Multiplication Bible Study: Acts 8 (Story of Philip’s start in ministry)

By SoulRio
Posted on April 21, 2005

Background Info.
The history of how the early church spread outside of Jerusalem is found in Acts 8. Following the stoning of Stephen there was a widespread persecution of the early believers. The Bible says that they were scattered, except for the apostles who stayed behind. Most commentaries agree that this was not just a light persecution but an extremely intense time of trial for the early believers. It isn’t long after this that Paul is converted and begins his ministry of building up the churches throughout the region. It’s an interesting thought that I thought it was Paul who began, or at least fed, this widespread persecution of believers that helped spread the gospel. He was a church starter before he was a believer!  It was the same guy several years later who became God’s man to teach and encourage the churches that started out of this persecution; and to start others. One of the main themes of this passage is that off God’s sovereignty. He is in control no matter what the circumstance. It seems cliché to say that, but the truth is that many of us have no idea what it meant to be a follower of Christ in that day. You were stepping outside of the cultural “norm” and away from what was accepted by your peers as the only real way to live.

Many scholars have written that had it not been for this persecution the early church might have stayed a small sect of Jewish people. Either way there was an incredible persecution that sent many Christians fleeing for their lives into new areas. This is a second interesting part of history. Up until this point, we don’t really see the church moving outside of Jerusalem. It is at this point, as the believers scattered, that the Good News began to reach the Gentiles and the Samaritans. The racial or ethnic feelings between the Jews and Samaritans were extremely heated. This dates back to several centuries before Christ when the Jewish nation came back from exile in Babylon. Samaritans were basically ½ Jews. They weren’t considered pure Jews because they were intermarried with other people groups. In the day of Nehemiah and Ezra, as the wall around Jerusalem was re-built, the Samaritans were not allowed to help and a great division was created between the groups. It’s not quite that simple, but that’s the basic stuff. Any commentary will cover this in a whole lot more detail. The thing to realize is that Philip’s trip to Samaria was the first of it’s kind. He was definitely doing something way outside of the “norm” in his day.

• Read 8:1-3
• What was the significance of persecution in the development of the early church?
o The church was pushed outside the boundaries of Jerusalem and really into new ethnic areas and cultures that had not heard the message of Jesus.

• Read 8:4-8
• What types of ministry and “God stuff” happened as a result of Philip’s ministry in this Samaritan town?
• Do you think Philip expected God to use him to reach these people? Why or Why not? Imagine a city, an entire city overwhelmed with joy!

Philip was one of those that had walked with Stephen. He left Jerusalem and went to Samaria to preach. God was with Philip and he was able to do incredible ministry while he was in Samaria. People listened. They were amazed at the miraculous signs that happened, people were healed, demons were cast out and it says, “there was great joy in that city!” Not doubt seeds for incredible ministry. Much like a new church. People were beginning to have their hearts tweaked and beginning to sense a move of God. So much so, that when Peter and John, two of the apostles had heard that those in Samaria had “accepted the Word of God”, went to assist.

• Read 8:12
• “They believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” WOW, there was tremendous stuff happening.
• How would you have felt if you had been around Philip at this time?
• What would it have been like to be around him?
• What would you have thought if you were Philip?
• If you were Philip, what would your next step in this ministry have been? (This is a key question, to bring out the oddness of God’s request of Philip in the next section.)
o This is where things get interesting. Let’s look at what God does with Philip.

• Read 8:26-40
• Let’s look at what God asks Philip to do. Go and stand on a desert road. That’s it. No more no less.
• What would you have thought about if God had said that to you?
• When has there been a time in your life when you felt God urging you to do something that you didn’t really want to do? (draw this question out and really get some answers from them).

Let’s make this a bit more accessible. You get an urge during your quiet time to go and stand by the side of the road outside of Vaughn, NM. So you do. Along comes a car and the guy inside stops and asks if you need a ride. You say “Sure!” So you hop in. He turns on the radio and he’s listening to the Bible on tape and a passage about the gospel. He looks at you and says, “I sure wish I could figure out what all this Jesus stuff is about.” You say, “Well, if you’re interested, I could explain it to you.” He says, “Sure.” Long story short, the guy asks Jesus to come into his heart to be his Leader and Forgiver. You both stop at a running arroyo and you baptize the guy and no sooner have you done that then God supernaturally whisks you away. This guy ends up being the mayor in a large metroplex in Texas. He goes back home, tells his story, lives are changed, God shows up, and bingo, you’ve just evangelized TEXAS! ‘Bout time…. 

