First Lesson: Acts 8:26-40

Theme: The Spirit’s surprising, subversive strategies

Exegetical note
The real central character in this well-known story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is the Holy Spirit, under whose guidance the disciple is "subverted" from his succcessful Samarian mission to make a "least likely" but most promising contact: a foreigner (Ethiopian) of a different race (Nubian) and social status (eunuch), who is already devoutly religious (a practicing Jew).

Call to Worship
Leader: People of God, the resurrected Christ has given us a mission!
People: WE ARE TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO ALL PEOPLE OF EVERY RACE IN ALL NATIONS!
Leader: Ours is an awesome task, one calling for surprising and subversive strategies.
People: FOR THE SPIRIT LEADS US, SIDETRACKS US, AND FORCES US TO …