Sunday, August 23, 2020 - when we feel inadequate

Theme: Waking Up to God - Ethiopian Eunuch: when we feel inadequate

Prayer

Acts 8:26-27                                                                      Common English Bible Translation

An angel from the Lord spoke to Philip, “At noon, take the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he did. Meanwhile, an Ethiopian man was on his way home from Jerusalem, where he had come to worship. He was a eunuch and an official responsible for the entire treasury of Candace. (Candace is the title given to the Ethiopian queen.) (Question: What are things that define you?)

Acts 8:28-30

He was reading the prophet Isaiah while sitting in his carriage. The Spirit told Philip, “Approach this carriage and stay with it.” Running up to the carriage, Philip heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you really understand what you are reading?” (Question: What are some things that you struggle to understand in your life? Why?)

Acts 8:31-33

The man replied, “Without someone to guide me, how could I?” Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him. This was the passage of scripture he was reading: 

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

  and like a lamb before its shearer is silent

    so he didn’t open his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was taken away from him.

    Who can tell the story of his descendants

        because his life was taken from the earth?

(Question: How often do you talk about the things you don’t understand with the people around you? Why?

Acts 8:34-36

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? Is he talking about himself or someone else?” Starting with that passage, Philip proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. As they went down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look! Water! What would keep me from being baptized?” (Question: What stops you from making needed changes in your life?)

Acts 8:38-40

He ordered that carriage halt. Both Philip and the eunuch went down to the water, where Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found himself in Azotus. He traveled through that area, preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea. (Question: Have you ever tried to encourage others even if you didn’t know them very well?)

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us;

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power 

and the glory, forever.  Amen

Blessing

Song List (to listen to from wherever you get your music)

Shall We Gather at the River

God Grace and God of Glory

Be Thou My Vision

Down to the River to Pray – Alison Krauss

Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men

Hey Brother - Avicii

Quote by author Simon Sinek

“If you have the opportunity to do amazing things in your life, I strongly encourage you to invite someone to join you.

Quote by Thomas Merton

“We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others.”