You've been set up - Acts 8, Philip and the Ethiopian

Have you ever been 'set up' for a (delightful) surprise by friends - say a surprise party that you were completely unaware of until it happened ? In the passage from Acts 8, it is clear that God has been 'setting up' the Ethiopian official from hundreds of years before he was born, to prepare him to receive the good news of Jesus. God does the same in our lives. He plants the seed of the Word in the soil of a heart prepared to receive it, and waters it with baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit...to produce a delightful result, a multiplying of the seed of his word and faith. This sermon was preached on Sunday May 5th at St John's Southgate Lutheran Church. It can be used in conjunction with the bible study to be found at this link. Enjoy!