SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON MARCH 11, 2018 TOPIC: Evangelising in Europe

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON  MARCH 11, 2018

TOPIC: Evangelising in Europe

Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:5. Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for the sake (KJV).

Lesson Text: Acts 16:6 through 17:15.

Central Truth: To succeed in evangelism, we must have the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

FOCUS: To realize we need God for successful ministry, and determine to know and do His will.

Lesson Outline:

1 1.     Directed to Europe by the Spirit.

A.    The call to come

B.     The Response to go

2  2.     Dynamic Ministry in Philippi

A.    Prison and Suffering

B.     The Gospel Spreads

3  3.     Teaching in Thessalonica and Berea

A.    Success and Opposition in Thessalonica

B.     Continued Growth in Berea

Leaning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

11.     Appreciate the importance of being directed by the Holy Spirit.

22.     Recognize their need to acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s role in our suffering for the gospel.

33.     Apply Spirit dependence to their own opportunities to share faith with nonbelievers.

INTRODUCING THE LESSON

     Depending on the Holy Spirit is often professed but not as often practiced. It is easier to profess an ideal but much more difficult to live it. When it comes to reliance upon God, we sometimes fall short.

      A notable exception of this is found among Christ’s early followers. As we will see in this week’s lesson, they were significantly dependent on the Spirit in proclaiming the gospel. As you read through the lesson take note of the occasions where they relied on the Lord to guide them in the great task of evangelization.

COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION

1.     Directed to Europe by the Spirit

A.    The Call to Come.  Acts 16:6-9

    Paul, Silas, Timothy and other companions had returned to the churches Paul and Barnabas established during their initial ministry in Lystra, Iconium, and other places in the areas ( see Acts 16:1-5). Then they went to the churches in the region of Phrygia and Galatia. They had attempted to visit the churches in Asia (present day Turkey), but they “were forbidden by the Holy Ghost” (verse 6, KJV). Then they tried to go to Bithynia, “but the spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (verse 7, NIV). We were not told how they were forbidden, just that the Holy Spirit forbade them.

    So they bypassed Mysia and went to the city called Troas. Their Paul had a vision in the night with a Macedonian man begging them. “Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (verse 9, KJV) After receiving the vision, Paul concluded that the Spirit was calling them to preach the gospel in the province of Macedonia (present day Greece).

QUESTION: What are some ways the Lord calls us to take a particular course of action?

   The Lord’s call to a vocation or place can come in many forms. It can come in the form of a dream or vision, as was the case for Paul. It can come through circumstances, the counsel of others, or simply through a sense of divine direction. God will direct us personally through His Spirit. He is actively involved in leading us to the circumstances and individuals He has for us. We need to resolve to allow God to assume His rightful place as Lord, Instructor, and Guide.

B.     The Response to Go. Acts 16:10-15

   Paul and his companions left for the region confident in God’s new direction. Acts 16:10 makes it clear that Luke had now joined Paul’s company on this mission. The term “we” indicates that Luke had joined the team in Troas. It is possible that he was a practicing physician in Troas and began to accompany Paul to care for some physical need that the apostle had.

   A couple of days later Paul and his companion arrived at Philippi, a leading city of the province of Macedonia. Paul typically looked for a synagogue to attend when entering a new city of ministry, but in Philippi he found none. So while looking for a place where they could pray, he found a group of women by a river (verse 11-13). The evangelist proclaimed the message of Salvation through Jesus to the woman. At least one of these women –Lydia-received the gospel and was baptized, along with her household. She and her family invited the evangelists to make their home a base of operations (verses 14-15).

     Paul’s obedience to the Holy Spirit had reaped its first dividend. Europe’s first converts to the Christian faith would be only the beginning of the apostle’s successes. The world was ready for the good news of Salvation.

QUESTION: Why are we often so reluctant to let go of our plans and strategies,

and follow the leading of the Lord?

    Letting go our strategies is usually a matter of learning to trust the Lord’s leading. He knows all that He longs to accomplish through our lives. Just as the Holy Spirit knew of Lydia and her household’s readiness to receive the gospel, He alone is aware of those who will accept the message if we respond to His leading. We must be willing to hear His voice and change our plans at times in order for this to take place.

2.     Dynamic Ministry in Philippi

A.    Prison and Suffering. Acts 16:16-24

      It appears the regular place of prayer by the river became an ongoing opportunity for Paul and his co-labourers  to present the gospel to a number of God-fearing Gentiles. It was common to find individuals who worshipped the God of the Jews in the Mediterranean world. These came to believe in the Jewish God but not to convert to Judaism.

     However, one who came to hear the message was not entirely welcomed by the apostle (Acts 16:16-18). A certain slave girl who possessed a “fortune-telling spirit” followed him around shouting, “These men are the savants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (verse 17, NIV). Paul became so disturbed by what she was doing that he cast out divining spirit from the girl.

     While the slave girl probably welcomed having the evil spirit cast Out of her, her owners did not. Her fortune-telling ability was a source of significant income to them. Enraged, they seized Paul and Silas and together with an antagonistic crowd had them thrown into prison (verses 19-24).

B.     The Gospel Spreads. Acts 16:25-40

    The suffering of Paul and Silas would only be a temporary setback however. At midnight as they were praying and singing praises to God the presence of other prisoners , an earthquake shook the prison opening all the doors, freeing all the prisoners (Acts 16:25-27). The jailer thinking everyone escaped was about to take his life only to be stopped by the apostle’s words, Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”(verse 28,NIV).

