SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, MARCH 25, 2018 TOPIC: Teaching The Gospel at Rome

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, MARCH 25, 2018

TOPIC: Teaching The Gospel at Rome

MEMORY VERSE:  Philippians 1:12. I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel (KJV).

LESSON TEXT: ACTS 23:11;25:10-12; 27:13-25; 28:16-31

CENTRAL TRUTH: God provides us with opportunities for ministry.

FOCUS: To give thanks for and use wisely ministry opportunities God sets before us.

  

 OUTLINE:

1   1.     Sent by God to Rome

A.    Courageous to Testify

B.     Protected by God

2    2.     Testify to the Jews

A.    Paul Explained His Circumstances

B.     Paul Appealed to the Jews to Believe

3    3.     Proclaiming the Kingdom of God

A.    Disagreement and Confusion

B.     Judgment on the Jewish Unbelief

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1  1.     Recognize how God can use us in the face of hardship and suffering.

2   2.     Understand the importance of defending the hope that is ours in Christ

3   3.     Apply the truth that we must proclaim the Kingdom to those who will listen and those who will not.

INTROCDUCING THE LESSON

     Opportunities for ministry come in many forms. They are sometimes planned and on other occasions appear seemingly out of nowhere. However they come, it is critical that we take advantage of them when they do.

     Paul seemed to always grasp this truth. In this week’s lesson we will explore one such example as we consider Paul’s ministry in Rome while he awaited his trail before Caesar. It is an example that can teach us much about proclaiming the gospel.

           

 COMMENTARY   AND APPLICATION

1 1.     Sent by God to Rome.

A.    Courage to Testify. Acts 23:11; 25:10-12

       Acts 21 records that Paul was falsely accused of bringing Greeks into the temple, leading to him being nearly torn apart by Jewish mob. He was rescued by Roman commander and attempted to defend himself before the Jewish ruling council. The response against him was so violent that he had to be rescued and taken away by the Roman soldiers (see Acts 21:23-33).

      On the following night, the Lord stood by Paul. The Lord told him to take courage, because he would have to testify before Caesar of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. It was the plan of God for apostle to declare the gospel before the Roman emperor (Acts 23:11).

      The Jewish leaders made numerous attempts to have Paul stand trial in Jerusalem. Their intent was to kill him before any trial could be held. In the final attempt, he used his Roman citizenship and exercised his right to a trial before Caesar (Acts 25:10-12).

        Paul’s courage is evident throughout his persecution at the hand of the Jews. During this time He not only withstood the accusations made against him, he boldly defended his faith before the Roman authorities. On occasions, the apostle’s boldness unnerved the Roman leaders who listened to his articulation of the gospel and observed his courageous presence before them. Both governor, Felix and Festus, along with Herod Agrippa, the Roman-appointed Jewish King, were astonished at Paul’s calm demeanor when in their presence.

      When it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission through how we live our lives, strength and boldness must come from God. It is not something we can produce on our own. As we place our trust in Him, He will supply us with all the courage we need along with the words to declare His gospel. We are never on our own.

B.     Protected by God. Acts 27:13- 15, 20-25

      Following his lengthy appearance before the governor and king, and having appealed to Caesar, Paul was finally sent to Rome. Luke and other friends accompanied him on this journey. Paul, Luke, other prisoners, and a contingent of Roman soldiers were on the ship that set sail for Rome.

     Adverse winds caused the ship to run behind schedule. The loss of time made the trip more problematic because they were approaching the season when the waters of the Mediterranean would be subjected to dangerous storms. During the fall months, the sea would often bring death to sea travellers who took unnecessary risks. It was already mid-October and they still had much of trip before them when they harboured briefly in a place called Fair Havens (Acts 27:8-12).

     Although Paul had warned the Roman centurion was determined to arrive in Rome as close to schedule as possible. This decision proved to be disastrous. The ship encountered fierce winds and was unable to continue on course ( verse 13-15). The storm lasted for many days and the men on the vessel gave up all hope of surviving ( verse 20).  In the face of certain death, an angel appeared to Paul and told him that he would  indeed arrive at Rome safely and the men accompanied him on the ship would also be spared (verses 20-25).

QUESTION: Why does God, at times, allow significant challenges to come our way?

    God allows challenges to come our way for a number of reasons. One possible reason is that, He wants to teach us to trust Him in the face of hardships. We must remember that He is building our spiritual character and often uses adversity to bring this to pass. It is also important to recognize that He will glorify His name in the process and attempt to bring others to himself.

2 2.     Testifying to the Jews

A.    Paul Explained His Circumstances. Acts 29:16-20

       Following the shipwreck of the vessel on the island of Malta and a brief but successful ministry there, Paul and his companions boarded another ship that eventually arrived at Rome. When they reached the capital of the Empire, Paul and his friends were greeted by believers who had heard he was coming. At this he was greatly encouraged (Acts 28:15).

