"A Life Well-Lived" - A Message from Acts 8:4-25

Hello Friends,

One of the greatest gifts in Scripture is the clear-cut examples God puts before us in the examples of how other people live.  It's as if God is saying, "Who would you rather be like?"

In Acts 8:4-25 we see two men leading very different lives. Philip is living the Life Well-Lived...Simon the Sorcerer is not.  In this message I give insights into how we can live a life the pleases God and avoid the one that does not.

Living a Life Well-Lived is not a mystery...it's as clear as Philip's example.  So I hope that this message will help you to deepen in your commitment to following the Lord.  I've placed a brief outline, below, to keep you on track.  Let me know how it goes!

God bless you, Kirk McCormick

“A Life Well Lived”

Acts 8:1-25

** From Philip…we see a positive example, one we can follow, of a Life Well Lived…

…From Philip we learn that a Life Well- Lived…

1. Shares Jesus with others when the door is open.

Acts 8:5 - Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

2. Brings healing to the hurting.

Acts 8:7 - With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.

3. Inspires joy in the lives of others.

Acts 8:8 - So there was great joy in that city.

** From Simon…we see a negative example that a Life Well Lived –

1. Is not motivated by greatness.

Acts 8:9, 10 – He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to (here is his motivation):

2. Goes beyond just belonging to the church.

Acts 8:13 - Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere.

3. Cannot be bought.

Acts 8:18 - When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.