Empowered Ordinary: Advancing God's Kingdom Through Obedience

The story of the church’s birth in Acts is a story of ordinary people, empowered by the Holy Spirit, stepping into God’s advancing kingdom. Jesus’ followers, once broken and uncertain, are transformed at Pentecost when the Spirit descends, and suddenly, the same Peter who denied Jesus becomes a bold witness, leading thousands to faith. The early church is marked by devotion, generosity, unity, and daily miracles—evidence that God’s kingdom is not static but always moving forward through people willing to say yes to Him.

Discipleship, as Jesus defines it, is not a religious formality or an academic pursuit. It’s a radical invitation to follow, to deny ourselves, and to join Jesus in His mission. Unlike the world’s systems, where you must apply or qualify, Jesus calls each of us by name, regardless of our background or brokenness. The story of Philip in Acts 8 illustrates this beautifully: a man with no formal credentials, chosen to serve, is led by the Spirit into a divine encounter with an Ethiopian official. Through simple obedience, Philip becomes the unlikely catalyst for the gospel’s spread into Africa—a reminder that God delights in using the humble and available.

Three lies often keep us from stepping into this adventure: “I don’t have what it takes,” “They aren’t interested,” and “What difference will it make?” Philip’s story dismantles each one. He wasn’t an apostle or a scholar, but he was willing. The Ethiopian was hungry for truth, and a single act of obedience sparked a movement that would shape church history. In God’s kingdom, no act of faithfulness is insignificant. The story of Pearl Good, the unknown intercessor behind Billy Graham’s ministry, reminds us that heaven celebrates the unseen and the overlooked.

The call is simple but profound: Who is the one person God is asking you to reach this year? If every believer embraced this, the impact would be exponential. Discipleship is not about grand gestures but about daily, Spirit-led obedience—seeing the hurting, responding to needs, and trusting that God can use even our smallest yes to change eternity.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Kingdom Advances Through Ordinary People The book of Acts is not a story of spiritual superheroes, but of regular men and women who, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, become the building blocks of the church. Their willingness to step out in faith, despite their flaws and lack of credentials, is what God uses to advance His kingdom. The same invitation is extended to us: God delights in using the humble and available, not just the qualified. [56:08]
• 2. Discipleship Is a Radical, Personal Invitation Jesus redefines discipleship—not as a status to be achieved, but as a call to follow, deny ourselves, and join Him in His mission. Unlike the world’s systems, where you must apply or prove yourself, Jesus calls us by name and invites us into a life of purpose. True discipleship is not about religious activity, but about aligning our lives with what Jesus is doing and caring about what He cares about. [54:28]
• 3. Obedience Unlocks Miracles and Divine Encounters Philip’s story in Acts 8 shows that miracles often begin with simple acts of obedience. When we respond to the Spirit’s prompting—even when it seems inconvenient or insignificant—we position ourselves for God to move through us. The kingdom of God advances when we are willing to go where He sends us, trusting that our obedience can have ripple effects far beyond what we see. [58:28]
• 4. The World Is Hungry for Hope—Don’t Discount Your Witness It’s easy to believe the lie that people aren’t interested in what we have to say, but the reality is that our world is desperate for hope, meaning, and healing. The Ethiopian official was searching for truth, just as many around us are. We carry the message of Jesus—the hope of the world—and we must not underestimate the power of sharing it, even in ordinary conversations. [66:53]
• 5. No Act of Faithfulness Is Insignificant in God’s Kingdom Whether it’s Philip’s encounter on a desert road or Pearl Good’s hidden intercession, God uses small, faithful acts to shape history. The impact of our obedience may not always be visible, but in God’s economy, nothing is wasted. Our call is to be faithful with the one person, the one moment, the one opportunity God places before us, trusting that He will multiply it for His glory. [72:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Introduction to the Series: New Testament Believer
• [02:10] - The Book of Acts: God’s Advancing Kingdom
• [04:30] - Pentecost and the Birth of the Church
• [07:15] - The Early Church: Devotion, Generosity, and Growth
• [10:20] - What Does Your Faith Look Like?
• [13:00] - The Power of Seizing the Moment
• [17:30] - What It Means to Be a Disciple
• [21:00] - Jesus’ Radical Call to Follow
• [24:10] - The Scattering and Philip’s Story
• [29:00] - Philip’s Encounter with the Ethiopian Official
• [34:00] - Overcoming the Lie: “I Don’t Have What It Takes”
• [39:00] - Overcoming the Lie: “They Aren’t Interested”
• [44:00] - Overcoming the Lie: “What Difference Will It Make?”
• [48:00] - The Ripple Effect: From Philip to the African Church
• [52:00] - The Story of Pearl Good: Faithfulness Behind the Scenes
• [56:00] - The Call: Who Is Your One?
• [58:00] - Responding to God’s Invitation

Bible Reading

Acts 8:26-39 (ESV) — 26 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. 27 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 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 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?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 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.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) — 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Observation Questions

1. What instructions did the angel and the Holy Spirit give to Philip, and how did he respond? (Acts 8:26-30)
2. What was the Ethiopian official doing when Philip met him, and what question did he ask Philip? (Acts 8:28-34)
3. According to Acts 2:42-47, what were some of the key characteristics of the early church community?
4. In the sermon, what three lies did the pastor say often keep us from stepping into God’s adventure? [[59:48]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose Philip—a man with no formal credentials—to be the one to reach the Ethiopian official? What does this say about who God uses? [[56:08]]
2. The Ethiopian was already reading Scripture and seeking God. What does this suggest about people around us who may seem uninterested in faith? [[01:06:53]]
3. The early church was marked by devotion, generosity, and unity. How might these qualities have helped the church grow and impact their community? [[07:15]]
4. The story of Pearl Good shows that unseen acts of faithfulness can have a huge impact. Why do you think God values the “hidden” work as much as the visible? [[01:14:50]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged the idea that “I don’t have what it takes.” Is there an area in your life where you feel unqualified or too ordinary for God to use you? What would it look like to say “yes” anyway? [[59:48]]
2. Think about someone in your life who might be spiritually curious, like the Ethiopian official. What is one simple step you could take this week to start a conversation or offer to help guide them? [[01:06:53]]
3. The early church was known for meeting needs and sharing what they had. Is there a practical need you’ve noticed in your community or among your friends that you could help meet? [[07:15]]
4. The pastor said, “No act of faithfulness is insignificant in God’s kingdom.” Can you think of a time when a small act—yours or someone else’s—made a big difference? How does that encourage you? [[01:12:30]]
5. The sermon ended with the question: “Who is the one person God is asking you to reach this year?” Take a moment to pray and ask God to show you someone specific. Are you willing to commit to reaching out to them? [[01:18:29]]
6. Sometimes we believe the lie that “people aren’t interested.” What are some ways you can be more open to noticing spiritual hunger in others, even if it’s not obvious? [[01:06:53]]
7. Pearl Good’s story reminds us that prayer and behind-the-scenes faithfulness matter. Is there a “hidden” way you can serve or pray for someone this week, even if no one else sees it? [[01:14:50]]