     Three days after his arrival Paul called together the leaders of the Jewish synagogues in Rome. He described the circumstances of his imprisonment and the reason for his impending trial before Caesar. The apostle proclaimed his innocence declaring that he had committed no offences against the people or the customs of their ancestors (verse 17). He further stated that the Roman authorities would have released him of wrongdoing. However, because the Jewish leaders had objected, It forced him to appeared to Caesar, which was his right as Roman citizen (verse 18-19).

     Verse 20 reveals the substance of Paul’s defence. He declared that it was for the hope of Israel he was bound in chains. As a result, Paul was determined to bring the message of Israel’s hope to the Jewish leaders who lived in the capital city of Rome, just as he had to so many other cities that had Jewish populations.

QUESTION: Why do you think Paul consistently proclaimed the gospel to the Jews first?

B.     Paul Appealed to the Jew to Believe. Acts 28:21-23

     The Jewish leaders in Rome had not received any word of Paul’s activities. Their ignorance of ministry was perhaps surprising to him considering the extent of the Jewish opposition he had encountered, as well as the hostile welcome he had received in other cities. The synagogue leaders maintained that they had not received any letter from Judea concerning him and no advance warning of his coming (verse 21).

     That did not meant Paul’s message was unknown to the Jews, however. The leaders confessed their desire to hear more because they were aware of the fact ‘people everywhere were talking against this sect” (verse 22,NIV), By the time Paul arrived in Rome, the Christian faith had been active in the city for a number of seven years. Many New Testament scholars believed it could have been believed established by believers who were at Jerusalem during the Pentecost (Acts 2:10). It is clear that when Paul wrote his epistle to Roman church (the book of Romans) in about AD 57 or 58, the church in Rome had been established for some time. The apostle’s arrival at the city was possibly four years after he wrote his letter to the church at Rome.

      A formal day was established for Paul to declare his beliefs concerning Jesus the Messiah. When that day arrived, a very large crowd was on hand to listen to what he had to say. Verse 23 declares that Paul spoke to the crowd from morning until evening about Jesus, citing the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets. Paul attempted to convince them through the message of the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the identity of the Messiah.

 QUESTION: In what way did Jesus fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament?

3 3.     Proclaiming the Kingdom of God

A.    Disagreement and Confusion. Acts 28:24-25

       The response of the Jewish elders was mixed. Acts 28:24 notes that some were convince of Paul’s persuasive arguments. As a result of Paul’s defence before the synagogue leaders, the church at Rome undoubtedly grew. Many of the Jews, however, did not believe and openly resisted the message. After the long day of proclamation and discussion had concluded, people left the meeting arguing among themselves. While it is somewhat unclear how emotional the situation was, it seems clear from the Acts account that there most certainly was hostility to the gospel ( verse 25).

      We must remember that understanding the gospel and receiving Jesus as savior is the result of spiritual encounter with God. The gospel must be received by faith that is made alive through the work of the Holy Spirit. While some respond to the Spirit, others will resist His conviction. What was true in Rome in the first century remains true today.

B.     Judgment on Jewish Unbelief.   Acts 28:26-31

      Paul did not allow those who rejected his message to leave without receiving a final word. The Messiah’s person, ministry, and death were not the only events prophesied. His rejection by many who would hear the good news was also clearly stated in the Scripture.

     The stubbornness of the people of Israel had been foretold by the prophets Isaiah hundreds of years before (Isaiah 6:9-10). He declares that they would hear but not understand and see but not perceive. And the reason for their rejection: their hearts had become calloused (Acts 28:27). They had stopped up their ears and closed their eyes to the truth that was plainly in front of them.

     This event serves as a transition for Paul’s ministry. He took the rejection of his message as a sign to reach the Gentiles. Verse 28 states: “Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles” KJV). The refusal of the Jews to believe opened the door for others to believe and receive eternal life (Romans 11:15).

 QUESTION: Does the Bible teach that the Jewish people have lost all opportunity to come to faith in the Messiah? Explain.

       The apostle Paul taught that the Lord will one day call His people back to Himself and they will respond overwhelmingly. Even though for centuries the Jewish people have been resistant to the gospel, many are in fact accepting Christ.

      The Book of Acts closes with brief statement of Paul’s continues ministry. It declares that for two years Paul stayed in a rented house, and was able to receive visitors and proclaim the message of salvation. Even as a prisoner awaiting trial, God gave Paul the opportunity and courage to preach to unbelievers and encourage them those who were in the faith: ‘’Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (verse 31, KJV).

DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION

   No matter what the circumstances, there are always opportunities for ministry. We can trust the Lord to provide these opportunities for us. We must remember that this is His Kingdom and His gospel. He will make a way for it to be proclaimed.

    The apostle Paul saw every opportunity and circumstance as a chance to preach the good news of salvation. To Paul, even extreme hardship and unpleasant surroundings are open doors for the gospel. He was ready in season and out to boldly declares the message that saved his own soul.

MINISTRY IN ACTION

     We are responsible to be ready for any opportunity that comes our way to witness. We need to be willing to be used to testify to the hope that we hold dear. As we do, people will respond to the gospel and experience the life changing power of God.