Sermon by Pastor Brent Kompelien
May 19, 2024
INTRO
Good morning everyone. I want to start with two quick personal updates:
Just want to say thank you for making it possible for me to participate in the commencement ceremony at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School last weekend. I’ve been working on this doctoral program for the last 5 years, so it feels great to be done! Many of you helped me! Sarah and the girls were there, as well as my parents. (SLIDE 2) It was extra special because my dad is now the president of Trinity, so he was the commencement speaker and he got to hand the diplomas to the students, including me!
Also, I want to give you a heads up on a special thing coming up this summer. I’ve been invited to participate in a study tour of Calvin’s Geneva, sponsored by Trinity and by our district, with 10 other EFCA pastors from the Twin Cities. (SLIDE 3) We will be doing an immersive study of the Reformation and pastoral ministry under church historian Dr. Scott Manetsch while touring Geneva and hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc. We will be learning about preaching, counseling, congregational worship, prayer, discipline and restoration, evangelism, and personal discipleship. I’ll be on this study trip from the end of June through the first week of July. I’m excited to learn and continuing developing and growing through this trip.
(SLIDE 4, title) Ok, let’s jump back into our series in the book of Acts. We’re going to have a lot of fun today! I’m pretty excited. Our passage this morning is a major turning point in the growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel.
Remember what Jesus told his disciples in Act 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We must remember that it is God who is the main character of the book of Acts, because we repeatedly see the Holy Spirit working to bring people to repentance and faith through the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the sovereign plan of the Father who promised to form a new people called the church.
And it was foretold throughout the Old Testament that this new people of God would be from every nation and tribe and people and language, constituted under Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Here’s what we are going to see today: We’ve arrived at the first account of the gospel message going beyond the walls of Jerusalem. We’re now moving to the second part of the commission from Acts 1:8, that the disciples would be witnesses in all Judea and Samaria, the surrounding region around Jerusalem.
PROP — We are going to learn a simple lesson this morning. This is critical: The gospel must capture your heart. This means the gospel must change what you love, how you think of others, what you do with your life, and a myriad of other things. It is all-encompassing, it exposes the depths of your heart and whether you truly surrender to God or whether you are still the god of our your life.
You see, we’re entering a part of the book of Acts where there are a series of conversions, a series of individuals who are highlighted as they come to faith, experience radical life change, and come to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. A common thread we are going to see is that the gospel must capture your heart.
ILLUST — I heard a pastor say recently, “Christianity isn’t something you take up, like some set of ideas that will make your life better. No, it is something that takes you up, that captures your heart and transforms your whole life.” It is not merely a set of moral codes, rules for living, intellectual ideas, or a means to live your best life. At the heart of the gospel is a realization that you are having an encounter with the personal presence of a holy God whose forgiving grace invades your life and finds you when you were lost and makes you alive when you were dead.
Open with me to Acts 8:4-25. Raise your hand if you need a Bible. We are going to read the account of Philip, one of the original 7 men chosen to serve the practical needs of the church, as he goes to Samaria to preach the gospel.
ORG SENT — This passage first describes the positive results of Philip’s witnessing in Samaria (vv. 4-8), then gives a negative example of how not to receive the gospel through the story of Simon the Sorcerer (vv. 9-25). Let’s read. READ Acts 8:4-25.
MAIN 1 — Witnessing in Samaria (vv. 4-8). (SLIDE 5)
Again, this is a major turning point in the book of Acts. This is the first time that Christians are going outside of Jerusalem to preach the gospel. I simply want to note a few things here:
First, God is redeeming the persecution in Jerusalem (SLIDE 6) — Remember, nothing can stop the advance of the gospel! The Jewish leaders think they are going to destroy the Christian movement by violently scattering the church, but this only results in the first missionaries going out from Jerusalem! God is using this persecution as part of his plan.
Second, the first missionaries were regular people (SLIDE 7) — The text says earlier in Acts 8:1 that “all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Friends, it’s not an accident that Luke records this. Luke is careful to note that is was not the super-star apostles, but rather is was regular believers who were the first ones to take the gospel message wherever they went.
Third, the place where the gospel expands first is Samaria (SLIDE 8) — Who were the Samaritans?
The Samaritans lived in the central and northern parts of the land of Israel. They were partly Jewish and partly Gentile culturally and religiously. Devout Jews considered them ritually unclean and unfit for the covenant community of Israel. Most Jews looked on them with contempt. Samaritans had their own version of the Hebrew scriptures, they had their own temple, and they had different views on the Messiah. (SLIDE 9) There was deep hatred between Jews and Samaritans.
