Superbook

Lesson:

Strive to seek God rather than earthly power.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • Philip

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    Philip

    

    Philip went to Samaria when the church in Jerusalem was scattered and began to share the Good News. People listened intently to his message and were amazed by the signs and miracles he did. Many believed and were baptized including Simon the Sorcerer. An angel then spoke to Philip and sent him to minister to the Ethiopian Eunuch in the desert. Philip rode with the Eunuch in his carriage and opened up his understanding of Scriptures. The Eunuch believed in Jesus and Philip baptized him. Philip was immediately snatched away by the Spirit of the Lord to preach again in Azotus and the area of Caesarea.

    • Bible References

      • Acts 8:6
      • Acts 6:1-7
      • Acts 8:1-9
      • Acts 8:26-40
      • Acts 21:8–9

  • Simon the Sorcerer

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    Simon the Sorcerer

    

    Simon the Sorcerer astonished the people of Samaria for many years with his magic. They spoke of him as " the Great One - the Power of God." But now the people believed Philip's message about Jesus and watched the miracles he performed by God's power. Even Simon believed and was baptized. It seems that Simon was even more interested in acquiring God's power for his own benefit. Peter sternly rebuked Simon for trying to buy God's gift. We last read of Simon begging Peter to pray to the Lord for him to avoid God's punishment.

    • Bible References

      • Acts 8:18
      • Acts 6:1-7
      • Acts 8:1-9
      • Acts 8:26-40
      • Acts 21:8–9

  • Ethiopian Official

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    Ethiopian Official

    

    The Official from Ethiopia was returning from Jerusalem where he had worshiped God. He was reading from the book of Isaiah as he rode in his carriage. An angel sent Philip to where the Ethiopian Official was traveling. The Ethiopian Official invited Philip to sit with him and open his understanding of the Scripture he was reading. Philip baptized the Ethiopian Official and he went on his way rejoicing!

    • Bible References

      • Acts 8:31
      • Acts 8:26-40

• Adventure Guide

  • 

    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    Philip - Family Discussion Guide

• Videos

  Disciples Pray

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    Disciples Pray

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    Peter Confronts Simon the Sorcerer

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    Philip Baptizes

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    Simon the Sorcerer Meets Philip

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    Philip - The Salvation Poem

• Q & A

  • What should we seek while on earth?

    Simon the Sorcerer liked the feeling of power. For many years he claimed to be great and soaked up the praise of the people. Acts:8:10 says, “ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” However, things changed when Philip came to Samaria. The people believed God’s Word and were amazed at the signs and miracles that accompanied Philip. In fact, his ministry was so powerful that even Simon believed and was baptized! Simon then followed Philip everywhere he went.
    
    He was attracted and amazed by the miracles that Philip performed by God’s power. (Acts:8:5-7, Acts:8:12-13) When Peter and John came to Samaria, they laid hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. Simon wanted this power so much that he offered money to buy it from Peter! Peter rebuked him and revealed that Simon’s heart was not right with God. It was full of jealousy, wickedness, and sin. Simon was probably sincere when he first believed and was baptized.
    
    Yet, instead of seeking God and a closer relationship with Him, Simon sought God’s power first. It seems he wanted to attract large crowds again and amaze those who followed him, just like Philip. Simon was all about earthly power and fame. (Acts:8:14-23). As followers of Christ, we are to seek God above all else. Colossians:3:1-2 says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
    
    Simon set his sights on the things of the world and thought about what he could do with God’s power for his own benefit. Matthew:6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” God never tells us to seek power on this earth. He tells us to seek His face and live for Him. He promises then to give us all we need. Jesus, when He came to earth, refused to set up an earthly kingdom even when His followers tried to make Him king.
    
    Jesus instead came to seek God, to do His will on the earth, and to prepare us to live with Him in God’s spiritual kingdom. (John:6:15, John:18:36) Instead of seeking earthly power, we are to live to serve God and humble ourselves before Him. When we do that, He will exalt and lift us up at the right time. 1 Peter:5:6 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you
    

    • Colossians 3:2

  • What job is most important?

