I dream of a bible-based church:

Where the Word of God is at the centre,

Where the exposition of God's word holds the place of honour,

Where the whole counsel of God is preached,

Where people expect to hear God speaking to them,

Where study is combined with devotion,

Where a wide range of 'electives' is offered,

Where all are encouraged to keep on learning.

Teaching point 1: Read

We have a pic that shows where Jerusalem and Ethiopia are

official – salute; 
reading – make hands into a book shape; 
chariot (CEV) – place hands in front as if holding reins; 
water – make a wave motion; 

good news – show thumbs up; 
understand – tap head with finger; 
Spirit – point up. 

26 The Lord’s angel said to Philip, “Go south[a] along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.”[b] 27 So Philip left.

An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot. 30 Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him.

PPT slide 5

32 The man was reading the passage that said,

“He was led like a sheep
    on its way to be killed.
He was silent as a lamb
whose wool
    is being cut off,
and he did not say
    a word.
33 He was treated like a nobody
and did not receive
    a fair trial.
How can he have children,
if his life
    is snatched away?”

34 The official said to Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?” 35 So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus.

36-37 As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, “Look! Here is some water. Why can’t I be baptized?”[c] 38 He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39 After they had come out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way.

I wonder how many of us read the Bible on a long journey like he did? You see, the Ethiopian official loved God. We know that not just because he was reading the Bible, but in the fact that he had gone all the way to Jerusalem to worship God. (v27,28). 

The Ethiopian was reading the Bible – but he was struggling to understand it. Bible reading is something that many of us struggle with – even grown-ups. The Ethiopian must have been very good at his subjects at school, as he was responsible for taking care of Queen Candace’s money. However, he didn't understand what he was reading in the Bible. It was a message from God given to the prophet Isaiah, promising that Jesus would come. He didn’t understand because he didn’t know Jesus had come, died on the cross and risen!

And yet God knew his heart: God knew he wanted to find out! And so, God sent someone to help him make sense of it: he sent Philip. Just like at school we need teachers and others to help us learn and grow, God sends us people to help us understand the Bible. Perhaps ask children who God sends to help us understand the Bible? 

It is important to engage with the Bible and learn what it says, not just for our own benefit, but to help others. There are lots of ways we can do this. We can read the Bible on our own. We can read the Bible as a family.  We can read the Bible with our friends.  Mention whatever is available locally such as SU Groups, house groups or Bible study groups.

And just like the Ethiopian read the Bible and was changed, the same thing still happens to those who read the Bible today.   The Psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Generation after generation have discovered that to be true! God uses the Bible to give us guidance and direction for our everyday lives. 

We should be grateful to them!

Once it was explained to him, the Ethiopian suddenly understood.  The passage he was reading was all about Jesus! When God helped the Ethiopian to understand what he was reading, his whole life changed. He came to trust in Jesus. 

Reading the Bible and ‘learning about God’ is not the same as academic learning at school. It is not simply about learning facts – it is more about friendship with God through Jesus. The Bible reveals who Jesus is. The Bible helps us understand God better and grow closer to him as a friend. A bit like spending time with friends at school, the more time we spend with God reading the Bible, the better we will know and love him. As we thought about at the start of our service, the Bible helps us to listen to God and keep his ways.

Philip read the Bible – and knew it well. When the official asked him a question, he was able to “begin with that very passage of Scripture” and explain what it meant.  

This Bible story challenges us, whatever age we are. Like the Ethiopian, are we brave enough to admit we don’t understand a passage, and ask for help? Like Philip, are we brave enough to share what we do understand with those who don’t? About the bible:

Where?  

When? 

What? 

 

Teaching Point 2: Listen!

Philip was listening to what God was saying. He listened to God speak through his angel, verse 26. 

Philip was busy! He wasn’t sitting around twiddling his thumbs, he was telling people about Jesus in another place.  And yet when the Spirit of God told him to go immediately to the Desert Road (verse 26), he listened and obeyed – even if it seemed strange. When God said, “Go to that chariot and stay near it”, he did. 

Philip listened to God. By being open to listening to God and doing what he said, Philip was in the right place at the right time, ready to help the Ethiopian. Convinced that God had put him there to help the man, Philip then became brave and asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 

Listening to God happens as we read the Bible – when a verse stands out, challenging us to change the way we think or act. We listen as we pray, when someone comes to mind to pray for. We listen when God brings into our mind a Bible verse that helps, encourages or strengthens us. God also gives the Holy Spirit to prompt and direct us: it was the Holy Spirit, not Philip’s own thoughts, that told him where to go to meet the man! (verse 29).

Philip not only listened to God, he also listened to the Ethiopian.  He asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading. He sat beside the man, waited, listened and responded. He helped him with his questions. As a church we want to say thank you to those who also sit, wait, listen and respond to our own children and young people, and help answer their questions. Creators Club will be starting again and it would be great if we could have an extra couple of volunteers to help out there.

Philip has lots to teach all of us about listening. Like Philip, you and I need to listen before we speak. We need to help others find God – not by telling them what to think, but by helping them to find out for themselves in the Bible. At school, at home, at work: do we listen to others? Or are we always rushing to talk, ignoring the fact that our friends might have questions, or need help?

Each one of us, whether a child, a young person or a grown-up, we all have a part to play in helping others follow Jesus – in church, perhaps at school, an SU Group or in work – we can listen to their questions and help them find faith in Jesus. 

Teaching Point: Do!

It is great to read, great to listen – but most of us love to do things! How many of us get called a fidget, because we can’t sit still? 

Here is the good news: God doesn’t want us just to read the Bible – he wants us to do something about what we read. He doesn’t want us just to listen to him – he wants us to do something in response! That is what makes following Jesus such a great adventure. I am sure Philip didn’t wake up that morning thinking “Today I am going to meet an Ethiopian and tell him about Jesus!” When we follow Jesus, an adventure begins. 

The Ethiopian read the Bible, he listened, and then he did– he discovered the importance of knowing Jesus and that through trusting in Jesus’ death on the cross, it is possible to be friends with God. The good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection challenged the Ethiopian to do something. Right there in the middle of the desert he began following Jesus and was baptised as a sign of that. (v34-38)

Perhaps you have read and listened but haven’t yet chosen to do anything about it. Is today the day to do something, and choose to follow Jesus? 

Or maybe for you, following Jesus began a long time ago. The adventure continues! Will you do what Jesus asks you to do? No matter your age, if you are a follower of Jesus you can make a difference as you do what he asks you to: sharing Jesus, showing his love, and serving others. 

One thing we can all do is to pray and keep on doing that. As a church family, we want to pray for everyone in our school communities as they go Back to School with God, so let us do this together now.

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