Romans 15 14I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."[g] 22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 28So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
1 Corinthians 16 10If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.... 15You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Laid Foundation
5For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Cor 1
2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. ....6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ....we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. .... 16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? ...no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. 1 Cor 3
i Cor 4 for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
2I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,[a] just as I passed them on to you. 1 Cor 11:2
2 Cor 1: 24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
Ephesus: 1 Cor 16 8But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. ....6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ....we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. .... 16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? ...no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. 1 Cor 3
i Cor 4 for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
2I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,[a] just as I passed them on to you. 1 Cor 11:2
2 Cor 1: 24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
Ephesus: 1 Cor 16 8But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
Displaying the Gospel
because of the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. I Cor1:22ff
4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. i Cor 2:4f
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cor 9:19ff
33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they might be saved. 1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Cor 10:33-11:1
2 Cor 2: 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
2 Cor 3 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Cor 4 God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. I Cor1:22ff
4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. i Cor 2:4f
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cor 9:19ff
33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they might be saved. 1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Cor 10:33-11:1
2 Cor 2: 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
2 Cor 3 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Cor 4 God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Proclaiming the Gospel
5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[c] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."[d]
the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. .... Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."[g] 22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions,
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=15&version=31
Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
...God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:17f
2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Wisdom From the Spirit 6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ...this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 1 Cor 2:2f
those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.... when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings...., I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cor 9:12ff
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. ... 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 1 Cor 15:1-8, 11.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas[b] and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." 20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 1
12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2 Cor 2
6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant... 12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Cor 3
2 Cor 4 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. .... 13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.
14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[c] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."[d]
the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. .... Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."[g] 22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions,
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=15&version=31
Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
...God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:17f
2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Wisdom From the Spirit 6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ...this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 1 Cor 2:2f
those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.... when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings...., I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cor 9:12ff
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. ... 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 1 Cor 15:1-8, 11.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas[b] and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." 20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 1
12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2 Cor 2
6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant... 12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Cor 3
2 Cor 4 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. .... 13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.
Key People / Key Places
Corinth - 23Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.[a] (Rom 16:23)
11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you .... 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) Cor 1:11, 4-16
15You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. . 1 Cor 16
Ephesus: Aquila and Priscilla[a] greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. (1 Cor 16:19)
11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you .... 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) Cor 1:11, 4-16
15You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. . 1 Cor 16
Ephesus: Aquila and Priscilla[a] greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. (1 Cor 16:19)
Surrender
1st Journey
Antioch: Set Apart by Holy Spirit
B & P were sent on their way by the HS
Cyprus: Paul was filled with HS when he caused Sorcerer to go blind
Pisidian Antioch : were filled with joy and HS as they left
Galatia: Holy Spirit given to believers
2nd Journey
Philippi: Keep by HS from going to Asia and Bithynia
Commanded the demon to come out of the girl "In the name of Jesus Christ"
Thessaloniki: Gospel came not just in words but by power, by the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction --- welcomed messaged with the joy given by the Holy Spirit
Corinth: Preaching was a deomstration of the Spirit's power
3rd Journey
Ephesus: Believers were given Holy Spirit
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul
Ephesus 2: P is compelled by HS to go to Jerusalem but also HS has warmed him in every city
HS made the elders overseeers of the flock
OVERALL
the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Commend themselves as servants of God ... in the Holy Spirit
Insight into the mystery of Christ (through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel) was revealed by HS
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
romans 15: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."[g]
I cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
1 Cor 3 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Cor 4 1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. .... For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
1 cor 9 we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Cor 15 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ...30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
2 Cor 1 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
2 Cor 2 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2 Cor 3 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Cor 4 through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ...by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ...we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ...But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. ...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Consequences...
Go where He tells you to go
Able to display the power of God
Have joy in midst of persecution
Giving understanding of HS is part of P's ministry
Holy Spirit gave joy to the believers enabling them to welcome the message
Antioch: Set Apart by Holy Spirit
B & P were sent on their way by the HS
Cyprus: Paul was filled with HS when he caused Sorcerer to go blind
Pisidian Antioch : were filled with joy and HS as they left
Galatia: Holy Spirit given to believers
2nd Journey
Philippi: Keep by HS from going to Asia and Bithynia
Commanded the demon to come out of the girl "In the name of Jesus Christ"
Thessaloniki: Gospel came not just in words but by power, by the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction --- welcomed messaged with the joy given by the Holy Spirit
Corinth: Preaching was a deomstration of the Spirit's power
3rd Journey
Ephesus: Believers were given Holy Spirit
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul
Ephesus 2: P is compelled by HS to go to Jerusalem but also HS has warmed him in every city
HS made the elders overseeers of the flock
OVERALL
the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Commend themselves as servants of God ... in the Holy Spirit
Insight into the mystery of Christ (through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel) was revealed by HS
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
romans 15: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."[g]
I cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
1 Cor 3 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Cor 4 1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. .... For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
1 cor 9 we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Cor 15 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ...30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
2 Cor 1 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
2 Cor 2 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2 Cor 3 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Cor 4 through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ...by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ...we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ...But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. ...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Consequences...
