing and understanding God s actions on man s behalf. The Ethiopian believed wholeheartedly and said Jesus is indeed Christ the Messiah the one who bore the sins for all mankind on the Cross. Immediately, when the Ethiopian saw water, he desired for Phillip to baptize him. The Holy Spirit then snatched Phillip away to another assignment while the Ethiopian moved on to his own country, filled with overflowing joy and ready to tell others about Jesus. Walk through His Open Doors God opens the doors for His servants to share the Gospel. Opportunities to tell others about Christ are there. When we pray about it, God will point out those who are ready to hear and receive the truth about Jesus. Photo: themacx/getty

2 As Your Students Arrive Have your arriving students think about this question: What are some examples of really good news? Have them write some quick responses on a large sheet of paper. Can they remember a time when they couldn t wait to share good news with someone? You might begin your lesson with this question: Why is it that we are so eager to share certain kinds of good news, but are reluctant many times to share the best news of all? Link to Last Week: Spend a few minutes sharing about how your students used their spiritual gifts in His service this past week. 1 Life Need Realize that God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus Lesson 11 August 13 Page 75 Called to Break Down Barriers A Present-Day Illustration Brittany watched Heather after the black woman concluded her poem on racism and took her seat. Heather joined the audience in applause, but looked uneasy. Heather then rose and recited her poem, Bus Stop. It was about the various stops and waiting in life. Later in the program, Brittany read her piece, No Scar. Your poem was good, too, Heather said later to Brittany, after the co-workers remained at the restaurant and lounge for dinner. The two women had discovered that they both were scheduled to recite poetry that night, so they decided to meet and sit together. It sounded kind of spiritual, Heather continued. Was it? Yes, Brittany smiled. Is that how you re able to make it through life with all your past problems? Heather asked. I have problems too, but I take them out on other people most of the time. You always seem to be nice to everybody, even though everyone at work doesn t treat you the same way. Well, I ve certainly had spiritual help and healing along the way, Brittany said. Yeah, but I m not real religious, Heather said. Religion doesn t work for me. It s not supposed to, Brittany said. What you need is Jesus Christ. The healing I ve experienced is because of what Christ has done in my life, and not religion. Brittany and Heather sat talking long after their meal was finished, and Heather s eyes no longer seemed guarded but genuinely curious. 1. What opportunities have you had to share the Gospel? 2. How do you recognize an opportunity to share about Jesus? 3. How was the Gospel first shared with you? God is interested in the spreading of His Kingdom one precious soul at a time. In these days of His Church on earth, He still is sending messengers and preparing hearts so that every nation and every people group might hear the Good News. Have your students read the anecdote in the student book and form discussion groups to answer Questions 1, 2 and 3. For Question 1, your students could discuss some of their personal experiences in being led to share the Gospel. God is endlessly creative and can match up our willing testimony with someone s hungry heart. For Question 2, learning to hear God s voice and discern the Spirit s leading is an ongoing endeavor of the Christian life, as is expectant obedience. Most opportunities come in the form of everyday encounters, and we all have a responsibility to prepare for the routine and the unexpected by knowing what we believe and who we believe in. Have your students share some of their own testimonies of how they first heard the Gospel for Question 3. (You may want to share yours as well.) What was their reaction? What was the outcome? Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus. 91

3 92 Bible Learning 2 See how God prepared an opportunity for Philip to share the Gospel On the handout sheet, read the third paragraph about Philip and the Ethiopian official and note the photo of an illuminated 11th century manuscript showing Stephen in the official s chariot (Acts 8:28), which was more likely similar to what we would call a carriage with room for the official, a driver, and perhaps other attendants. Following the Spirit s Leading Read Acts: 8:26-29 and watch The Ethiopian Eunuch Philip s meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch leads to questions about who eunuchs were. Officials in the courts of ancient rulers were often eunuchs castrated men. Not being subject to the drives as other men, eunuchs could even be trusted to oversee the king s harem (see Esth. 2:15). In some cases, however, the word eunuch seems to have been purely a governmental title, not necessarily applied to a castrated man. Some commentators believe the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27) was of this type. They say this, for one thing, because the eunuch had been in Jerusalem for worship. Jewish law prohibited the participation of eunuchs in the Jewish assembly (Deut. 23:1; but see Isa. 56:4, 5). Furthermore, the Ethiopian was in charge of finances, not a harem. He is identified as the treasurer for Candace, queen of the Ethiopians (Acts 8:27). Candace was the traditional title of the Ethiopian queen mother. She was responsible for carrying out the secular duties of the reigning king, who was considered too sacred for such activities. Week of August 13 Page 76 Following the Spirit s Leading Acts 8:26-29, KJV 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. More commentary on this text can be found on pp in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament. Acts 8:26-29, NIV 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. After Stephen s stoning, persecution broke out against the Christians, and those who were scattered to Judea and Samaria went everywhere preaching God s Word (8:4). Among them was another of the seven men chosen to minister to the widows Philip, who preached Jesus in Samaria. Signs and wonders from God confirmed Philip s message of God s kingdom and Jesus. After Philip s preaching to many in Samaria, God then sent Philip on a mission to just one man but a very important one. The mission that God had for Philip took him south to a desert road in Gaza, where the angel of the Lord told him to go. There, Philip observed a man of Ethiopia in a chariot (more likely a kind of four-wheeled cart than a racing chariot) who was reading from the Book of Isaiah. The man had great authority in Ethiopia as the queen s treasurer. That he had been to Jerusalem to worship and was currently reading Scripture helps us understand that the Spirit of God had been preparing the Ethiopian s heart to hear and receive the Gospel message. As further confirmation of this, we read that the Holy Spirit Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus.

