“THE MODEL” // The Model For Conversion + Dealing With What Holds Us Back // Acts 8:25-40


Begin with prayer (5 minutes)

Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting. Have somebody lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.


Read this overview (10 minutes)

This week's teaching brought of the topic of preaching the Gospel of Jesus and the "conversion" of a cultural outsider (An Ethiopian Eunuch) and a cultural insider (Saul who became the Apostle Paul)... Conversion can be a controversial subject yet it's something Jesus talks about in Matthew 18:3- "Unless you 'turn' (conversion) and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom..." So conversion has to do with turning and trusting a God that is greater than you and that can help you. Many of today's cultural ideas of God center around what each individual person believes God should be like. But a God that only tells you what you want to hear will never help you... We are going to take a look at Philip's encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch and how it shows us how the early church began putting Jesus' own example as a model for their own preaching of the gospel.

This passage brings up elements of "who is qualified" to do ministry to others, how we cross cultural boundaries (insiders/outsiders), our availability to be used, and how we see our personal circumstances in light of being used by God to spread the way of Jesus.

READ: Acts 8:25-40 (Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch)


Work through this discussion tonight as a community (30 minutes)

To see more clearly how Philip is simply following Jesus' example and model for preaching the gospel to others, see the similarities of this passage with Jesus in Luke 24 on the Emmaus Road: (Picture taken from Craig Keener)

Note the similarities of the two passages. It's clear Philip is following Jesus' example of starting a conversation with a stranger with a question, explaining the Scriptures (starting with where he was already at), explaining Jesus and how he fulfills the scripture, which caused there to be an eagerness to be invited into a more intimate space of hospitality and exchange, etc.

Philip's faithfulness to Jesus' example brings up several issues for us each to consider:

  • Our Qualifications.

  • Our Availability.

  • Our Circumstances.

QUALIFICATIONS. First, we often compare to those in ministry or with certain natural gifts/personalities, and assume we are simply not qualified to engage with others. Philip is comparing to Jesus! If Philip can see Jesus' own life as an example to follow, surely we can take as well. Philip is not an apostle. But the early church is learning that because of Jesus' new covenant and the gift of the Spirit, every follower of Jesus has access to the same Spirit that qualifies us and gives us the power we need to be used to touch others' lives with the gospel.

AVAILABILITY. Second, Philip was available. In the midst of all the hardship he and the early church were facing- scattered from their homes and suffering from persecution, he was still listening and available, and he was willing to go to a place that didn't make sense (a desert with no people). What a reminder of how we can make our "availability" to God a priority in the midst of whatever life is throwing at us!

CIRCUMSTANCES. Finally, we see that Philip didn't use his difficult circumstances as an excuse. "He rose and went" (8:27). We often think we need to be in a better place (practically, emotionally, spiritually, whatever) to be used, but typically the issue is a mindset. Philip and the early church in Acts remind us that difficult circumstances can equal "opportunities" for God to work, and inspire us to use our circumstances instead of hiding in them.

  • Do you ever struggle with feeling "qualified" to share Jesus with others?

    • Context: Are there areas you feel more comfortable than others? Some might be very comfortable inviting a friend to church or an event, but having an intentional conversation about faith or praying for someone is overwhelming. Some may feel guilty for their lifestyle in some way and feel that disqualifies them... Try to get under the surface of "what takes people out" from engaging with others.

  • Do you feel like you are listening and available to allow God to speak to you and use you?

    • Context: This can simply be taking a co-worker out for a meal to process something hard in life- it doesn't always need to be a gospel presentation! Some may feel like they can't really hear God even when they try. Take time to process the issues your community faces with hearing God and being present with what God is up to in our lives. If possible, share a testimony of when God used you in the middle of a personal crisis to bless someone else!

  • How can your life circumstances become a distraction or an excuse for being available to God?

    • Context: "Busyness" is our culture's ultimate distraction from God's presence- perhaps address how the pace and responsibilities of life influence our ability to be present with God... Others may need to address major circumstances like sickness, relational strains, job issues- address how God's heart to use you isn't only when life is "wonderful"... because your value to God isn't based on circumstances!


Discuss the coming week’s Practice (5 minutes)

The Practice for the week ahead is simple. Spend some time this week to intentionally listen to the Holy Spirit.

  • Ask. Ask him to speak to you and remind you of your worth + identity (qualifications)...

  • Declare. Tell Him that you want to be available and ask forgiveness if you haven't been. Be specific of where.

  • Document. Write down this prayer conversation.

  • Surrender. Then, give the Jesus the current season of your life. Address worries, fears, anxieties.

  • Commit. As you give him these burdens, make a fresh commitment to allow Him to show you how he wants to use your circumstances, both to form you into his image and to bless others.

If time allows, briefly demonstrate what this might look like with examples.


Close in prayer (10 minutes) 

When the time comes, close in prayer. Thank God for speaking and for teaching us what his voice sounds like.