Go where He tells you to go
Able to display the power of God
Have joy in midst of persecution
Giving understanding of HS is part of P's ministry
Holy Spirit gave joy to the believers enabling them to welcome the message
Monday, March 17, 2008
3rd Journey
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Paul takes the road through the interior and arrives at Ephesus. Paul enters the synagogue and speaks boldly there for three months, some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. (Sound familiar) He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the hall of Tyrannous. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. There is all these extraordinary miracles that God does through Paul, Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery bring their Harry potter scrolls together and have a book burning. The word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. So Paul decides to go to Jerusalem, by he goes the long route through Macedonia and Achaia. On his way back, he will meet the Ephesian elders and say this, "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. But he can leave Ephesus in the first place, there’s a riot. He may have may been imprisoned for a while. Finally leaves and goes to Greek churches. It’s from Achaia – Corinth that he writes Romans where we started.
2nd Journey
Acts 15:36 to 18:22
Some time later after Jerusalem Council, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all those towns and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul said ‘no way he had deserted us and didn’t continue with us in the work.” They have a huge disagreement – so they parted company. Barnabas took John Mark and goes back where he was before he blew it – Cyprus. Barnabas will encourage him up and he will be useful later.
Paul picks Silas; they leave, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went overland this time through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. He comes back to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there’s a disciple named Timothy. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wants to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of they bare going to go into synagogues.
They traveled to all those towns and delivered the decision of the apostles in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. But Paul doesn’t set up shop as their local pastor. His work is not done, he tries to go to Asia and Bithynia by the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
So they go to the coast at Troas. During the night Paul has a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." - So Paul concludes that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So they leave.
Luke starts to write in first person so he joins them. Maybe he was the Macedonian man or he’s from Troas. I don’t know.
Cross Aegean, Pass by some cities and end up in Philippi. It’s a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. They are there several days and on the Sabbath they went outside the city gate to the river where they expected to find a prayer meeting. Like most prayer meetings, its just women. So they sit down and began to speak to the women there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a businesswoman from the city of Thyatira. She is a worshiper of God so probably Jewish. The Lord opens her heart to respond to gospel. She her whole household believe and baptized. The word household in Greek is Oikos. It’s the basic social unit in Greek society. They stay at her home.
Later they are going back to the place of prayer; meet a slave girl who had an evil spirit which enables her to predict the future. She follows Paul and the rest of the band, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She does this for days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. her owners realized their money-making venture was gone; they seize Paul and Silas and drag them to face the authorities. The magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten and thrown into prison.
Its midnight Paul and Silas feet in stocks. Bloody. Suffered. Were insulted. But they were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there’s a huge earthquake all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer wakes up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he was about to kill himself because he thought everyone had escaped. Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" All here! - even the prisoners who were listening. The Jailor runs in and falls trembling before Paul and Silas "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They say "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
So like Lydia, he and all his family were baptized. One city, two movements – one in Jewish Oikos, one in a Gentile one. Paul and Silas are told to leave them city so they stop by Lydia's house, where they met with the believers and encourage them. Maybe something like what Paul would write later ‘he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’. Then they left.
They had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, - Which has a cosmopolitan with a Jewish synagogue. Paul goes into the synagogue, and for three Saturdays he reasons with them from the Scriptures, explains and proves that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. Some of the Jews believe as well as a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
Paul would write them in less than a year and remind them that “We dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. Not from error or impure motives, nor were we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we spoke as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We were not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts…. We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children: encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
These believers in 3 weeks time became Imitators of Paul. By the time gets to Corinth, The Lord's message will ring out from them not only in Macedonia and even Achaia where Corinth but the testimony of how they turned from idols to living God will be known everywhere.
But the reason Paul left is the same story, second verse. Jews were jealous; form a mob and start a riot in the city. "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here, As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.
Once there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. the Bereans were of more noble than the Thessalonians; for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. A guy named Sopater from Berea will later travel with Paul. But Jews from Thessalonica come over and agitate the crowds and stirring them up. So the believers send Paul to the coast, and Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Later Timothy will go to Thessalonica and I believe both went to Phillipi and that church supported Paul.
