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Opening question: If you met Nelson Mandela what would be the one thing that you would ask him and why?
A. Pharaoh
Exodus 5:1-5
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.'"
2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."
3 Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword."
4 But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!"
5 Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working."
1.Q: What evidence do we have that supports the existence of God?
A: - Fulfilled prophesies in the bible
- Scientists discoveries of the universe
- The resurrection of Jesus
- Nature
2. Q: What are some of Gods commands that people stubbornly refuse to obey?
A: - Do not be an idolater
- Do not be sexually immoral
- Do not tell lies - Etc.
BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THE TEN PLAGUES
3. Q: What are some of the "plagues" in today's time that that inflicts us if we disobey God?
A: - Depression
- Lack of fulfillment
- Aids or Syphilis etc.
B. Simon of Cyrene
Mark 15:21-24
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).
23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
4. Q: How do you think Simon felt about being forced to serve God?
A: Angry -Resentful about being inconvenienced
5. Q: How are we sometimes forced to serve God?
A: - School religious functions
- Peer or family pressure
- Fear of the consequences
6. Q: Can this be beneficial to us?
A: (Explain how Simons Wife and children all became Christians)
C. Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26-39
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.
29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"
35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"
37
38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
7. Q: What do you notice about this African man?
A: - Successful businessman
- Searching for God
- Humble
- Immediately responsive to Gods word
8. Q: What is the good news about Jesus?
A: - Forgiveness of sins
- Heaven is promised
- Assurance of Gods love
CONCLUSION:
1.Pharoah stubbornly refused to serve God no matter what
2.Simon initially is resentful & then he changes
3.The Ethiopian is searching and he eagerly obeys
WHAT TYPE OF AFRICAN DESCRIBES YOU TODAY?
WHAT DECISIONS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE TO BECOME A MAN OR WOMAN WHO TRULY OBEYS GOD?
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