Acts 8:9-25
Big Idea: Jesus is awesome! Share him even with the most unlikely candidates.
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4 keys to effectively reach people that don’t know Jesus:
1. Find their object of worship (v. 9-11)
2. Expect the unexpected (v. 12-13)
3. Look for authentic faith (v. 12, 13, 14, 16-24)
Theological Issue: Does a believer experience only 1 reception of the Holy Spirit? 2? or 3?
- Did these Samaritans believe in Jesus and surrender their life to him before Peter and John came?
- How should we read this text?
- Descriptive vs. Prescriptive / Narrative vs. Didactic
Descriptions of faith in Acts:
“believed/believer” – 2:44; 4:4, 32; 5:14; 13:12, 48; 14:23; 15:5, 7; 16:1; 17:12
“believed in God” – 16:34
“believed in The Lord” – 9:42; 16:15; 11:17; 18:8
“believe upon The Lord” – 16:31
“those who believed turned to the Lord” – 11:21
Qualities of Inauthentic Faith:
- Powerless Spiritual Life
- Selfish Motive
- Unwillingness to Personally Repent