Sermon notes to come.

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.

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. 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 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 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?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.—Acts 8:25–40

Sermon Discussion Questions

Outline

Intro: Jesus — Alive and Working 

1. The Leading Providence of the Living Christ
2. The Listening Participation With the Living Christ
3. The Life-Giving Proclamation of the Living Christ

Application: Alive and Working in Jesus

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to recognize that the resurrection is not simply a historical fact we celebrate but a reality we live?
• Do you walk around day-by-day in light of the reality that Jesus is alive and working?
• Why is the leading providence of Jesus such good news?
• Do we see God as sovereign over every detail, including over the people whose lives cross our paths at unexpected times?
• Do we take time to prayerfully listen to the living Christ, to get in step with the story he is telling?
• Are we active participants, completely engaged in the mission of our risen King? Or are we ok being on the sidelines and off in the distance?
• What is the message that saved us and saves others? Have you begun to doubt that this message can save?
• Do you believe that the gospel of the vicarious death and the vindicating resurrection of Jesus is powerful enough to overcome a secular culture, massive division, and the lamentable moral reconfiguring in our culture?
• How can you begin to participate in this story? Who can you share the gospel with soon?
• What is our hope for the worthwhileness of our work? Do you believe your work for the Lord matters? What does the resurrection have to say about that?
• In your life right now, is there a “dead” situation in which you need the living Christ to come and help you walk in the newness of life?