Here’s Your Sign

GETTING STARTED

Have you found yourself in a situation where you really needed a sign to point you in the right direction? Have you ever heard something that seemed too good to be true and needed proof that the person was speaking the truth? In today’s passage, people not only get to hear the truth of salvation through Jesus the Christ, but also get to see a demonstration of his power through one of his followers.

  • What are the signs of God being active in someone’s life that have directed you to grow deeper in your relationship with God?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 8:4-8 (ESV)

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Previously, Stephen was martyred and Saul began ravaging the church, entering houses and imprisoning followers of Jesus. What was the result of this persecution (vss. 4-5)?
  2. What did Philip proclaim to the Samaritans? What caused the Samaritans to pay attention to what Philip proclaimed?
  3. In Acts 2, Peter quoted the prophet Joel saying that “God declares… I will pour out my Spirit… and I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below.” Based on this, what power was at work through Philip?
  4. Is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life acting as a sign to point others to Jesus? Why or why not?

RESPOND TO GOD

Philip’s proclamation of Jesus to the Samaritans most likely contained a synopsis of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. No doubt, there was skepticism about whether Jesus actually rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Here comes their sign: Philip, through the power of the Holy Spirit, cast out demons, healed the sick, and brought joy to the people of the city. While this was a unique time in the life of the early church, and miraculous signs were validation that Jesus’ work was continuing through the Holy Spirit, each of us who has experienced the life-changing power of redemption through Jesus has some kind of sign that has happened in our life. How are you using that sign to point others to Jesus?

  • Pray that the change the Holy Spirit has made in your life is used as an attractive sign to those who are in need of Christ.