Linden Road Church
Pursuing a Deeper Life - Openness
Worship Gathering
Locations & Times
Linden Road Church
160 S Linden Rd, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
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ThanksLiving 2023 - Godsfield Mansfield
Pursuing a Deeper Life: Openness
Gen Z:1997-2012 (11 - 26)
Millennials: 1981-1996 (27-42)
Gen X: 1965-1980 (43-58)
Boomers: 1955-1964 (49-68)
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[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “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 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its 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.”[b]
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. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Acts 8:26-40
1. EXPERIENCING DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
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[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “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.” Acts 8:26-40
We need divine guidance to lead us toward divine encounters.
Interruptions and intentional actions are both essential to divine encounters.
We must be intentional with our lives and our time if we are going to experience the divine.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8: 4-8
“When we pray for divine encounters, we're inviting God to orchestrate moments where his love and truth intersect with the lives of those we encounter.” —Francis Chan (Letters to the Church)
Q. How have you been encouraged by the faith you have seen modeled by younger generations?
Q. How have you been encouraged by stories of faith you are seeing among your peers?
2. ENGAGE WITH CURIOSITY & HUMILITY
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 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its 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.” Acts 8:30-33
"Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip said. Acts 8:30
Proximity leads to engagement.
"How can I, unless someone guides me?"
Curiosity can deepen our relationship with God.
Q. Who are the diverse people you personally learn and listen to that have helped you grow personally and spiritually?
“Let me tell you...” --->“tell me more.”
“here’s what I think”. ----> “What do you think?”
BARNA STAT:
52% of Gen Z believes, “Doubt is a necessary part of life’s journey, but not the end goal.” – Spiritual Hunger & Curiosity Among Gen Z in America
BARNA STAT:
Though Gen Z are like other generations in that they tend to feel comfortable in their beliefs (38%), a significant proportion (25%) feels compelled to dig deeper and learn more about what they believe “Openness of religious Beliefs Today, by Generation”
“Questions are a way to express our doubt and our faith. Our trust in God is not diminished by our questions." – Eugene Cho
(Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging in Politics)
“Doubt is not the enemy of faith. It's the ground out of which faith often emerges. Faith requires us to venture into mystery. There's no certitude in mystery. Doubt and faith are companions on the journey.” – Rich Villodas (The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus)
Q. What can we learn from Gen Z's curious and open approach to conversations about faith.?
Q. What opportunities for potential gospel-centered interactions do you see in your life?
Q. What areas of faith are you most curious to be in conversations with older adults about?
What do you wish was talked about more openly that is not currently?
3. CONTEXTUALIZE THE GOSPEL & SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES
“Contextualization means making the gospel message understandable and relevant to the lived experiences and needs of the people we are reaching.”
– Ruth Padilla DeBorst (GlobalChurch: Reshaping Our Conversations, Renewing Our Mission, Revitalizing Our Churches)
“Contextualization is not a 'watering down' of the gospel but the 'letting loose' of the gospel into a new context.” – Soong-Chan Rah
(Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times)
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. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. Acts 8:34–40
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
BARNA STAT: According to the chart about “The Top Things Gen Z Are Looking for in Spirituality vs. Pastors' Assumptions,” what Gen Z is searching for is significantly different than what most pastors assume.
How will you respond to those with spiritual openness?
Gen Z:1997-2012 (11 - 26)
Millennials: 1981-1996 (27-42)
Gen X: 1965-1980 (43-58)
Boomers: 1955-1964 (49-68)
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[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “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 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its 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.”[b]
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. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Acts 8:26-40
1. EXPERIENCING DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
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[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “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.” Acts 8:26-40
We need divine guidance to lead us toward divine encounters.
Interruptions and intentional actions are both essential to divine encounters.
We must be intentional with our lives and our time if we are going to experience the divine.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8: 4-8
“When we pray for divine encounters, we're inviting God to orchestrate moments where his love and truth intersect with the lives of those we encounter.” —Francis Chan (Letters to the Church)
Q. How have you been encouraged by the faith you have seen modeled by younger generations?
Q. How have you been encouraged by stories of faith you are seeing among your peers?
2. ENGAGE WITH CURIOSITY & HUMILITY
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 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its 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.” Acts 8:30-33
"Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip said. Acts 8:30
Proximity leads to engagement.
"How can I, unless someone guides me?"
Curiosity can deepen our relationship with God.
Q. Who are the diverse people you personally learn and listen to that have helped you grow personally and spiritually?
“Let me tell you...” --->“tell me more.”
“here’s what I think”. ----> “What do you think?”
BARNA STAT:
52% of Gen Z believes, “Doubt is a necessary part of life’s journey, but not the end goal.” – Spiritual Hunger & Curiosity Among Gen Z in America
BARNA STAT:
Though Gen Z are like other generations in that they tend to feel comfortable in their beliefs (38%), a significant proportion (25%) feels compelled to dig deeper and learn more about what they believe “Openness of religious Beliefs Today, by Generation”
“Questions are a way to express our doubt and our faith. Our trust in God is not diminished by our questions." – Eugene Cho
(Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging in Politics)
“Doubt is not the enemy of faith. It's the ground out of which faith often emerges. Faith requires us to venture into mystery. There's no certitude in mystery. Doubt and faith are companions on the journey.” – Rich Villodas (The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus)
Q. What can we learn from Gen Z's curious and open approach to conversations about faith.?
Q. What opportunities for potential gospel-centered interactions do you see in your life?
Q. What areas of faith are you most curious to be in conversations with older adults about?
What do you wish was talked about more openly that is not currently?
3. CONTEXTUALIZE THE GOSPEL & SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES
“Contextualization means making the gospel message understandable and relevant to the lived experiences and needs of the people we are reaching.”
– Ruth Padilla DeBorst (GlobalChurch: Reshaping Our Conversations, Renewing Our Mission, Revitalizing Our Churches)
“Contextualization is not a 'watering down' of the gospel but the 'letting loose' of the gospel into a new context.” – Soong-Chan Rah
(Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times)
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. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. Acts 8:34–40
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
BARNA STAT: According to the chart about “The Top Things Gen Z Are Looking for in Spirituality vs. Pastors' Assumptions,” what Gen Z is searching for is significantly different than what most pastors assume.
How will you respond to those with spiritual openness?
