Hallfold 14 May 2006
Acts 8:26-40
1 John 4:7-21
Is this the way you were welcomed this morning :-
Bouncers Windows Media
Bouncers QuickTime
and of course this sort of thing would never happen in our church or
Ejector Windows Media
Ejector QuickTime
Exclusion & Inclusion - remember your own experiences, how does it happen, how does it feel?
As a Gentile with a physical deformity the Ethiopian eunach is excluded from the Temple
He is seeking God in the temple and finds Christ in the desert
The apostles and appointed to preach and teach but here is the Deacon telling the good news of Jesus.
Philip is listening & acting - to God, to the Ethiopian,
Ethiopian listens to Philip and hears God - they act upon it.
This is an Inclusive Gospel - no barriers to God’s grace, for all people of every race, social class, background, lifestyle -
Listening - to God, to one another, to our world
Opening - ourselves to God, our community to God
Verbing - being active, doing God’s work
Encouraging - God’s potential in each person
Bound together in love for All the People - QuickTime All the People Windows Media