All Saints Anglican Church - Prescott, Az

Text: Acts 8:9-25 This week's lesson is incredible. As Rev. Nninda pointed out last week, we are starting to see the Great Commission truly fulfilled. As the Christians are scattered, Phillip, one of the seven deacons, makes his way to Samaria. Samaria was Israel's estranged cousin, somehow worse than the Gentiles. At one point, John even asked if Jesus wanted to see one of their cities destroyed, yet they received the gospel. But there was a man named Simon, a great magician; he was revered. He even accepted the gospel and was baptized. But then, seeing the power of the Holy Spirit, he wanted to be given the gift of an apostle, and the temptation was too great for him. This passage reminds us that there may come, or has come, a time when we have to give up something valuable to us because Christ loves us. This calling may seem hard, but Christ has trampled down the demons. The gospel frees us, the gospel is free, but it is often costly.