ONLINE ACTS LESSON 26 – THE NEXT STEPS

Acts 15:36-41
GETTING STARTED

• In today’s lesson we will see Paul making necessary decisions to keep the mission moving forward. It’s time to go back out and encourage churches – but to also go to new places. He will need the right team and God’s direction.
• Sometimes we face conflict with those we work with – so did Paul. Let’s see what we can learn from how he handled the disagreement with Barnabas.

BARNABAS AND PAUL AGREE AND THEN DISAGREE. Acts 15:34-41

• They both agree that they should go back and visit the places they had preached on the first journey to see how the believers are doing.
• Then they disagree on who should go. Did you know that Barnabas and John Mark were related. Colossians 4:10 says that they were cousins – but it functioned more as an uncle – nephew relationship.
• The real conflict comes from the nature of the different gifts that were in these 2 strong willed leaders. Paul was missional and his deep desire was to proclaim Jesus. Barnabas was an encourager and his strong desire was developing the calling of God in others. He was responsible for the church accepting Paul.
• The solution – they both agreed that the work should go on – but that they should go in different directions. I believe that later – they resolve this disagreement. Paul only makes positive comments about John Mark in his writings.

THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTS THE JOURNEY. Acts 16:1-10

• In Lystra they add Timothy to the team. His mother was a strong believer from a Jewish background and his father was Greek. Paul has Timothy circumcised because of his Jewish heritage – but later he will not allow Titus to be circumcised. Titus was completely Gentile and Paul did not want to send the signal that becoming a Jew was necessary.
• Take note at the strong leading of the Holy Spirit as to where they should go next. They are prevented from going to some places because there is a need for them to go to Macedonia. God closes the wrong doors and opens the right doors. Just follow the Holy Spirit’s direction and the witness of God’s peace.

GOD USES LYDIA TO PROVIDE A BASE FOR MINISTRY. Acts 16:11-15

• They choose to start ministry in Macedonia in the city of Philippi. They find the place where they gather on the Sabbath for prayer. Since there was not a synagogue – they found people gathered at a river.
• They share the gospel with some women who are gathered there and one of them – Lydia is saved – she and her household are baptized.
• Although from Thyatira – this merchant woman has established a home in Philippi. She insists that Paul and his group stay with her. Her conversion is so strong that she now sees her resources as God’s resources.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 25 – TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TO US

Acts 15:6-21
GETTING STARTED:

• A big problem arises in the church because there are converted pharisees who have a strong belief that Gentile believers need to become converted Jews who follow Christ. They want them to keep the law and to practice circumcision.
• This does not follow with what God is doing – how Gentiles are being saved and filled with the Spirit and how God is doing miracles in their midst. If this practice succeeds it will become a huge setback to the Gospel – the Gospel that cannot be stopped. These false teachers were called Judaizers and were the reason Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians.
• So the church at Antioch Syria sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to talk to the leaders and a meeting takes place to resolve this issue. Let’s read it.

THE HOLY SPIRIT RAISES UP GODLY VOICES TO SPEAK.

• First – Peter speaks and explains how God visited the Gentiles with salvation and how it was witnessed by the Holy Spirit. They were filled and spoke in tongues.
• Peter declares that we are all saved by the undeserved grace of Jesus Christ.
• Next – Paul and Barnabas give reports of how God has been saving Gentiles and that this has been witnessed by signs and wonders. Again – the witness of the Holy Spirit has been present in their salvations.

JAMES ADDS THE WITNESS OF THE PROPHETS.

• Now it is not just the witness of Spirit led disciples – it is also the witness of the scriptures. James quotes from Amos and Isaiah.
• The judgment is that it would be wrong to make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. They are asked to stay away from the vulgar things of idolatry. Things like food offered to idols – sexual immorality – the meat of strangled animals and consuming blood. This is call to set the Gospel apart from immoral idolatry. God is changing lives and is not just another idol to add to the list.

AN OFFICIAL LETTER IS SENT TO THE GENTILES. Acts 15:22-35

• The church acknowledges that the men who had brought false teachings were not sent out by the church and that they were wrong.
• Now official representatives of the church – Judas and Silas – are sent with the official response. Paul and Barnabas are present to affirm the Gentiles.
• Verse 28 – It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. This line reveals the strong leadership of the Holy Spirit in the church. The Holy Spirit is bringing direction into this situation. We will see this direction again next week.
• The message brought great joy – this is the witness of the Holy Spirit.
• Then – Judas and Silas – both prophets – used their gift to encourage and strengthen the believers. More Holy Spirit confirmation.

