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Zach Tharp: To Samaria and Beyond! (Acts 8:4-25)
Zach Tharp, pastor of First Baptist Church in Alice, Texas, points to what Christians can learn from Philip’s experience in Samaria. Persecuted Christians scattered from Jerusalem into surrounding areas, taking the good news about Jesus with them. In Samaria, Philip’s words and actions pointed to Christ and brought “much rejoicing in that city.” Not all words and deeds are from God; therefore, Christians must be able to recognize false teachers, who point to themselves.
The gospel has power to change hearts and lives, and it must be proclaimed. Tharp challenges his hearers to be available for God to speak and act the gospel through so others can hear it. He concludes by explaining that the Holy Spirit is a gift who cannot be bought.
This sermon was delivered on Sept. 13, 2020, for the morning worship service of First Baptist Church in Alice as part of a series on the Book of Acts.
“I believe the Lord led us to study Acts, because 2020 has been the year of trying to answer the question, ‘What do we do now?’” Tharp said.
Zach Tharp’s sermon script is available here.
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