1. Acts 8 The Early Church: Three Character Studies

2.  He exalted ______________ (He sought the ___________of ______.) (v. 5) Philip was - centered. What evidence do we have of this? 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. CHRIST Acts 8 - The Early Church: 3 Character Studies JESUS CHRIST APPROVAL GOD 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.  His message was the “_____________!” v.35 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus unto him. MESSIAH  His _________ came from _________. (v. 7-8) POWERABOVE 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

3.  His ministry was _____________, and people were ________________ (v. 6, 12, 37) 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did…. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized…. 37 Then Philip said, “If you with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God….” EFFECTIVECONVERTED Philip was all about “Him” (Jesus). believe Simon was - centered. What evidence do we have of this? SELF SIMONPRAISEPEOPLE  His message was “_____” (v.9) 10 …to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ME!  He exalted ________ (He loved the ________of _________.) (v. 10) 9 But there was a certain man called Simon… claiming that he was someone great….

4.  His _________ came from _________. (v. 11) POWERBELOW 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. And from Deuteronomy 18 -- 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.  His ministry was __________, and people were amazed but not ____________ (v. 9) SHOWY CHANGED 9 Simon… astonished the people of Samaria…. Simon was all about “me” (himself).

5. The Ethiopian was. He was: SEEKING UNANSWERABLE 27 And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship….  Responsible, but spiritually ___________________. (v. 27) DIRECTIONLESS 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet…. 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:  Wealthy but spiritually ___________________. (v. 28, 31-34) “ He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” [

6. This man was all about finding the answers 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” What about us? Am I - centered., like Simon, secretly hoping to ____________my own __________among believers, and looking for the praise of men? What evidence do we have of this? SELFFURTHER AGENDA Or, am I __- centered., like Philip, concerned mainly with being available to others, secretly hoping to bring them closer to Christ, for God’s glory? What evidence do we have of this? CHRIST Or, am I a __, unsure what my motives are or who to believe? Am I honestly looking for solid evidence of Truth? Am I willing to accept it once found? SEEKER

7. CONCLUSION: Whatever the question, ____________________HAS THE ANSWER. (Beginning at these Scriptures, ) JESUS CHRIST may we share JESUS with you?