From Curiosity to Belonging: How Searching Souls Find Their Way to Jesus

What would you do if two strangers showed up at your front door with a box of cookies? That's exactly what happened to us shortly after we moved in December. Someone rang the doorbell — which, let's be honest, doesn't really happen in 2026 — and before we actually went to the door, we did what you do and checked the front door camera. Standing out front were two of our neighbors with a box of Crumbl cookies. They instantly became our favorite neighbors. And while they came bearing gifts, we didn't know them, so we did what felt natural — we chatted with them on the front porch.

We found out their names, talked about our families, and the foundation for a relationship was laid. It was there that I relearned something I've known all along: relationships often start on the porch, but lasting relationships don't end there.

Faith Was Never Meant to Be a One-Hour-a-Week Activity

This is part of a series we're calling More Than Sunday, and my goal is simple. I want to inspire you to think intentionally about how you live out your faith — because faith was never intended to be something we practiced for an hour each week. From the beginning, following Jesus was a way of life that shaped every conversation, every relationship, every decision, and every ordinary moment.

The people around you — your neighbors, your coworkers, the people in the bleachers — are people you are influencing. The opportunities to share the message of Jesus are endless. And it's often a nudge from the Holy Spirit, an interest in the things of God, that draws people from the neighborhood and onto the porch. That first step is a big one, and it's often influenced more by who people know than what they know.

A Story About Someone Who Was Searching

Today we're in the book of Acts, written by Luke — a firsthand account of how the early church began. It's filled with stories of people gaining new understanding about Jesus and taking steps on their spiritual journey. This week, we peek into the life of a man named Philip, and more importantly, the story of a man who is searching.

As we pick up the story in Acts 8:26 (NLT), an angel of the Lord speaks to Philip: "Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza."

What unfolds isn't just a play-by-play of an interaction between two guys. It's a picture of God's grace at work. The Ethiopian eunuch isn't searching for God on his own — God is already pursuing him.

God Was Looking Before You Started Searching

Many people assume faith begins when we start looking for God. The Bible repeatedly tells the opposite story. Faith begins because God is already looking for us.

This is what theologians call prevenient grace — the grace that goes before us. Pastor and theologian John Wesley wrote extensively about this. Before we are even aware of God's presence, he's at work in our lives. Wesley called these divine coincidences "drawings of the Father." And when we are sensitive to God's drawing, and when we are obedient, the stories that God writes are amazing.

Philip was obedient, and he quickly discovered why God was sending him down that road.

Power, Rejection, and a Long Journey Home

Acts 8:27-28 (NLT) tells us Philip "met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah."

This isn't an ordinary traveler. As the overseer of the queen's treasury, he wields power. He's wealthy, influential, and respected — and yet he's still searching.

But there's another layer to this man's story. As a eunuch, he would have been considered a societal outcast. Ancient Jewish writers called eunuchs "worthless persons." He had traveled well over a thousand miles to worship at the temple in Jerusalem — most likely only to be turned away because of who he was.

And yet, God put Philip and this man on a course to cross paths.

The Front Porch Moment

After a brief conversation, the eunuch invites Philip into the carriage to explain the Scripture he's been reading. This is the front porch moment. Up until now, the eunuch has been searching from a distance. He has questions. He is curious. He wants to understand.

The porch is the place where people move from curiosity to conversation. It's where questions are welcomed, relationships begin, and people start discovering who Jesus is.

The passage the eunuch is reading is from the prophet Isaiah, found in Acts 8:32-33 (NLT): "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."

Confused, the eunuch asks Philip in Acts 8:34 (NLT), "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?" And Acts 8:35 (NLT) tells us, "So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus."

Every Road in Scripture Points to Jesus

Luke doesn't tell us every detail of Philip's message. He doesn't tell us how long the conversation lasted or exactly what was said. He simply tells us where the conversation ended — with Jesus.

The Ethiopian started with Isaiah, but Philip led him to Jesus. That's because every road in Scripture ultimately points in the same direction. Isaiah was describing Jesus. The rejected one was Jesus. The one who willingly suffered for the sins of the world was Jesus.

The eunuch didn't need more religion. He didn't need more rules. He didn't need another reminder that he was different. What he needed was Jesus.

Imagine living the life of a societal outcast — carrying that kind of rejection for years — and then hearing about a Savior who not only went through pain, but uses it to offer redemption. The Gospel is just that story, and the eunuch was impacted deeply.

Acts 8:36, 38 (NLT) says, "As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?' He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him."

This is life change. This is what the porch makes possible.

Don't Make It Difficult for People Who Are Turning to God

The early church had to wrestle with how they would treat people who were just beginning their faith journey. In the middle of a debate recorded in Acts 15:19 (NIV), a leader named James speaks up with a clear conviction: "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for [those] who are turning to God."

Think about Costco for a second. One of the reasons it's so effective is because they let you experience something before asking you to commit to it. You can eat an entire meal just collecting samples. In many ways, the porch serves a similar purpose. It's a place where people can experience Christian community, ask honest questions, and learn about Jesus before they're ready to take bigger spiritual steps.

The porch is about helping people who don't yet follow Jesus take steps. It's where we want to create environments where anyone — including people who aren't sure what they believe — can find a place to belong.

Putting It Into Practice

If you're a follower of Jesus: Philip's story is an invitation to stay diligent in finding opportunities to share the story of Jesus with others. You don't need a Bible degree to tell someone that Jesus loves them, to begin having conversations, or to invite others to join you on this journey. What our culture needs more than anything is people like you sharing a message like that.

If you haven't yet taken a step to follow Jesus: Keep showing up. Show up with your questions and your doubts. The story ends with the eunuch going home changed — not because he found all the answers, but because he found Jesus. And that's our prayer for every person who walks through these doors: that somewhere along the way, they meet Jesus too.

Relationships often start on the porch. But lasting relationships don't end there. The porch is where curiosity becomes conversation, and where searching can become belonging.

For practical tools and resources to help you on this journey, visit thesummit.church/more*.*