KEY: The fact that the gospel comes to Samaria first is no accident. Remember: the gospel must capture your heart. This account in Acts 8 directly challenges deeply held hard-heartedness toward people whom you might deem unworthy. It becomes a moment of integrity in the gospel message: Is God’s grace only for us, or is it for anyone who repents and believes?
APPLY: Or maybe I could ask it this way: Who do you think is unworthy of God’s kindness in the gospel?
Remember, the book of Acts is like a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. So when Luke tells us of the fruitful ministry of Philip in Samaria, we must recall what Luke has recorded in his Gospel about the Samaritans. Let me draw you back to Luke 9 and 10. (SLIDE 10)
When Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” for the final time to go to the cross, he insisted that they travel from Galilee to Jerusalem through Samaria. In chapter 9, the Samaritans reject Jesus (SLIDE 11), and we see the intense hatred between Samaritans and Jews boil over when James and John ask if they can call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans.
But Jesus rebukes them, and he then explains the cost of discipleship. Following him means giving up everything and devoting your whole life and your whole heart to him, including your attitude those unworthy Samaritans.
It is at this moment in chapter 10 that Jesus sends out the 72 (SLIDE 12) to go into the very Samaritan villages they hate. And the parallels to Acts 8 are striking:
Luke 10:1-24
(SLIDE 13) The ministry expands beyond the 12 disciples.
(SLIDE 14) They travel to cities in the region of Samaria.
(SLIDE 15) They proclaim the kingdom, heal people, and drive out demons.
(SLIDE 16) There is joy at the power over evil.
Acts 8:4-8
The ministry expands beyond the 12 apostles.
Philip travels to a city in Samaria.
He proclaims the Messiah, heals people, and drives out demons.
There is great joy in the city.
But do you remember what happens in Luke 10 right after the sending of the 72? Jesus is confronted by an expert in the law, a devout Jewish Pharisee who despises the Samaritans, and Jesus tells him a parable about a Good Samaritan who is the only one who showed kindness to a helpless injured man. (SLIDE 17) A Samaritan is the hero of the story!
Remember: The gospel must capture your heart. Have you been so radically transformed by God’s grace, realizing your own unworthiness before the Lord in your own merit and strength, that you realize that God’s grace is available to anyone who repents and believes? In other words, has the gospel softened your heart yet?
You see, in Acts 8 we see the fulfillment of what Jesus taught in Luke 10. Philip is going to the Samaritans to preach the gospel precisely because he actually understands the free forgiveness and grace of God through Jesus Christ! Philip has been so transformed by the gospel that he goes to those unworthy Samaritans and he tells them about God’s grace through Jesus, and they believe!
Acts 8 just JUMPS off the page with heart transformation! Philip is a living example of the kindness and mercy we saw in the parable of the Good Samaritan, now directed back toward the Samaritans themselves, whom many people deemed unfit for God.
Because this is such a radical moment in the early church for the gospel to expand outside the walls of Jerusalem into Samaria, the text moves on to weave in the story of Simon the Sorcerer as a negative example as Peter and John travel to Samaria to investigate.
MAIN 2 — Simon the Sorcerer (vv. 9-25). (SLIDE 18)
Who was Simon?
The text tells us that Simon for many years had practiced sorcery, the ancient magic arts that used deception, incantations, and mystical slights of hand to wow people into thinking he had some unique spiritual power. The text says in verses 9 and 10, “He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention.”
There is a contrast here between Simon and Philip. Luke develops this contrast to help us understand the difference between false and true teaching:
(SLIDE 19) Simon uses deception to glorify himself.
(SLIDE 20) Philip speaks plainly to glorify God.
ILLUST — This reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians about his ministry. He told them that he simply preaches Christ crucified. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:2, (SLIDE 21) “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
In other words, there are two different approaches in this passage by Simon and Philip:
Simon used trickery to wow people, then he boasted in himself.
Philip boasted in Christ, then God displayed HIS power to achieve real transformation.
There is a key word I want to draw your attention to: “amazed/astonished”. There is a reversal happening here.
