Live Ready

Scott Worthington

Acts

Sermon Only Sermon Audio

Oct 4, 2026

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 of seven men to make sure widows got food. Through Philip’s obedience to God’s leading and his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, we see the importance of living ready to obey God’s call and being equipped in His Word so we can explain the good news of Jesus to those He places in our path.

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Sermon Notes

Acts
“Live Ready”
Acts 8:26-40 // October 4, 2026

“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

4. We must be ready to take our next step

Sermon Notes

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