Too often we understand what God is telling us to do, but we give excuses why we think it is not a good idea. Stephen did NOT do this.
The following are some discussion questions that can be used by an individual or small group for further study of this sermon topic.
- Can you think of a time that you felt like God was asking you to ride a 49 foot wave? That is, to do something that you felt was too big and too scary?
- Review the first part of Acts 8 then read verse 26. Why might Phillip have felt the God’s timing was wrong for him to leave Samaria? Can you think of a time in your life when you questioned God’s timing?
- Read verse 26 again. Where was the Lord asking Phillip to go? Why might have Phillip questions God’s directions? Can you think of a time when you questioned where God was leading you?
- Read verses 27. Who did Phillip meet in the dessert? Describe what think Phillip saw. Why might have Phillip questioned God about reaching out to this man? What does this say about God’s passion for lost people? Who might God be leading you to reach out to?
- Read verses 30-35. What Scripture did Phillip find the Ethiopian eunuch reading? Why do you think God led him to this particular passage? Can you think of a time that God led you to a particular Bible passage? What did it mean to you at the time?
- Read verses 36-38. Who initiated the idea of the eunuch’s being baptized? Why is baptism important? Jim suggested that sometimes we allow our pre-set theological ideas hinder us from obeying God. (Such as thinking baptism needs to occur later in a converts Christian life.) Can you think of other examples of this?
- Read verses 39-40. Do you find it surprising that God took Phillip away as soon as the man was baptized? What may have been God’s reason for doing this? Can you think of a particular situation in which you questioned why God did things the was he did them?
- What can we learn from Phillip about saying “yes” to God, no matter what?
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