In verses 8 and 11, the text says that the people of Samaria were “amazed” for a long time at Simon’s sorcery. (SLIDE 22) This word has a specific meaning: “To cause to be in a state in which things seem to make little or no sense.” In other words, it is not merely to be “wowed” by Simon’s magic, it is to be confused or astounded (SLIDE 23). It is not the type of amazement that brings clarity to life; it is the kind of amazement that brings confusion and questioning of reality.
But suddenly (SLIDE 24) Philip begins preaching about Jesus Christ and clarity comes. A light shines in the darkness. The confusion and fog blows away when the Samaritans understand who Jesus is and what he has done. Suddenly the world makes sense!
KEY: (SLIDE 25) Evil bring confusion and pushes people farther from God. But the gospel brings clarity and draws people into an encounter with God.
And now in verse 13, it is Simon who is amazed (SLIDE 26). The text uses the same Greek word, but in a different sort of way. Simon now senses “The feeling of astonishment mingled with fear (SLIDE 27) caused by events which are miraculous, extraordinary, or difficult to understand.”
KEY: Simon has encountered a power that so surpasses his simple trickery that he is astonished that someone as plain and simple as Simon could be the conduit of God’s extraordinary redeeming power.
The text says that Simon “followed Philip everywhere.” (SLIDE 28) The word used for “followed” is not the typical word for being a disciple. It is most often used as a way of describing how someone can “cling to another person” or “be close at hand all the time”. In this context, it means that Simon stuck close to Philip, watching him curiously and waiting for some kind of opportunity.
This is where things go sideways. The text says that Simon believed and was baptized. But was his conversion sincere? We quickly see that the gospel did not capture his heart. Here’s what happened next:
Peter and John travel to Samaria to investigate. (SLIDE 29) If even the Samaritans believe, they need to see it for themselves! This is a unique circumstance in the early days of the church. And it explains why the coming of the Spirit is delayed (SLIDE 30).
There are only three instances in the book of Acts where the Holy Spirit comes separately from belief, and in each circumstance there is some extraordinary situation that might cast doubt on the authenticity of a person’s confession of faith.
(SLIDE 31) Here in Samaria we see the first non-Jewish region accepting Christ.
(SLIDE 32) Later in Acts 9 the most violent persecutor of them all, Saul of Tarsus, accepts Christ.
(SLIDE 33) And in Acts 19 in the most pagan city, Ephesus, many people accept Christ, which was radical considering that everything in the city revolved around the Temple of Artemis and the city was full of sorcery and violence.
KEY: In each specific case, an authenticator (Peter and John, Ananias, and Paul) witnessed the coming of the Spirit upon the most unlikely of converts. Otherwise, the normal way the Holy Spirit indwells people is at the moment of repentance and faith in Christ Jesus.
This situation becomes the very thing that illuminates the darkness in the heart of Simon. Simon saw his opportunity (SLIDE 34). If he could have the power to give the Holy Spirit to people also, his sorcery business would really take off! His self-acclaim would be off the charts! His power over people would be tremendous!
What happens? Peter rebukes him. (SLIDE 35) READ vv. 20-21.
His heart was not right. Remember friends: The gospel must capture your heart. Simon was still captive to sin. His heart was still hardened. His worship was still directed toward himself.
APPLY (SLIDE 36, blank)
Remember what we’ve already seen in Acts: God is doing HIS work THROUGH the church!
Philip was a humble messenger. He does not make much of himself (like Simon did!), but rather he makes much of Jesus! Because he understood his own desperate need for God’s grace, he became a messenger of God’s kindness to those whom everyone else deemed unworthy or unfit for God.
Peter and John do not portray themselves as power-brokers for their own fame. Remember, Peter failed and was restored. John told us the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13. Both these men had their hearts transformed by Jesus. They are serving the people and not seeking glory for themselves.
But Simon is proud and hungry for power. And there is no place for this in the church.
Remember: The gospel is not something you take up or wield for your purposes or twist for your advantage so you can live your best life. No, the gospel of Jesus Christ is something that takes you up, it captivates you, it is a realization that the personal presence of the Holy God himself has come near to you with compassion and kindness to breath new life into you when you were dead.
When the gospel captures your heart, it totally changes your perspective on whom you deem worthy of God’s grace, just like it did for the early Jewish believers who were the first missionaries to the Samaritans. It also destroys your pride and causes you to walk in humble surrender day-by-day, simply saying, “What would you have me do, Lord?”
Have your way in my life. Do your work through me. Show me who I can serve and love who needs God’s grace just as much as I do.
Let’s pray.