4 the active direction of the Holy Spirit. God directed Philip to leave Samaria and begin traveling on the road down to Gaza. Philip obeyed immediately and encountered a high official from Ethiopia, a eunuch in charge of the treasury of the Ethiopian queen. This man was returning from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship. He was reading the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 53, in his chariot when God directed Philip to go near to the chariot. Question 4 After Philip had completed God s work in Samaria, the angel of the Lord came to him and told him to go south to a desert road in Gaza. Question 5 Week of August 13 Page 77 then told Philip to go nearby the chariot where the man sat. The stage was now set for a miracle of salvation to occur. 4. What did the angel of the Lord tell Philip to do? 5. Whom did Philip find there? 6. What did the Holy Spirit tell Philip to do? Seeking a Scriptural Understanding Acts 8:30-33, KJV 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. Acts 8:30-33, NIV 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. In obedience to the Spirit s command, Philip immediately ran over to the chariot and heard the Ethiopian reading from Isaiah. By his prompt and swift obedience, Philip was right on time to hear the man reading a passage of Scripture that opened the door perfectly to a presentation of the Gospel. When asked if he understood what he was reading, the Philip found a man of Ethiopia in a chariot reading from the Book of Isaiah. As the queen s treasurer, the man had great authority in Ethiopia. Question 6 After Philip had observed the man in the chariot, the Holy Spirit told him to go to the chariot and remain nearby. In so doing, Philip made himself available to present the Gospel message to the man at just the right moment. Seeking a Scriptural Understanding Read Acts 8:30-33 and see how God orchestrates His plans for people: Philip overheard the man reading from Isaiah and boldly asked him if he understood what he was reading. The man knew that he could not understand Isaiah and needed someone to explain it to him, so he invited Philip to sit with him Reading the Scriptures As he rode along in his chariot, the Ethiopian read aloud to himself. Reading aloud was a common practice in those days for those who had reading materials. But scrolls and other reading materials, transcribed by hand, were not readily available to the average person. Only the wealthy and influential could afford literature. Even more rare was a non-jew possessing Hebrew Scripture, as this man did. Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus. 93

5 and explain the text. The passage that the man was reading was Isaiah 53:7-8, which describes the suffering servant, who is Jesus, the Messiah. Question 7 When the Spirit told him to go over to the chariot and stay near it, Philip ran there. His prompt and swift response is instructive to believers today, because we never know how long a window of opportunity to share about Jesus may stay open. Question 8 The Ethiopian was reading from the Book of Isaiah. When asked if he understood it, he humbly stated that he needed someone to explain it to him, so he invited Philip to sit with him and do so. Question 9 The passage they were reading is from Isaiah 53, which so clearly speaks of a man who Searching the Scriptures It was no coincidence that the Ethiopian was reading from Scripture in his search for spiritual understanding. That he had been worshiping in Jerusalem may indicate that he was a proselyte. However, even if he had simply been an interested worshiper from afar, that he had a copy of some or all of the Hebrew Scriptures and was actively reading them shows his hunger for God s truth. It is the Word of God that points people to Jesus, but it was necessary for Philip to help the Ethiopian understand the Scripture passage that he was reading. Illustrations from life may be helpful, and one s personal testimony can be powerful. Ultimately, however, it is God s Word that brings saving faith in Jesus. would suffer as a lamb brought to the slaughter, humiliated and deprived of justice. That Philip would use this passage to speak about Jesus helps validate the truth that Isaiah 53 prophesies the sacrificial death of Christ for sinners. Week of August 13 Page 78 Ethiopian humbly confessed his need for guidance and explanation. Therefore, he invited Philip to sit with him in the chariot. The passage in question is from Isaiah 53, specifically verses 7 and 8. The first part of the reference is a picture of a docile sheep going quietly to be sheered or slaughtered. Jews, who were the original recipients of this prophecy, understood this picture, especially as it related to the temple sacrifices. As the sheep is slaughtered for sacrifice as a sin offering, so too would be the One of whom Isaiah spoke His life cut off from the land of the living. However, even if the Ethiopian was a Jewish convert with some understanding of the passage as it related to the temple sacrifices, he would still need help understanding how it related to the suffering and death of a man. As Philip would soon help the Ethiopian understand, this is a reference to the Lord Jesus. 7. How did Philip respond to the Spirit s command? 8. Why did the Ethiopian invite Philip to sit with him? 9. What is the central message of the passage of Scripture they were reading? Breaking Down Barriers Acts 8:34-39, KJV 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe Breaking Down Barriers Read Acts 8:34-39 and note these key ideas: The man wondered who the passage was about. Philip knew that the passage prophesied the story of Jesus, the Acts 8:34-39, NIV 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 94 Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus.

