Archive for the ‘sermon’ tag
April 22, 2012: Paul’s First Missionary Journey
The text for this lesson is Acts 13–14.
Key Point
- Just as God sent Paul and Barnabas to spread the Gospel, so today He sends pastors to preach the Gospel, baptize, and feed Jesus’ body and blood to His children, against whom the gates of hell cannot prevail.
- Law: When I despise the preaching of God’s Word, do not hold it sacred, and do not gladly hear and learn it, I sin and support Satan’s cause.
- Gospel: The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church and God’s Word, through which sinners are converted. I am a fellow partaker of the grace of God.
Discussion Points
- What is the meaning of the word church in Acts 13:1? What are other ways that we use the word church? What two fundamental uses of the word church appear in Christ’s words in Matthew 16:16–19; 18:15–20?
- Paul received a direct call from Jesus to be an apostle (Acts 9:1–19). Barnabas had been a layman in the Church at Jerusalem (4:36) who, after receiving training at the feet of the apostles, later was called into the Office of the Holy Ministry by the apostles and the Church (11:22). Though Paul and Barnabas were called in different ways, who called both of them? Who sent them on their missionary journeys? See 13:1–4.
- Compare Luke 4:40–5:1 with Acts 13:4–12. What do these passages have in common?
- Paul’s sermon and subsequent teaching in Pisidian Antioch (13:13–52) are majestic and could provide several hours of Bible study. Yet Christian truth can be summarized even more briefly than his sermon in the Creeds. Compare the outline of Paul’s sermon with the three articles of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, focusing particularly on vv. 16–17, 26–33, 36–41, 52. What would the hearers of this sermon have taken away as the basic message of the Christian Church?
- What is so unbelievable about the message of Acts 13:38–41? Also see Galatians 2:16 and John 8:31–36.
- How does Paul’s sermon (Acts 13:13–41), along with his teaching in verses 44–52, demonstrate the point of Jesus’ parable in Luke 20:9–18?
- According to Acts 14:19–22, what are two essential components of the Christian life? Also see John 16:33 and 2 Corinthians 4:8–11.
- What occurs in Acts 14:23? Who were these “elders,” how were they to behave, and what were they to do? See Acts 20:17–18, 27–32; Titus 1:1–9.
- Why has God given the Office of the Holy Ministry to His Church? See Romans 10:13–17.