    In response the jailer fell to his knees before them and cried out, “What must I do to be saved?” (verse 30). That night he along with his entire household became a part of the church at Philippi. These together with Lydia’s household and numerous others may have formed the first church on the Europe continent.

QUESTION: Why do you think the Lord allowed Paul and Silas to be beaten and imprisoned?

   This event initiated a series of events that led to the salvation of the jailer and his family. The beaten, imprisonment and miraculous earthquake opened the door for these wonderful events.

  We need to recognize that suffering for the gospel is a real possibility for believers. It is arrogant for us to assume that we should be spared suffering when our Lord was not. We should remember that before He went to the cross, He told His disciples that savants are not greater than their Master and if He was persecuted so they would be. But we must also know that God will receive glory through our suffering.

    The next day the magistrates discovered that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. This was problematic because it was against Roman law to flog citizens of the Roman Empire without a trial. They became alarmed at the possibility that they could be held accountable for the act. So they set Paul and Silas free. The two returned t Lydia’s house to encourage and disciple the new believers before leaving to continue their European ministry.

QUESTION: How has God brought blessing through times of suffering in your life?

    Suffering can be useful in enabling the gospel to go forth into the world. Paul and Silas’ joy in the midst of hardship influenced the Philippian jailor and the others in prison. Our joy in difficult circumstances can draw others to Christ also. People are looking for the ability to endure the suffering they face in the curse of their day-to-day life challenges.

3.     Teaching in Thessalonica and Berea.

A.     Success and Opposition in Thessalonica. Acts 17:1-9

      From Philippi, the apostolic band travelled south and west to the coastal city of Thessalonica. Unlike Philippi, Thessalonica had a significant Jewish population. Paul, as usual practice, visited the city’s synagogue and was likely asked to speak. On three successive Sabbaths, he spoke to the people about Jesus, reasoning with them from the Law and Prophets that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 17:1-3).

     Some of the Jews and large number of the God-fearing  Greeks were persuaded and became followers. They were joined by a number of prominent women (verse 4). However, some of the Jews were resistant and hostile, jealous of the vast number of people Paul and his associates were influencing. Verse 5 declares that in attempt to do physical harm to Paul and Silas, they rounded up a number of unsavory characters in the marketplace to start a riot.

     When the mob could not find Paul and his companions, they dragged a man named Jason before the city officials. Jason had become a believer and provided housing for the missionaries. The hostile crowd exclaimed, “These man who has cursed trouble all over the world have now come here” (verse 6, NIV). The leaders of the city did not know how to handle the controversy so they ultimately required Jason, who was likely a leading resident of the city, to offer security-some kind of financial surety, perhaps posting band for Paul and Silas so that there would be no more trouble (verses 6-9).

     The newly formed church at Thessalonica did not waver in the face of persecution as is made clear by the two letters Paul wrote to the Thessalonica. The church endured opposition to become a strong congregation. We must understand that persecution ultimately will make the true church stronger. No matter what comes our ways in life, we can be assured that God will take care of those who love Him.

B.     Continued Growth in Berea.  Acts 17:10-15

      Following the tumultuous reception at the hands of the Jews in Thessalonica, Paul’s companions sent him and Silas west to the city of Berea, while they stayed behind to strengthen the new believers (Acts 17:10). There, Paul and Silas again went to the Jewish synagogue and proclaimed the gospel. The Jews of Berea are described by Luke as more noble than those in Thessalonica (verse 11). The reason: they studied the Scriptures diligently and many received the word with great eagerness. They were joined by a large number of Greek men and women.

   When hearing of Paul’s success in Berea, the same Jewish troublemarkers followed him there and repeated their strategy of stirring up opposition (verse 13-15). The believers responded to the Bearean challenge in similar manner as they did in Thessalonica. In situation, the believers sent Paul to Athens while Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Berea to disciple the new converts in the faith. The plan was for Paul’s companions to join him as soon as it was possible.

    At every point, the first century missionaries were led by the Holy Spirit and achieved tremendous success. They were models of how to depend on the Spirit when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission. When we learn to follow their example, we are likely to experience similar success.

QUESTION: How can we become more dependent on God and less self-reliant?

      Dependence on the Holy Spirit is something we learn through practice. If we begin to learn to depend on the Lord in the small matters of life, we will be able to depend on God when life’s large challenges arise. A life of God dependence must be cultivated. As we do, we will learn much more powerfully how God is able to intervene and manifest His presence in our day-to-day lives and ministries.

DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION

    It is easy to fall into the habit of living lives that are self-sufficient. We become accustomed to relaying on ourselves- our jobs, our friends, our money and as a result it is often difficult to overcome the tendency to think we have the ability to overcome life’s obstacles. There are times, however, that life becomes too much and we realize that our resources are not enough.

    The same is often true when it comes to reaching people with the gospel. We must recognize that salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit and not a human enterprise. He alone knows the human heart and the unique issues a person faces. We are to proclaim the gospel. We can and must leave the results up to Him.

MINISTRY IN ACTION:

QUESTION: What evangelistic opportunities do you encounter in your daily life?

   Invite members of the class to prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal the opportunities all around them. Conclude in prayer by asking God to help them to trust in the Spirit’s power each day.