Lesson Thirty Seven

PHILIP, THE MISSIONARY

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Memory Verse: Acts 1:8
Further Study: Acts 8; Acts of the Apostles, pp. 103-111; The Bible Story, vol. 10, pp. 35-41

When I was seven my mother and I began to attend a church near where we lived. It was a loving congregation who became like family. Fast forward 20-plus years and we were still attending the same church, but I was now married with a newborn. Quite unexpectedly one Sabbath, accusations were hurled against our family on what were trumped-up charges. One thing led to another, and some members caused our life to be increasingly difficult. We found ourselves looking for another church home.

We found ourselves looking for another church home.

The new church had no Sabbath School for the very young ones. Since our daughter needed a place to learn about Jesus, we jumped in and created a program for her. Soon her class began to grow. More little ones arrived. People in the community learned of it and started coming. Two years later we had a thriving program for 0 to 4 year olds, with about 20 children and their parents squeezed into the room. And then, again unexpectedly, a member who had quite a bit of power in the church contacted us and delivered an ultimatum. Either we do something her way, or they’d take the Sabbath School away from us. Unwilling to compromise to her demands, we were again churchless.

There isn’t much in the Bible about Philip, but one thing we learn is that he was found in places he did not expect. Due to Saul’s persecution, Philip along with many other Christ-believing Jews, found themselves suddenly homeless. Undeterred Philip continued to preach, teach, cast out demons, and perform miracles. He then unexpectedly arrived at the side of an Ethiopian treasurer explaining the Scriptures. After baptizing him, Philip was again whisked away landing in Azotus where he continued his mission.

Lest you think my husband and I were some kind of church troublemakers, we arrived (unexpectedly) in our third church in two years, and we’ve been members there for 35 years. The transition from the only church family I’d ever known to finding our place in first one congregation, and then a third was not easy. In fact, had I been able to direct my life, I would never choose to go through either of the first two church experiences as they were both painful. But as time passed, I realized that life is going to offer us curveballs—some of them painful. But with our eyes on Jesus, we cannot be defeated.

With our eyes on Jesus, we cannot be defeated.

So how is it with you? Have you had any curve balls thrown your way? They can be painful because they can hit unexpectedly. They can be surprising as they may be thrown by people we never thought would do so. But if we keep Jesus by our side and our mission in focus, we can and will survive. 

The best thing we could have done at the second church was throw ourselves into creating a children’s program—it gave us purpose and we made a difference. When we arrived at the third church—a much larger one where it was easy to get lost—we did the same, this time offering to help with an already well-planned children’s program. That led to other responsibilities and helped introduce us to other members. We were still hurting from our two-year unanticipated journey but concentrating on making a difference helped us heal.

Focusing on Jesus and others can save us from those who may try to hurt us, knock us down, or become a source of discouragement. God can use the most unwanted circumstances for our good placing us where He needs us most. When He does, we are renewed.

Digging Deeper 

When Philip was in Samaria, he met Simon who was a sorcerer. Simon listened to the preaching of Philip and was converted or so it seemed. He was baptized by Philip and became not only a follower, but a worker in the cause. 

When Peter and John heard the work being done, they came to bring the Holy Spirit. Simon saw this and offered money so that he could also “sell” the Holy Spirit to others. Peter strongly rebuked him. While Simon eventually asked Peter to pray for him, we don’t know if he ever truly repented or found complete understanding. And it demonstrated that some who seem converted outwardly may either not be at all or not have full understanding of Scripture.

Interestingly the word “simony,” the buying or selling of religious privileges such as pardons, came from this story of Simon who desired to do the same.

Making it Real

Do you have a board game in your home similar to Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land? There are also Bible games such as Egypt to Canaan. The idea is a game that causes one to make choices sometimes through no fault of their own, but just a poor spin of the wheel or throw of the dice. Play a game this week with your children (or other adults) and talk about how God works with us when we make poor choices or when others impose their choices on us.

If you have no such game or you’re not someone who plays board games, do some thinking of your life and draw a map that would show where God helped you when either you made a poor choice or someone else forced you into circumstances you would not have chosen for yourself.

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Merle Poirier writes from Silver Spring, Maryland, where she works as the operation manager for Adventist Review and Adventist World magazines as well as the designer for KidsView, a magazine for 8-12-year-olds. She enjoys spending time with her family including being a grandmother to two active little boys, who greatly enjoy Starting With Jesus, and a granddaughter, who’s delighting everyone with her smiles. She is blessed to have all three living close by, continually bringing joy and delight.