6 Messiah, so Philip was able to share the good news of Christ with him. They came to a body of water as they traveled and the man wanted to be baptized. Philip baptized him and was then transported away by the Spirit, while the man went on rejoicing. Question 10 Some of the passage is in the past tense, some in the present, and some in the future, so it would have been difficult for the Ethiopian to tell of whom Isaiah spoke, whether it was of himself or another. Therefore, he asked Philip for clarification. Question 11 Philip helped the man understand that Isaiah spoke of the Lord, and beginning with that passage, he told the Ethiopian the good news about Jesus. Week of August 13 Page 79 KJV NIV that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. the chariot. Then both Philip 38 And he commanded the chariot and the eunuch went down to stand still: and they went down into the water and Philip both into the water, both Philip baptized him. 39 When they and the eunuch; and he baptized came up out of the water, the him. Spirit of the Lord suddenly 39 And when they were come up took Philip away, and the out of the water, the Spirit of the eunuch did not see him again, Lord caught away Philip, that the but went on his way rejoicing. eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. After reading the passage from the prophet Isaiah, the Ethiopian asked Philip of whom the prophet spoke, himself or someone else. This opened the door for Philip to preach Jesus from Isaiah 53. As they traveled, the Spirit of God used the Word of God to save this newly reborn child of God from his sins. The Ethiopian s faith in Christ as the Son of God (implicit in the NIV and explicit in verse 37 of the KJV) is clear from the entire context of the passage. Therefore, when they came upon some water, he asked about baptism. So Philip went down into the water with the Ethiopian and baptized him there. When they had come up out of the water, the Holy Spirit immediately took Philip away, leaving the new believer to rejoice in his salvation and forgiveness of sins. An important takeaway from our lesson s passage is that the Gospel knows no ethnic or national boundaries. Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, NIV). Philip s proclamation of the Gospel earlier in Samaria and then to the Ethiopian fulfilled the Lord s call to reach out to other people groups in His name. And by sending this official back to Ethiopia, Philip was really sending a missionary to share Jesus with the rest of his people. 10. What question did the Ethiopian ask Philip regarding the Scripture passage they read? 11. How did Philip answer the man s question? 12. What was the outcome of the two men s encounter? Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus. Question 12 The Ethiopian believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit immediately took Philip away, and the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing. Preaching Jesus from Isaiah By the providence of God, the Ethiopian was reading a passage of Old Testament Scripture, specifically Isaiah 53:7-8, that helped Philip tell the Ethiopian about the good news of Jesus Christ. There can be little doubt that God was in the selection of this passage from Isaiah. Not only does it clearly speak of Christ s death, it also tells why He had to die as an offering for sin on behalf of sinners. The apostle Peter also quoted from Isaiah 53 to explain Christ s suffering and how we too may suffer for following Him (1 Pet. 2:21-25). Acts 8:37 Verse 37 is not in the earliest manuscripts of Acts, and therefore is probably not original. However, it is consistent with the expectations the apostles had of those who turned to Christ. The verse goes this way: Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized]. The eunuch answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 95

