Easter 5

Easter 5 MAKE THIS MOVEMENT MOVE! 5/11 & 14/06

His name isn’t given, but he was Secretary of the Treasury under Queen Candace of Ethiopia, and he had been to Jerusalem on a religious pilgrimage. As Frederick Buechner writes: “The eunuch was cruising along in his chariot reading out loud to himself from the book of Isaiah when the apostle Philip happened to overhear him and asked if he understood what the words were all about. The eunuch said he could use some help on one passage in particular.”

The Church appears to have lost the method and ministry to extend itself. When did you last share with another about your faith? Many young people grow up with little if any interest in Christianity. Men and women have scant concern for the church; do nothing about it, contribute nothing to it, and gain nothing from it. Few people actually invite and enable another person to live in a loving, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Many of this world live and die completely untouched, unmoved, and unsaved by this resurrection movement. Those who first “followed” Jesus were identified as “followers of the Way”…language of journey and movement. Christianity is not an organization, but a movement. So-“How can we make this movement move?”

We consider Acts and 10 separate, but related, components of evangelism…of sharing the good news of Jesus with this broken world…of making this movement move:

1) We must listen to God—Luke, the author of this book we call Acts, records in vs. 26 that “an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road---that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza’.” The first step to sharing our faith with others is to be attentive to what God might want to say to…have to share with…us.

2) Obedience to God---Did you notice that as soon as the angel of the Lord stops speaking, Philip starts moving? As vs. 26 concludes, vs. 27 begins: “So he (Philip) started out…” When we have been given direction from the Almighty, it’s time to get busy!

3) Go to the people---Philip had to go, as will we all following worship, to a world full of people. It was “on his way” that Philip “met an Ethiopian eunuch.” If we are to make this movement move, we must be “on the move.” There is a saying that “If you want milk, don’t sit in the middle of a field hoping a cow will walk by!”

4) Ask questions---The most common concern I hear from people when it comes to sharing their faith is, “I’m not sure I’ll know what to say!” I remind us of what Philip did as he “ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet” (vs. 30) …He ask the man a question, namely, “Do you understand what you are reading?” We need not claim to have all the answers, but do let us ask eternally significant questions!

5) Listen---After asking this question, Philip attentively listens for the man’s reply. If we are to lead others to Christ, we must be good and active listeners. If people don’t believe we will listen to them, why do we believe they should listen to us? As once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!”

6) Start where the person is---Philip did not begin some extensive diatribe of biblical studies, systematic theology, or doctrinal discourse. He followed the K.I.S.S. principle, through which we are reminded to “keep it simple.” We read in vs. 35 that “Philip began with that very passage of Scripture.” Peter met the person where he was and that is where their Bible study began. After all, we all must start somewhere…

7) Know the Scripture---we cannot effectively share the good news of God if we lack a working knowledge of the Bible. Philip began with this lesson from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah and, as we further read in vs. 35: “told him the good news about Jesus.” We are incapable of sharing the Word of God if we are ignorant of the Word of God!

8) Spend time with the person---Our author so simply states in vs. 36: “As they traveled along the road…” Philip did not simply offer some brief explanation and expect this to be adequate. Philip “traveled” with this man. Discipling another takes time…what we might, from this lesson, refer to as “travel time.” Don’t be in a hurry, as it took Jesus three years to disciple only 12 men and they didn’t “get it” until after His resurrection!

9) Celebrate with the person---As this Ethiopian eunuch asked to be baptized, did you notice what Philip did? Read vs. 38: “Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water”! I’m not suggesting that when God uses us to bring another to Holy Baptism that we must get in the water with them. I am suggesting that we be present when the person reaches and celebrates these milestones along his or her faith-journey!

10) Don’t stop---After this rather amazing and miraculous afternoon, Philip could have gone home to rest and relax and consider that “his job was done.” Not the case! I don’t think Philip’s clothing had even begun to dry before “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away---to Azotus---preaching the gospel in all towns.” (vs. 39-40)

So there we have it, 10 ways to make this movement move! Amen.