Bible ReadingActs 8:26-40 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. And he rose and went.
[34:19]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 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
[36:40]And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
[45:20]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. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
[58:51]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?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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.
[32:23]John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
[31:15]Matthew 13:1-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
[40:14]1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
[46:48]Observation questions- What details in Acts 8 show that Philip was leaving a place of visible ministry success for a lonely and uncertain place?
- What had already been happening in the Ethiopian official’s life before Philip joined his chariot?
- What does Philip do before he explains the Scripture or speaks about Jesus? What does the Ethiopian’s response reveal about his need?
- In Matthew 13, what different kinds of soil does Jesus describe, and what different outcomes come from each kind? [40:14]
Interpretation questions- John 3:16 says that “whoever believes” may have eternal life. How does that word challenge the way Christians may view a skeptical neighbor, a difficult family member, or someone who seems far from God? [31:39]
- Philip obeyed before he knew why he was being sent down the desert road. What does his obedience show about trusting God when the next step is clear but the full plan is not? [35:54]
- Jesus explains that the sower scatters seed in many kinds of soil. Why is it important that Christians share the good news rather than deciding ahead of time who is likely to respond? [41:15]
- Philip began with a question, listened to the man’s confusion, and then began with Scripture to tell him about Jesus. What does this pattern show about holding together genuine listening, biblical truth, and clear words about Jesus? [47:56]
Application questions- Who is one specific person God has placed on your mind—a friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or child? What makes it tempting to believe they are too far gone, too resistant, or not ready? [45:05]
- Is there a next step of obedience you have been putting off with that person: a text, a meal, an invitation, a question, or prayer? What has kept you from taking that step? [35:13]
- Where have you been “inspecting the soil” in your relationships—making judgments about someone because of their beliefs, lifestyle, politics, past, or response to faith? What would it look like to scatter seed in love instead? [41:29]
- Think of a recent conversation with someone who does not follow Jesus. Did you spend more time giving answers or asking questions and listening? What is one sincere question you could ask them the next time you talk? [46:50]
- What would it look like for you to show gentleness and respect to your one this week, even if they disagree with you or are not interested in spiritual things? [46:43]
- How could you become more ready to begin with Scripture and tell someone what Jesus has done in your own life? Is there one passage you want to learn, read, or be ready to share? [49:53]
- If the outcome is unseen or takes much longer than you hoped, what would faithful love look like for your one over the next month? How can this group help you keep praying, showing up, and refusing to give up? [01:06:20]