FINAL THOUGHT – The Holy Spirit leads the church, and the Gospel keeps advancing.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 24 – LIVING OUT GOD’S PLAN

Acts 14:1-7
GETTING STARTED:

• The door closed in Antioch Pisidia – with believers filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. But it was time to move on.
• Paul and Barnabas stay with the strategy that God gave them. The synagogue first and then a church is started.

KEEP DOING WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO.

• In your life – God has opened a door for you to work – to learn – to move forward in calling and relationships with others. Keep doing that.
• Paul and Barnabas continue to preach and to train leaders and to see miracles. Look at verse 3.
• So when it was time to leave – that is what they did. They were committed to preaching the Gospel where it had not been heard.

WE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE FILLED WITH HOLY SPIRIT POWER. Acts 14:8-20.

• The gifts of the Spirit were in full operation. Paul has a word of knowledge that he speaks to a man who has a gift of faith operating in his life that leads to the working of a miracle.
• Paul understands that this is the Holy Spirit working through them. They are not gods – they are filled with power by the Living God.
• Because of a strong presence of deception in this town – they must cast down confusion. BUT DON’T MISS THIS. The power of the Holy Spirit is at work in us. We are not of this world – Greater is the one in us than the one who is in the world. KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN HOLY SPIRIT POWER.

JESUS IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH THROUGH FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS.

• Take note that they go back through the places they had done ministry and they trained leaders there so that the Gospel would keep going forward.
• This is what ministry looked like in the local church in Acts. They preached the Gospel – They believed for miracles and healings – They loved people – They taught and trained disciples -they endured hardships – and they raised up leaders. Rinse and repeat.
• They returned back home and reported what God was doing to their base church. They spent some time resting and being spiritually strengthened for the next missionary journey that will launch at the end of chapter 15. All of us need seasons of rest and seasons of being spiritually strengthened.

THE LESSON FOR US TODAY: Don’t become so consumed with what is next that you
miss what God is doing now. When it’s time for the next thing God will open that door –
but today – be present with what God is doing through your life.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 23 – THE GOSPEL GOES FORWARD

Acts 13:13-16
GETTING STARTED:

• The strategic plan to intentionally take the Good News of Jesus to places it has not been heard moves forward. They take the Gospel to Antioch Psidia.
• An interesting note – John Mark leaves and goes back to Jerusalem. At the end of chapter 15 – Paul and Barnabas decide to go back out. Barnabas wants to take John Mark – but Paul will remember this and say no. It will be a big deal.

THE STRATEGY ON DISPLAY

• They go to the Synagogue first. It was a gathering of both Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles wanted to hear the teaching of the law.
• Look at what Paul says in verse 16. He knew his audience and he was ready to tell them the Good News.

A SAMPLE OF PAUL’S PREACHING IN A SYNAGOGUE. Acts 13:17-43

• Luke will record a few samples of Paul’s preaching in Acts. This is a great look at how Paul approached preaching in a Synagogue.
• He will start with God raising up Israel – then take you to David and the promise to David for an everlasting throne. From there he goes to Jesus as the fulfillment of that promise.
• After that – it is how the death and resurrection of Jesus were foretold by the prophets. He preaches Jesus crucified and resurrected and the fulfillment of prophecy. Look at the conclusion of this sermon in Acts 13:38-43.

THE STRATEGIC CONCLUSION:

• Many get saved and are on fire for God. At the same time there are those rejecting the Gospel – usually Jewish people who are losing being in charge of things. This is what Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 – Where we are the aroma of Christ – to those who believe the smell of life – and to those who reject – the smell of death. People want that smell to leave.
• So – usually – the result is a church is started. The believers keep meeting. A leader is trained and the work goes forward.
• Look at the concluding verse – Acts 13:52. At the same time that there were unhappy Jews stirring up trouble. There were also believers filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
• THE GOSPEL WAS MOVING FORWARD – IT WILL NOT BE STOPPED.

LIFE LESSON FOR TODAY. What God is doing in your life cannot be stopped. Rejoice
in how great the salvation of the Lord is. Be confident that this good work will continue
and be completed. Also – decide today that you want to be filled with joy and with the
Holy Spirit. Don’t let the enemy sidetrack you into becoming unhappy. The enemy
loves to stir up trouble. BUT INSTEAD – BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT AND JOY.