Evangelism in Acts 8: Simon the Magician

Engage Your World Evangelism Podcast

Evangelism in Acts 8: Simon the Magician

Evangelism in Acts 8 is the sixth episode in our series looking at the evangelistic encounters found in the Book of Acts. In this episode, Matt and Ibrahim examine the interaction between Philip and Simon the Magician. Though Simon had captivated the people with his power, even Simon saw that Phillip had access to a power greater than his own. Simon believes and is amazed with the continued signs and miracles that Phillip performs. However, Simon reveals mixed motives when he tries to pay to receive the power to lay hands and give the Holy Spirit.

In looking at Evangelism in Acts 8, we will apply the same G.O.S.P.E.L framework (see below for more detail) we applied in previous episodes. This framework was drawn directly from an analysis of scripture and presents a summarized biblical approach to evangelism. We believe this is a faithful summary of the approach used in the New Testament and that we can apply the same approach in our lives today. Though the order and repetition may vary slightly, the overall approach is very consistent with evangelism throughout the Book of Acts. When we developed our training approach for Engage 360, we did not focus on what verses can be used to explain the Gospel. Instead, we looked to the Bible and asked the question, “What did they actually do?” Below is the summary of their approach.

• G: Gauge your audience
• O: Offer common ground
• S: Shift to Christianity and the Gospel
• P: Provide evidence
• E: Explain the Gospel
• L: Leave with a clear next step

After listening to our podcast on Evangelism in Acts 8, if you would be interested in our team coming to your church or group to provide more training on biblical evangelism and how to apply it today, please fill out our contact form.

To access all past Engage 360 Podcasts click here.