In this sermon, Pastor Scott preaches from Acts 8:26–40. We studied the story of Philip, an ordinary follower of Jesus who was chosen as one… Read More
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:26-31
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place.” Acts 8:26
Four “musts” of living ready:
1. We must be obedient to God’s call
“And he rose and went…” Acts 8:27a
“And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him.” Acts 8:27b-30a
You don’t have to know everything God is going to do to obey what He’s already told you
“When you read the Bible, you must think that here and now, God is speaking with me.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Do you do what God tells you to do?
2. We must recognize the scope of God’s kingdom
“And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him...” Acts 8:27b-30a
“‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” Acts 1:8
3. We must be equipped to explain God's Word
“‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: (Isaiah 53:7) ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’ And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’” Acts 8:30b-34
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” Acts 8:35
“We need to be prepared spiritually and theologically to do the work God intends us to do… Philip was not only prayed up; he was also studied up.” Tony Merida
“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” 1 Peter 3:15b
“And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?'” Acts 8:36
Before you call a church your home, there are some questions you deserve to have answered. Questions like: What do we believe? Where are we going? How are we going to get there? Discovering Hope is an important step in getting to know our church family.
Our mobile app is a great place to connect to what God is doing in Las Vegas, the West and the World through Hope Church. On our app you can find information on events and activities, watch sermon videos, take message notes, request prayer and much more! We hope our app serves you well!
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY – The Financial Peace University Course is for those who desire to steward the financial resources God has given them in a healthy and God honoring way. In this 9-week Course, you will learn how to pay off debt, save for the future, and discover the importance of giving into God’s kingdom activity.
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MULTIPLIERS – The Multipliers Course is a 6-week course designed to be the introduction for Jesus followers who want to begin to make disciples who make disciples by learning how to effectively lead themselves for the mission. Our next Multipliers Course begins on Tuesday, October 20th, 2026. If you desire to learn how to influence others to multiply Jesus followers, the Multipliers Course is for you!
BASICS – Have you ever wondered, “When I said yes to Jesus, what exactly did I say yes to?”
Whether you just started your life as a Jesus Follower or you’ve been following Him for years, we all have wondered before what does it really mean to follow Jesus? Throughout our Basics Course, we’ll tackle that exact question and what Jesus really meant when He said to His disciples, “Come, follow me.”
Join us for a 2-week experience in the Loft at Hope Church from 6:30-8:30PM. Each week will be filled with dynamic teaching and time for you to process what you’re learning with other members. If you just said yes to Jesus and want to know what it really looks like to follow Him, Basics is for you. Or, if you’ve been following Jesus but have felt lost, confused, frustrated, or just overall stuck in your relationship with God, Basics is for you.
ALPHA – Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family, and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask life’s biggest questions, and respectfully share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends, especially those who might not attend church services or describe themselves as Christians, to have spiritual conversations. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short video teaching, and small group discussion. No questions are off-limits! If you are interested in a safe space where you can ask questions about who Jesus is and what following Jesus is all about, Alpha is the place for you!
