RSVP? Baptism Sunday

Today is a day of celebration and obedience, as we gather not only to worship but also to witness baptisms—an act that connects us to the ancient commission Jesus gave: to go, make disciples, and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not just a ritual, but a living response to the ongoing invitation of Jesus. Our lives are filled with invitations—some as simple as a text or an RSVP, others as profound as the call of God. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch reminds us that responding to God is not a one-time event, but a continual posture of openness and obedience.

Philip was an ordinary disciple, not set apart by any special status, but by his willingness to listen and respond to the Spirit’s prompting. The Spirit’s instructions were simple: go to a certain road, be present, and engage with whomever you meet. There was no grand vision or burning bush—just the daily, sometimes mundane, call to be available. At the same time, the Spirit was working in the life of the Ethiopian, orchestrating a divine appointment. This shows that God’s work is global and interconnected, often moving in ways we cannot see or control.

The encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian is marked by humility, curiosity, and mutual respect. Philip does not force the conversation but asks questions and listens. The Ethiopian, hungry for understanding, invites Philip into his journey. This is a model for how we engage with others: not as experts with all the answers, but as fellow travelers willing to walk alongside, explain, and share the hope we have in Jesus.

Baptism, as seen in the Ethiopian’s response, is a simple yet profound act of obedience. It is not about meeting institutional requirements or jumping through hoops, but about responding to the Spirit’s invitation. The only qualification is a heart that says “yes” to Jesus. After the baptism, both Philip and the Ethiopian continue on their journeys, reminding us that every act of obedience is part of a larger story. Our task is to respond to God’s invitations—big or small—and trust Him with the results.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Ordinary Obedience is Extraordinary in God’s Hands Philip’s story shows that God often works through the simple, everyday acts of obedience. There was nothing special about the road Philip was sent to, but his willingness to go made space for a divine encounter. We don’t need to wait for dramatic signs; God uses our daily faithfulness to accomplish His purposes. [07:59]
• 2. The Spirit is Always at Work—Beyond What We See While Philip was being led, the Spirit was also preparing the Ethiopian’s heart. God’s work is not limited to our perspective; He is orchestrating connections and opportunities far beyond our awareness. Trusting this truth frees us from the pressure to control outcomes and reminds us to be attentive to the Spirit’s leading in every situation. [09:29]
• 3. Presence and Humility Open Doors for the Gospel Philip’s approach was not to dominate or lecture, but to be present, ask questions, and listen. This posture of humility and genuine care creates space for others to invite us into their lives and questions. Evangelism is less about having all the answers and more about being a person of peace who reflects Christ’s love and respect. [14:59]
• 4. Baptism is a Response, Not a Reward The Ethiopian’s desire to be baptized came from a heart that had encountered Jesus, not from fulfilling a checklist. Baptism is a declaration of faith and a response to God’s invitation, not a badge earned by meeting religious requirements. The church must be careful not to place unnecessary barriers in the way of those whom God is calling. [18:08]
• 5. Keep Moving—God’s Story is Bigger Than Our Moments After the baptism, Philip is taken away and the Ethiopian continues on his journey, both rejoicing and moving forward. Our role is to respond faithfully to the Spirit’s promptings, whether that means planting, watering, or harvesting. Each act of obedience is part of God’s unfolding story, and we are called to keep saying “yes” as He leads us into new opportunities.
  
  ** [19:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:39] - Celebrating Baptism and the Great Commission
• [01:09] - Responding to God’s Invitations
• [02:49] - RSVP: Our Response to Jesus
• [03:44] - The Story of Philip and the Ethiopian
• [04:36] - The Spirit’s Simple Instructions
• [05:12] - The Ethiopian’s Search for Understanding
• [05:50] - Sharing the Good News
• [07:09] - Ordinary Obedience and the Spirit’s Leading
• [08:42] - God’s Global Work and Divine Appointments
• [11:45] - Personal Responses and Testimonies
• [12:40] - The Power of Presence and Listening
• [14:09] - Humility in Evangelism
• [16:38] - The Meaning and Simplicity of Baptism
• [18:08] - Removing Barriers to Baptism
• [19:30] - Moving Forward in God’s Story
• [21:02] - Responding Today: Saying Yes to Jesus

Bible Reading

Acts 8:26-40 (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. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Observation Questions

1. What instructions did the Spirit give to Philip, and how did Philip respond? ([04:36])
2. What was the Ethiopian eunuch doing when Philip met him, and what question did Philip ask him? ([05:12])
3. How did the Ethiopian respond to Philip’s question, and what did he invite Philip to do? ([05:12])
4. What happened immediately after the Ethiopian was baptized? ([06:27])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose to use an “ordinary” disciple like Philip for this encounter, rather than someone with a special title or status? ([07:09])
2. The sermon mentioned that the Spirit was working in both Philip and the Ethiopian’s lives at the same time. What does this tell us about how God works in the world and in people’s hearts? ([08:42])
3. How does Philip’s approach to the Ethiopian (asking questions, listening, being present) challenge or affirm your ideas about sharing your faith? ([14:09])
4. The Ethiopian’s desire to be baptized came from his encounter with Jesus, not from meeting a list of requirements. What does this teach us about the heart of baptism and the church’s role in it? ([18:08])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “Philip was like you and me. There is nothing special about Philip that you can say, well, he's different to me.” Do you ever feel like you’re not “qualified” to be used by God? What is one ordinary area of your life where you could be more open to God’s leading this week? ([07:09])
2. The Spirit’s instructions to Philip were simple: “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Is there a situation or person in your life where you sense God is asking you to “just be present”? What would it look like to obey in that area? ([12:40])
3. The Ethiopian was hungry for understanding and invited Philip into his journey. Who in your life is spiritually curious or searching? How can you come alongside them with humility and care, rather than as an “expert”? ([13:27])
4. The sermon challenged us not to put unnecessary barriers in the way of those who want to respond to Jesus. Are there ways (even unintentionally) that you or our church might make it harder for people to take steps of faith, like baptism? What could we do differently? ([18:08])
5. After the baptism, both Philip and the Ethiopian continued on their journeys. Is there a step of obedience you sense God is inviting you to take right now, even if it seems small or ordinary? What’s holding you back from saying “yes”? ([19:30])
6. The sermon said, “Evangelism is less about having all the answers and more about being a person of peace who reflects Christ’s love and respect.” What is one practical way you can be a “person of peace” in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? ([14:59])
7. Think about a recent “invitation” from God—big or small—that you ignored, delayed, or accepted. What did you learn from your response, and how might you respond differently next time? ([21:02])