7 Bible Application Explore the process of how we share the Good News 3 Make copies of this page, cut out the boxes, and give the instructions to each group. Make copies of the handout from the Resource Kit for those using it. GROUP ACTIVITIES Discussion Group Read Divine Appointments and answer Questions 13, 14, and 15. When we have received the Good News ourselves and are filled with the Spirit, we look for opportunities to share possibly based on how the Gospel was presented to us. Our own personal testimony, simply told, is a good witness. We see opportunities when we meet curious people or those open to Him that He brings our way. We often find people are more interested in spiritual things than we think. Who We See On a board or sheet of newsprint, list the kinds of people you see regularly who may not know about Jesus but would possibly be open to hearing about Him if the right opportunity presented itself on our jobs, as we go shopping, as we travel, and in our neighborhoods. People could be more open to the Gospel at times like Christmas and Easter when the story of Jesus fits with the season. The Example of Paul Read the testimony of the apostle Paul s conversion in Acts 26:1-23 and note the stages of Paul s testimony what he was doing before he met Christ, what he felt Christ called him to do, and how his life had changed since that time. Use the stories of some of the people in your group to create a similar set of stages. Seeing those can help you think about your personal testimony and how it can be shared with others. Handout: Surely He Took Up Our Infirmities Follow the directions on the handout and share your answers with the rest of the class when you are finished. This page reproducible for classroom use only. Week of August 13 Page 80 Divine Appointments There is no better news anywhere than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God has done for us through Christ what we could never do. However, we are often cautious and reluctant to pour such treasure out on others. Philip models for us a gracious method of sharing such Good News. Though he is supernaturally led to the Ethiopian s chariot, he does not force himself or his message on the man. He hears the eunuch reading from the Scriptures and opens the conversation with an appropriate question. The man s answer leads to an invitation to have Philip share what he knows. This approach has sometimes been called Permission Evangelism from the title of the book by that name written by Michael Simpson. The approach is sensitive to others and suggests that when we find ourselves in circumstances where we feel led to talk about Jesus, we test the water a bit to see if that person is receptive to hearing. I have seen that happen while I have been caring for my elderly mother who is on hospice. Helpers come into my home on a regular basis, and there are always opportunities to talk. A new CNA came this morning to help give Mom a shower, and eventually she asked, What do you do? Because of this lesson I realized that my usual answer, I m a writer, doesn t always open a door, so I said, I write about Jesus. Oh, she said, What do you write about Him? She had an interest and gave me permission to begin to talk. She already had some faith but was hungry to know more. For the next half hour as we cared together for my mom in that bathroom, we talked about the Lord. I am mindful tonight as I write this to pray for her. God arranged the details of our meeting every bit as much as He did the one on the road to Gaza. 13. How does someone prepare to share the Gospel? 14. How do we develop openness to God s opportunities? 15. What has been your experience in sharing the Good News about Jesus? 96 Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus.

8 4 Life Response Be open to opportunities to share Jesus Week of August 13 Page 81 I Love to Tell the Story God has given me the amazing opportunity of sharing the Good News of Jesus through the writing of this lesson. God has given you the amazing opportunity of sharing the Good News of Jesus through teaching this very class. This week s lesson teaches us that it is God who gives us opportunities to bring His light, love, and life to the world. Some of us have received the Good News and are ready to share it; others are still considering, What does it mean to follow Jesus? This class today may well be one of those divine appointments for the putting together of someone who is hungry with someone who can share the bread of life. Take some time to respond to one of these questions: - Those of you who know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, what opportunities may God be sending your way for sharing the Good News? Pray about how the Spirit would lead you to share with someone even this week. - If you do not know Jesus personally, why not get acquainted with Him today? You can bring Him your questions, doubts, and fears, and allow someone from this class to help you meet Him. KEY VERSE Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Acts 8:35, KJV Have your students read I Love to Tell the Story and ask them to thoughtfully and prayerfully take time with the questions that follow. There may be someone in your class who would like to talk more about their own need for Jesus, or other issues of their salvation, or people they know. Be prepared to listen and to pray with them if need be, after the others have gone. There are helps in this teacher s guide on page 114 to lead someone to Christ. You might close by singing a hymn such as I Love to Tell the Story by Katherine Hankey or by praying a simple prayer such as this: Lord, fill us with Your words of life, and send us out to share the very good news of Jesus. Help us to be open to the opportunities You send our way. In Jesus name we pray, amen. As class ends, pass out copies of this week s Power for Living. Take or send copies of Lesson Leaflet to anyone who was not in the class today. Before next week, read Acts 9: Ask your students to think about what the word unredeemable means. Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. Acts 8:35 NIV DAILY BIBLE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK S LESSON (See The Quiet Hour and Cross devotionals on these passages.) August 14 through August 20 Mon. Acts 22:1-5 Saul s Mandate to Arrest Believers. Tues. Titus 1:5-9 A Trustworthy Preacher-Teacher. Wed. Acts 9:1-9 Jesus Calls Saul on the Damascus Road. Thurs. Acts 9:10-22 Ananias Confirms God s Call to Saul. Fri. Acts 9:23-25 Saul Escapes Damascus. Sat. Acts 9:26-31 Saul in Tarsus; Jerusalem at Peace. Sun. Acts 9:32-35 The Paralytic Aeneas Healed in Lydda. Lesson Focus: God gives us opportunities to share about Jesus. 97