No, but seriously. We never know what God might do when we listen to Him. Many times the plans He has for us aren’t the plans that we have or the plans that make the most sense. The big picture is that this eunuch was able to go back and share his new faith with the influential people in his country. Tradition has it that many came to faith in Jesus because of Philip’s story and sharing the Good News.

So, great, what does this have to do with us? Everything.

• What do we generally do when we sense God might be moving us in a direction that we either a.) Don’t like, b.) Don’t agree with, or c.) Just doesn’t make sense to us? (Draw this out a bit. This is the most important part of the application. It may bring up other questions too. How do we hear God, etc. Try to keep it on track.)
• How do we respond?
• What does God expect?
• What does obedience really mean?

What is the application of this story to our RioLink as it begins to prepare to multiply? Tons. You’re a part of a healthy, exciting, growing, flourishing ministry and we’re asking you to pray and seek God about leaving. We’re kicking you out so to speak. (figuratively ) This may seem really odd to you. I know it did, and does, to me. (Share personal story of what I feel when I think about leaving and starting again, I’m going to miss them, it’s a blast and I love what we’re experiencing…)

The truth is we need to go! We need to start again. We need to send you out. That’s the miracle of what these RioLinks are all about. Let me share with you some things that we’re praying for.

RioLinks at SoulRio are a journey. We’re becoming more and more a church “of” groups, not just a church “with” groups. We’re finding that the true power of the church is lived out in small group community. The church IS Groups. This is how we are structured. This is how gifts are discovered within the church. RioLinks are where Leaders are discovered and trained within the church. RioLinks are where the church family is fed and led. RioLinks are where people who are far from God are reached with the life-changing message of Jesus. RioLinks are where people learn how to live an authentic worship lifestyle, grow spiritually, and use their God-given ministry to serve others.

The process that began with the first RioLink that met in Pastor Dan’s Home in October 2000 is just as significant to the life of SoulRio as the group that started SoulRio back in October 1997. Back in 1997 there was a group of renegade risk-takers who followed God’s vision of a new and different kind of church. God uses the same kinds of people today to step out in faith and see church in a whole new way – through the eyes of group life. You are the renegades… the starters… the risk-takers!

The very first “RioLink” at SoulRio met in the pastor’s home and trained 19 Leaders who then after nine months started seven new groups. Within another nine months each of those groups will give birth to another group. Your job is to train the next generation of Leaders to start new groups over the next 9-12 months.

We’ve already seen an incredible amount of exponential growth and have experienced what the experts call “Avalanche Multiplication.” Have you ever seen an avalanche? How does it start? What can be the result? An avalanche starts small, sometimes with a small tree branch falling on the snow, then it grabs more, and grabs more, until snow overwhelms and covers the whole bottom of the mountain.

• Would you rather have $1 Million dollars right now, or 2 Cents doubled every day for the next month? Did you know that if you were to double 2 Cents every day for 30 days, at the 30th day you would have over $21 million dollars in your bank account?

• Imagine this. The first RioLink had 19 Adults. Within nine months that RioLink multiplied into seven groups. Those seven groups involved around 105 adults. As those groups multiply to fourteen groups, over 210 adults will be involved. Within three years of the first group there’s a potential for at least 840 people to be reached within our groups. And the growth explodes from there.

• Also imagine, this kind of growth doesn’t happen from reaching people from other churches. This growth comes from people who are far from God becoming fully devoted followers of Christ!

• What happens when group life flourishes the way God intended? This community will change! Countless numbers of people will have significantly changed lifestyles, which will in turn bring about a significantly changed community.

With 56 groups within three years, think of the leadership those groups will produce. 56 God-called and trained pastors, 56 associate pastors in training for leading new groups. 840 adults using their gifts. 840 people meeting in their neighborhood inviting their neighbors to groups. 840 people meeting each others needs!

• So what’s the bottom line? We’re asking you to pray about your next step in ministry. It may be a relationship with Jesus. It may be taking the step to be an Apprentice in one of these new groups that’s starting. Whatever it is that God is moving in you to do and experience, jump in. Dive in, with both feet. God will never ask you to do that which you can’t handle WITH HIS HELP. What is it that He’s calling you to do that may be uncomfortable or maybe not be in your plan but may possibly be in His! His plan is better! Let’s pray.

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