The Ethiopian eunuch was searching to be found. Returning from a religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he was reading from the prophet Isaiah when he met Philip on a wilderness road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. Appropriately, it was on this wilderness road that the Ethiopian eunuch was found in his searching as Philip shared about the One whom Isaiah had written about.
There is a word in modern church terminology that is used to define people who are searching to be found. That word is “seeker.” Persons who are seekers are searching for the presence of God in their lives. To a seeker, the journey of searching for God’s presence can seem like a wilderness road. An example of a seeker is found from a TV sitcom character who briefly attended a church. He chalked up his experience as generally beneficial because he finally learned what the guy in the end zone holding up the big card that says John 3:16 is talking about.
Our modern society is defined far more by people who have no clue as to what the guy in the end zone is trying to say than it is by those who recognize the citation of a biblical chapter and verse. It is in the midst of a society traveling on a wilderness road that you and I have been given the responsibility of sharing about the One whom Isaiah wrote about. It is in the midst of the wilderness of the world that followers of Jesus are called to tell the story of God who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that all who believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
On this World Communion Sunday, it is appropriate that we should consider the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Today’s scripture about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is the story of how the mission of the Church in Acts 1:8 was realized:
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The first section of Acts, found in 1:1 – 8:3, includes stories of how the Church’s mission was fulfilled in Jerusalem and Judea. The second section of Acts, found in 8:4 – 14:28, includes stories of how the Church’s mission was fulfilled as Christ is proclaimed in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The opening story of the second section is about Philip proclaiming Christ as the Messiah in the city of Samaria. The story of Philip proclaiming Christ as the Messiah to the Ethiopian eunuch lays the foundation for the fulfillment of the Church’s mission to the ends of the earth as the Ethiopian eunuch is baptized and goes on his way rejoicing as he is found by God in his searching.
On this World Communion Sunday, as we remember that the mission of the Church is to witness to the crucified and risen Christ, I invite to consider how the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch provides the four foundations for how Christ believers are called to share the story of faith in Jesus with a searching world:
GO is the first foundation. found in 8:26, as the angel instructs Philip to “get up and go.” Being a witness of Jesus in a searching world is not a static experience. To fulfill the mission of witnessing about Jesus, we must go beyond where we are so we may be met by Christ who waits with us and ahead of us.
MEET is the second foundation, found in 8:29, as the Spirit instructs Philip to “go over to the eunuch’s chariot and join it.” Being a witness of Jesus requires Christ believers to meet people where they are in their search to be found.
SHARE is the third foundation, found in 8:35, as Philip “began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.” Christian faith is a shared faith. Rather than being a private personal declaration of belief in Jesus, Christian faith is the act of sharing God’s love with all the world.
CONFIRM is the fourth foundation, found in 8:38, as the eunuch is baptized by Philip in the faith of Jesus, “Both of them Philip, and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” Christian faith is the confirmation of God’s love through Jesus. Baptism is the sign of being confirmed in God’s love through Jesus.
Today is World Communion Sunday, the day when believers in Jesus Christ unite to share the story of faith in Jesus with a searching world. Today we witness the One Isaiah witnessed about in Isaiah, the Savior of the world proclaimed through John 3;16, the Messiah through whom a searching world is found as Acts 1:8 is realized.
Today, we remember that the early Church Father St. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote of how the eunuch returned from the confirming water of his baptism to Ethiopia and “was sent to into the regions of Ethiopia to preach.”
Against the Heresies, (180 AD)
On World Communion Sunday we join with 45 million Christians in Ethiopia and millions of Christians around a searching world as we confess that in our searching we have been found.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Searching to Be Found
by Pastor Marc Brown
October 3, 2021
Accompanying Scriptures: Acts 8:26-40
(full online service video below)
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for October 3, 2021
Welcome
Opening Music “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness” arr. Scott Oyer
Call to Worship (Psalm 89:1)
One: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
All: Serve the Lord with gladness.
Scripture Lesson Acts 8:26-40
The Good News “Searching to Be Found”
Passing of the Bread and Circulation of the Loving Cup
Prayer of the Community
Closing Music “We Are Marching in the Light of God”
We are marching in the light of God
We are marching in the light of God
We are marching in the light of God
We are marching in the light of God
We are marching, we are marching, oh,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, we are marching, oh,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are singing in the light of God
We are singing in the light of God
We are singing in the light of God
We are singing in the light of God
We are singing, we are singing, oh
we are singing in the light of God
We are singing, we are singing, oh
we are singing in the light of God.
Blessing
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