MEETING AGENDA:
- OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to Open the meeting in prayer.
- DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Development Questions.
- ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the SG Attendance System.
- TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s SG lesson.
- CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.
Development Questions
Question #1
Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?
Question #2
What did you learn from this week’s sermon?
Question #3
What was your most important accomplishment this week?
This Week's Passage:
Acts 8:26-40 (NIV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means "queen of the Ethiopians"). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" 37 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means "queen of the Ethiopians"). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" 37 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Connection Question:
How does this story challenge your understanding of how God guides people to share Christ?
Truth #1:
God Orchestrates Divine Appointments
Discussion Points:
- God directs Philip specifically (Acts 8:26). (Prov 16:9 NIV)
- Philip responds with immediate obedience (Acts 8:27). (Ps 119:60 NIV)
- God arranges encounters with spiritually hungry people (Acts 8:27–28). (Jer 29:13 NIV)
Growth Question:
Who in your life might God be sending you toward?
Truth #2:
God Uses Scripture and Servants to Reveal Jesus
Discussion Points:
- Understanding scripture often requires guidance (Acts 8:31). (Rom 10:14 NIV)
- Philip starts with Scripture to explain Jesus (Acts 8:35). (Luke 24:27 NIV)
- Evangelism centers on the good news about Jesus (Acts 8:35). (1 Cor 15:3–4 NIV)
Growth Question:
How has someone helped you understand God’s Word?
Truth #3:
True Faith Results in Immediate Obedience and Joy
Discussion Points:
- Nothing should hinder genuine faith (Acts 8:36). (Gal 3:26–27 NIV)
- Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change (Acts 8:38). (Rom 6:4 NIV)
- Obedience leads to rejoicing (Acts 8:39). (Phil 4:4 NIV)
- True faith produces transformed living (Acts 8:39). (2 Cor 5:17 NIV)
Growth Question:
What steps of obedience might you be delaying?
GO THEREFORE QUESTION:
Where might God be sending you this week to share Jesus with someone who is spiritually searching?
PRAYER:
Question #1
Who are you praying for
to be saved?
to be saved?
Question #2
Who can you invite to Church and/or to Small Group?
Question #3
What are your prayer requests?