So Paul by himself, goes to Athens - Capital of Attica, waiting for his buds, he walks around and looks carefully at your objects of worship and is greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. He reasons in the synagogue, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there, preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. A group of philosophers began to dispute with him. "What is this babbler trying to say?" "He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” they took him and brought him to a philosopher meeting of the mars Hill - “May we know what this new teaching? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." So Paul does what most STINTers in post-modern culture. He joins the philosophy club to try to be an insider and at the end of his stint lets them know he is a Christian. Oh wait minute, now he says: “Men of Athens! I see you’re very religious. I found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. He talks about God being the creator and using words from one their poets to point out that, 'We are his offspring.' So since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the God is made of stone—In the past He overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. He goes judge the world by Christ whom he has appointed. And He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Some sneer, but others said, "Hey, We want to hear you again on this subject.” A few men and a woman named Damerius became followers. Paul leaves.
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he meets Jewish believers, a couple from Rome – Aquila and Priscilla. Paul goes into business with them since he is out of support. On Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, tries to persuade both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia with support, Paul devotes himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. When Jews reject message, he goes to the Gentiles. But Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire Oikos / household believe in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. Later in his first letter to them he mentions Gaius and the household of Stephanas who he baptized. Just like Philippi, movement in Jewish Oikos (Crispus) and one in Greek (Stephanas). Jesus speaks to Paul in a vision and tells him not be afraid but keep speaking since he has many people in this city. So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaches them the word of God.
Paul’s says this about his time there: Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Says “I planted the seed, Apollos (who will come over later) watered it, but God made it grow. neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God, who makes things grow. Those who plant or water have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ Did more than just teach in that year and half, he Wrote First Letter to the Thessalonians, and letter to those foolish Galatians.
Paul stays on in Corinth for some time. Some of the other believers are Gaius, whose hospitality Paul and the whole church here enjoy, Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
Then he left the believers. Priscilla and Aquila go with him to Ephesus. Paul leads some folks to Christ (one is Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia) and says I will come back if its God’s will and he leave A & P with them and sails back to Antioch.
Some time later after Jerusalem Council, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all those towns and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul said ‘no way he had deserted us and didn’t continue with us in the work.” They have a huge disagreement – so they parted company. Barnabas took John Mark and goes back where he was before he blew it – Cyprus. Barnabas will encourage him up and he will be useful later.
Paul picks Silas; they leave, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went overland this time through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. He comes back to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there’s a disciple named Timothy. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wants to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of they bare going to go into synagogues.
They traveled to all those towns and delivered the decision of the apostles in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. But Paul doesn’t set up shop as their local pastor. His work is not done, he tries to go to Asia and Bithynia by the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
So they go to the coast at Troas. During the night Paul has a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." - So Paul concludes that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So they leave.
Luke starts to write in first person so he joins them. Maybe he was the Macedonian man or he’s from Troas. I don’t know.
Cross Aegean, Pass by some cities and end up in Philippi. It’s a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. They are there several days and on the Sabbath they went outside the city gate to the river where they expected to find a prayer meeting. Like most prayer meetings, its just women. So they sit down and began to speak to the women there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a businesswoman from the city of Thyatira. She is a worshiper of God so probably Jewish. The Lord opens her heart to respond to gospel. She her whole household believe and baptized. The word household in Greek is Oikos. It’s the basic social unit in Greek society. They stay at her home.
Later they are going back to the place of prayer; meet a slave girl who had an evil spirit which enables her to predict the future. She follows Paul and the rest of the band, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She does this for days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. her owners realized their money-making venture was gone; they seize Paul and Silas and drag them to face the authorities. The magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten and thrown into prison.
Its midnight Paul and Silas feet in stocks. Bloody. Suffered. Were insulted. But they were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there’s a huge earthquake all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer wakes up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he was about to kill himself because he thought everyone had escaped. Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" All here! - even the prisoners who were listening. The Jailor runs in and falls trembling before Paul and Silas "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They say "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
So like Lydia, he and all his family were baptized. One city, two movements – one in Jewish Oikos, one in a Gentile one. Paul and Silas are told to leave them city so they stop by Lydia's house, where they met with the believers and encourage them. Maybe something like what Paul would write later ‘he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’. Then they left.
They had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, - Which has a cosmopolitan with a Jewish synagogue. Paul goes into the synagogue, and for three Saturdays he reasons with them from the Scriptures, explains and proves that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. Some of the Jews believe as well as a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
Paul would write them in less than a year and remind them that “We dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. Not from error or impure motives, nor were we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we spoke as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We were not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts…. We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children: encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
These believers in 3 weeks time became Imitators of Paul. By the time gets to Corinth, The Lord's message will ring out from them not only in Macedonia and even Achaia where Corinth but the testimony of how they turned from idols to living God will be known everywhere.
But the reason Paul left is the same story, second verse. Jews were jealous; form a mob and start a riot in the city. "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here, As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.
