One Person in Front of You

SENT, Part 4

You know exactly where you're going.

Then your phone says it: "Recalculating."

Off the highway. Down some back road you've never seen.

Annoying? Sure. But the map reroutes you because it sees something up ahead that you can't.

Rerouted

In Acts 8, Philip was preaching in Samaria, and people were responding. "So there was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:8).

Then an angel of the Lord sent Philip to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26).

Not a city. A road. Not a crowd. One man.

Philip started out (Acts 8:27). No argument. No delay.

God will reroute a revival for one person.

Stay Close

The man was an Ethiopian official. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was heading home with questions about the Scripture he was reading (Acts 8:27-31).

The Spirit's instruction was simple: "Go to that chariot and stay near it" (Acts 8:29).

Not a sermon. Just get close.

Philip ran.

Start Where They Are

The man was reading Isaiah. Philip asked whether he understood what he was reading.

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" (Acts 8:31).

Philip "began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus" (Acts 8:35).

He started where the man was. The man was baptized and went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:38-39).

The Ripple

In 1973, a businessman named Tom Phillips sat on his screen porch with a worn-out friend named Chuck Colson. He told his story. He read one chapter of a book. That night Colson gave his life to God.

Colson went on to found Prison Fellowship and carry the gospel into more than 800 prisons.

Tom Phillips had no ministry title. He just started where his friend was, and he never could have guessed what that one evening would become.

You don't need to force a speech into a conversation. Listen. Ask what they've been wondering. Share what you know, and be honest about what you don't.

Bring It Home

1. Ask God, "Who is my one?"
2. Get close. A text, a lunch, a real question.
3. Listen to their questions, share your story, and point them to Jesus.
4. Leave the ripple to God.

You may never see the ripple. Throw the stone anyway.

And maybe you identify with the man in the chariot: curious, searching, and unsure what comes next. You can bring your questions. We'd welcome the chance to open Scripture with you and talk about Jesus.

Come Home

We're walking through the book of Acts in our series SENT. Join us Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at 501 S Main Street in Sheridan. Bring your one.

Let's Pray

Jesus, show me my one. Give me the courage to go, the patience to listen, and the words to point them to You. Amen.

#Jesus_NtheKnow