This Sunday, we begin with "S": Share the Gospel. We will focus on the story, found in Acts 8, of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Philip encounters an important man -- the keeper of the queen's treasury -- reading the prophet Isaiah. This man, a eunuch (which placed him outside of the bounds of Judaism, which frowned upon such treatment of the physical body) is frustrated that he cannot understand a specific prophecy in the Bible. Philip shares the gospel with him, explaining that Jesus fulfills the prophecy. The eunuch is so excited, seeing some water, he desires to be baptized.
This story sets a wonderful example for how Christians are called to share the good news. It reminds us that no one falls outside of God's love, or of God's reach. Regardless of foreign nationality, political position, or previous acts of bodily transformation, the eunuch is welcome to seek God and become a Christian.
More than this, though, the story reminds us that we can play a part in this. The eunuch demonstrates his desire to learn about God by reading from the scriptures, but Philip's role is to help him understand his reading. In different times and places, we are each meant to act like Philip, drawing on our own knowledge of the Bible and our faith experiences to lead someone else closer to God. We may not anticipate these moments of faith sharing, but we must be prepared for them. More than that, we must be on the lookout for such opportunities.
1 comment:
Here, to me, is a logical disconnect. How do I, for example, share the Gospel when my own scholarship of it is at the very least spotty? I wonder if others have something of the same fear -- that they'll share it wrong or in such a fashion that they fail to translate the inner [words fail me - the effable quality] of a life with Christ.
Obviously, it can be done - that's the whole point of this teaching. The "how" is beyond me, so I'm giving you fair warning that you got a dummy in the classroom.
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