    Before Philip became an evangelist and worked miracles, he was a faithful deacon serving the widows in the church. Perhaps that doesn’t sound very important or exciting. But, listen to what happened when he and the other deacons did their jobs. “These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.” (Acts:8:6-7)
    
    We see that the deacon’s role was important because it freed up the apostles to pray, study, and preach God’s Word instead of doing tasks like feeding the widows in the church. The church continued to grow and even some Jewish priests became believers; that's powerful! When Philip was sharing the Gospel in Samaria, he also baptized the new believers in water. Peter and John came to Samaria and then baptized these believers in the Spirit.
    
    Philip, Peter and John had different roles and all worked together to accomplish God’s work. (Acts:8:4-17). Every job, no matter how big or small it may appear, is important in God’s Kingdom. The apostle Paul talked about this topic in 1 Corinthians:5:9: “After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.
    
    What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.” In God’s kingdom we work hand in hand with each other and God! The Holy Spirit orchestrates and anoints God’s followers to work in harmony with each other to do God’s will.
    
    “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (1 Corinthians:12:4-6,11)
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Corinthians 5:9

  • How can someone be saved?

    God sent His Son to the earth because He loves us and He wants us to spend eternity with Him. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Everyone who believes has eternal life; that’s it… period! Philip preached the Good News and performed miracles to confirm that Word. Many believed and were baptized. Philip did not preach a complicated message.
    
    He did not require that they sign a paper and promise to keep all of the Jewish laws and customs of that day. He simply preached the Good News. Those who believed were saved and baptized in water. Peter and John came later to baptize these believers in the Spirit. By God pouring out His Spirit on these non-Jews, or Gentiles, He removed any doubt of their salvation and acceptance by Him! (Acts:8:4-8, Acts:12-17)
    
    The fact is that God wants us all to be saved; He on purpose made it a simple process. (2 Peter:3:9). Romans:10:13 makes it very clear: “For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” The key word in the verse is “everyone”. Man creates rules and religion to make it seem difficult, but this is not God’s way. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and religious leaders for adding conditions and rules to for the people to follow that even they could not keep. (Luke:11:37-52) In Acts:16:29-32, the jailer fell down before Paul and Silas and asked what he must do to be saved. “The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
    
    Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” What exciting news the jailer learned; not only he, but his whole family simply needed to believe in Jesus to be saved! The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading Scripture from the book of Isaiah. Philip, led by the Holy Spirit, came alongside his carriage as he read. “The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”
    
    So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.” Philip simply shared the Good News and the man received Jesus! A short time later, the eunuch saw some water in the desert and asked Philip to baptize him. After he was baptized, the eunuch went on his way rejoicing! God’s plan of salvation is not burdensome or hard; it is easy and brings us freedom and joy! Romans:10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you
    

    • Romans 10:13

  • Will a person feel anything when they believe in Jesus?

    When someone believes in Jesus as Savior, they are set free from sin and receive eternal life. This is cause for celebration! As Philip preached in Samaria and performed healings and other miracles and signs, there was great joy in the city! (Acts:8:8) When the Ethiopian Eunuch received the Good news and was baptized, he went on his way rejoicing! (Acts:8:39) Our salvation is not based on feelings; it is based on believing or by faith in Jesus.
    
    However, we can't help but be filled with the joy of the Lord! This is exactly what Jesus wants to give us! In John:17:13, Jesus said: “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.” The new church in Jerusalem was filled with excitement and joy. Acts:2:43-47 says, “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
    
    They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." Yes, joy comes as a direct result of our salvation and relationship with God and other believers. Paul and Barnabas brought the Gospel to the Gentiles and they thanked the Lord for His message. The Good News Spread and many became believers.
    
    The Jewish religious leaders eventually ran Paul and Barnabas out of town but the joy of the Lord from receiving the Good News could not be stopped! “And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts:13:48-52). As believers in Christ, our lives should be filled with joy as we live for Jesus! 1 Peter:1:8 says, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • John 17:13