Dan Watson continues in week two of Orbit, teaching through Acts 8:26-40 and highlighting what it looks like to truly live on mission as a follower of Jesus. Sharing the Good News is a matter of life and death, and we must treat it as such.
Key Takeaway
May our lives be so consumed by Jesus and so aware of what we have received that we, in turn, live on mission to share the Gospel.
We are called to be ambassadors of Christ on mission for Him, which means we need to live intentional, Spirit-led lives, and a Spirit-led life is not a convenient life.
The truth is that Christianity is not comfortable—in fact, it is often uncomfortable. It's an on-fire, missional life that can be inconvenient and disruptive, but it is very blessed. It's all worth it when it comes down to receiving the Gospel because it is a matter of life and death.
The weightiness of the Good News should affect us tremendously. So, who is the Gospel message for? Everyone. If you have received this gift, it is our mandate to share it.
How do we share it? Let's look at Acts 8:26-40.
There were a few different barriers to note here—religious, social, racial, ethical, heritage, language, customs, and world views. Culturally, these two people would never connect. Biblically, their connection fulfills what we see in Acts 1:8.
In a similar fashion, there are people who are different from us, but we have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them anyway. This Gospel transcends any barriers or cultural differences that stand in the way. This message is literal and life-giving.
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” - Charles Spurgeon
If you've really received, been changed, and transformed by the Gospel in your life, then you cannot help but let other people know about it.
"Every saved person (Christian) this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.” - David Platt
Here are three practical ways we can share the Gospel:
1. Ask the question (Acts 8:29-30)
After obeying and walking with the Spirit, Phillip asked the question. But before he asked the question, he ran with someone and got into their lives, journeying with them.
"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
How willing are we to run with people in their worlds? We wait for people to come into our spaces, but we see Phillip running with others and actually listening to them.
We need to show interest in people instead of being consumed with ourselves.
The Gospel can meet people exactly where they are with the truth of the Word.
2. Accept the invitation (Acts 8:31-34)
Phillip's acceptance of the invitation to journey with someone was the distinction between the Gospel getting through him or not.
God interrupts your comfort.
3. Articulate the Gospel (Acts 8:35)
There are people in our world who genuinely believe they don't belong or that the Gospel isn't for them. They think they're too far gone or have done too many bad things that they cannot turn to God.
When we read the Truth of Scripture, we see that when we come to Jesus, He can cleanse us from the inside out. We have an opportunity and a mission to let people know the Gospel.
Phillip articulated the Gospel by starting with where the Ethiopian was instead of using Christian jargon.
The Gospel can speak to any situation or circumstance in anyone's life, and it can transform someone instantly, highlighting the exclusivity of Jesus as the only way and the inclusivity of the invitation, which is open to anyone.
Phillip didn't come with opinions or ideas but with the Truth. You can't argue the truth.
This is the gift that we get to share with our world.
Many people don't know Jesus, and if we are only around other Christians, we must seek to expand our world. If that doesn't break your heart, what will?
We have this gift that can save their life. We can't play this comfortable Christianity game and be too scared of rejection. But this is a matter of life and death. May our lives be so consumed by Jesus and be so aware of what we have received that we live a life on mission for Jesus.
Discussion Questions
Have you been clinging to comfort rather than Jesus in your life? What does Scripture say about comfort?
What has been the most inconvenient evangelism opportunity you have been faced with, and what was the fruit of that experience?
Do you have people in your life with whom you're journeying who may not know Jesus yet?
When was the last time you said yes to stepping into someone's life?
Who shared the Gospel with you? How did that change your life?
How different do you think your life would be if someone didn't share the Gospel with you?
Is your life available for Jesus to use you to share the gift?
Have you seen sharing the Gospel as a matter of life and death?
What spaces are you placed in where you're around nonbelievers and could point them to Jesus?
Have you ever treated sharing the Gospel as a matter of life and death? If not, how will this perspective shape how you evangelize in the future?
Scripture References
