Sermon Notes:

Series: GO!

May 24, 2026 "Fire on the Move" 

By: Pastor Joel Philbrook


Consider this...


Think about the person who rings up your groceries every single week. Think about the neighbor you know doesn't have a relationship with Jesus, the family member who actively pushes God away, or the person sitting in the cubicle right next to yours.


How many Christians do they interact with in a single day who simply walk right past them?


When Jesus commands us to GO!, the immediate reaction for most of us is an overwhelming wave of anxiety. We assume we have to be salespeople for God. We worry that we don't know enough scripture, that we aren't preachers, or that we are going to force an awkward, intrusive conversation that damages a relationship.


But the text completely flips the script and takes the pressure off: There are no "cold calls" in the Kingdom of God. 


Whether it is the Holy Spirit supernaturally breaking down language barriers for 3,000 people at Pentecost, or the Spirit placing Philip on a specific desert road to meet one Ethiopian man who was already sitting in his chariot reading scripture, the truth is the same: The Holy Spirit goes both with us and before us. 


God is everywhere and everywhen. Through His prevenient grace, He is already actively drawing people to His Son long before we ever arrive on the scene.


Our role is not to bring God to people. Our role is simply to slow down, look around, and join in on a conversation that the Holy Spirit is already having with another person. When you realize you aren't walking out there alone, the equation changes. The risk is real because faith is always spelled R-I-S-K, but when you look at the massive reward of a life being brought into communion with Jesus, the risk is entirely worth it. You are a mobile temple of the living God, and the Fire is on the move.

  • Find a quiet moment today to slow down, breathe, and internalize this truth.


    Scripture: > "The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.' Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading..." — Acts 8:29–30


    Reflect: Am I trying to carry the heavy burden of forcing spiritual things to happen in my own strength, or am I actively positioning myself to listen and look for where the Holy Spirit is already moving? God didn't give Philip a 10-step evangelism strategy; He just gave him a direction. Philip didn't start with a sermon; he started with a question.


    Today, remember that the same God who stepped out of the grave and filled the early church with fire is walking out the door with you. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to say "yes" to the nudge of the Spirit and step into the room.


    Prayer: Lord, increase my faith levels today so that they are greater than my fear levels. Take the pressure off my shoulders. As I walk into my neighborhood, my workplace, and my community, show me where You are already working. Give me the courage to take a risk, to ask a question, and to join Your conversation. Amen.

    1. Identifying the "Desert Road": Philip was sent to a specific, seemingly random desert road without a full blueprint or explanation, simply because God cared about "the one." What is the "desert road" or everyday space (a breakroom, a coffee shop, a specific neighborhood street) that God has placed you in right now? How can you begin to look at that ordinary space as an active mission field?

    2. Diagnosing the Barrier: When you think about sharing how Jesus has changed your life with a stranger or someone you know, what is the specific anxiety that speaks the loudest to you? (Is it the fear of rejection, feeling like you don't know enough scripture, or worrying about being intrusive?) How does the reality of prevenient grace—knowing God is already working on their heart before you even speak—help disarm that specific fear?

    3. Taking the R-I-S-K: John Wimber famously noted that "Faith is spelled R-I-S-K." Looking ahead at your week, what is one practical, open-handed step of risk you can take to move toward someone else? Does it look like pausing to listen in prayer for a specific person, slowing down to look for someone who is hurting, or simply choosing to ask a thoughtful question instead of just walking by?



What's Coming Next in our teaching series called "GO!"

In our new sermon series, "GO! Sent to Love with the Heart of Jesus," we’ll explore how the early church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, was launched into the world to participate in God's redemptive plan. Starting with Jesus's ascension, we'll see the church given a clear command: "GO! and make disciples of the nations." 

This isn't just an individual call but a corporate mission, a partnership with the Holy Spirit that transforms a group of believers into a movement that changes the world. We’ll see how their bold witness and radical generosity became a living testament to God’s love in their community and beyond.


As we journey through the book of Acts, we’ll discover that the church is not a stationary place to be comfortable but a dynamic, growing force on the move. We’ll see how the early believers became the new temples of God, embodying His presence and challenging the old ways. 


Through their story, we’ll see how God used persecution and cultural shifts to expand His mission to all people, including a multi-ethnic, international movement. This series is a challenge for us, as a church, to take deeper steps of faith, to be confident in our calling, and to participate in God’s mission right here in Chapel Hill and to the ends of the earth.


  • Join us for...

    Week 1: 5/17 "Go! Make Disciples" 

    Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1"7-8  by Pastor Joel

    Week 2: 5/24 "Fire on the Move" 

    Acts 2:242-47 by Pastor Joel

    Week 3: 6/7 "The New Temple" 

    Acts 3-5 by Alayna Edwards

    Week 4: 6/14 "The Church on the Move" 

    Acts 8-12 by Pastor Joel


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