PrintACTION IN ACTS (PHASE 3) SESSION 5
FOUNDATION MEMBERS OF FIRST CHURCH, PHILLIPI
ACTS 16/1-40
INTRODUCTION: Much of the Book of Acts from this point on involves a lot of travel by the main characters and lots of reading by us. But we will endeavour to cover the key issues. It’s like any other form of travel – sometimes there is so much to be seen that we can’t take it all in and, at other times, the landscape is dull and seemingly boring and repetitive. I hope we get more of the former and little of the latter!!
[1] RECRUITING FOR A NEW TEAM (Vs.1-5)
a. Paul now recruits Timothy to join his team as the 2nd Missionary Journey gets under way.
b. What do you learn about Timothy from these verses? (Also 2 Timothy 1/3-8)?
c. Does Timothy’s circumcision suggest compromise on the part of Paul? Remember how passionate he was about rejecting circumcision (15/1, 2). Has he had a change of heart?
[2] DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD (VS 6-10)
a. These verses are fascinating because they give us an insight as to how Paul discerned God’s will.
b. You will get a better understanding if you refer to the map in the back of your bible.
c.”….. the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in Asia….” How might He have done that? Circumstances? A prophetic word? (see 11/27-30) A vision?
d. Again “..the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there…” How did they know not to go there?
e. They ended up in Troas. Do you get the feeling that they had no idea what to do? Have you ever had that feeling? Every attempt to serve God has been blocked?
f. Then comes the vision – given only to Paul – a man crying, “Come over and help us!” So, putting all that together, Luke says, “We concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there”.
g. There was the vision (supernatural), the blockages (probably circumstances). “We concluded….”
h. This proved to be a critical decision because it took the gospel west into Europe.
[3] THREE FOUNDATION MEMBERS OF FIRST CHURCH, PHILLIPI,.
Hardly the stuff that strong Churches are made of. (Read 1 Corinthians 1/26-31)
Yet God has chosen such people to build His Church and take the Good News to the world
[4] DRIVEN OUT OF TOWN (Vs.35-40)
a. The local politicians had over-stepped the mark and they knew it! So they tried to get rid of the evidence, especially when they learned that Paul & Silas were Roman citizens
QUESTION: Does Paul’s attitude to these officials surprise you? That isn’t very Christian, is It?