Once there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. the Bereans were of more noble than the Thessalonians; for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. A guy named Sopater from Berea will later travel with Paul. But Jews from Thessalonica come over and agitate the crowds and stirring them up. So the believers send Paul to the coast, and Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Later Timothy will go to Thessalonica and I believe both went to Phillipi and that church supported Paul.
So Paul by himself, goes to Athens - Capital of Attica, waiting for his buds, he walks around and looks carefully at your objects of worship and is greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. He reasons in the synagogue, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there, preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. A group of philosophers began to dispute with him. "What is this babbler trying to say?" "He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” they took him and brought him to a philosopher meeting of the mars Hill - “May we know what this new teaching? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." So Paul does what most STINTers in post-modern culture. He joins the philosophy club to try to be an insider and at the end of his stint lets them know he is a Christian. Oh wait minute, now he says: “Men of Athens! I see you’re very religious. I found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. He talks about God being the creator and using words from one their poets to point out that, 'We are his offspring.' So since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the God is made of stone—In the past He overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. He goes judge the world by Christ whom he has appointed. And He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Some sneer, but others said, "Hey, We want to hear you again on this subject.” A few men and a woman named Damerius became followers. Paul leaves.
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he meets Jewish believers, a couple from Rome – Aquila and Priscilla. Paul goes into business with them since he is out of support. On Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, tries to persuade both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia with support, Paul devotes himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. When Jews reject message, he goes to the Gentiles. But Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire Oikos / household believe in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. Later in his first letter to them he mentions Gaius and the household of Stephanas who he baptized. Just like Philippi, movement in Jewish Oikos (Crispus) and one in Greek (Stephanas). Jesus speaks to Paul in a vision and tells him not be afraid but keep speaking since he has many people in this city. So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaches them the word of God.
Paul’s says this about his time there: Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Says “I planted the seed, Apollos (who will come over later) watered it, but God made it grow. neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God, who makes things grow. Those who plant or water have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ Did more than just teach in that year and half, he Wrote First Letter to the Thessalonians, and letter to those foolish Galatians.
Paul stays on in Corinth for some time. Some of the other believers are Gaius, whose hospitality Paul and the whole church here enjoy, Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
Then he left the believers. Priscilla and Aquila go with him to Ephesus. Paul leads some folks to Christ (one is Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia) and says I will come back if its God’s will and he leave A & P with them and sails back to Antioch.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
1st Journey
Acts 13-14
Antioch –While the leaders were fasting and praying, Paul and Barnabas were set apart by Holy Spirit for the work He had called them for. When they finished fasting, the other leaders laid hands on them and sent them off.
Pamphylia -
Next Saturday, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God. Some of the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, became jealous and tore into Paul, contradicting him. Paul and Barnabas in boldness say 'look we will go to the Gentiles'. This pumps up the Greeks. Many believe. Gospel spread through whole region as a result. Jewish Leaders incite leading men and women, revoked their visas and force them to leave. B and P, High Five each other as they filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
Travel to Iconium.
LYCAONIA (lihc ay oh' ni uh) - Like Iconium, this is part of larger district of Galatia but also unique part because of the local dialect. First they go to town of Lystra – Paul heals a man lame from birth and the crowd shouts in local language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" They call Barnabas - Zeus, and Paul - Hermes. P & B say, ‘stop, we are humans like you. We are bringing you good news telling you to turn from worthless idols to the living Creator God.” Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium win the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for…
Derbe. It’s about 60 miles from Lystra; They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Paul writes later to Galatians that because of physical ailment that he preached gospel to them. Maybe it’s because of the stoning or the throne in the flesh, don’t know.
But after launching a movement with DNA to spread, in each of these cities they strengthen the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. They warn them about persecutions and appoint elders for each of them, with prayer and fasting, they commit them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
After going through Pisidia, they came back to Pamphylia, preached the word in Perga, and then they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
Antioch –While the leaders were fasting and praying, Paul and Barnabas were set apart by Holy Spirit for the work He had called them for. When they finished fasting, the other leaders laid hands on them and sent them off.
Cyprus - They get into a boat and sail to Cyprus. It's where Barnabas is from and its the mother church of the Antoich church. They arrived at Salmais and proclaim the word of God in the synagogues. They took John Mark, Barnabas nephew, with them as their SHERPA 
They go the length of the mountainous island (138 miles) to the Paphos and find the Proconsul or governor, Sergius Paulus. He’s open to the gospel but this Jewish sorcerer tries to live up to his name - Bar-Jesus – by thwarting their efforts. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks him eyes, says, “You son of the devil, Why do thwart the ways of God. From now you are going to blind.” Bam, he’s blind. When Sergius Paulus, the procounsel, sees what happened, he believes. Barnabas and Paul do exactly what we would we do if we just led the governor to Christ… they up and leave.
They go the length of the mountainous island (138 miles) to the Paphos and find the Proconsul or governor, Sergius Paulus. He’s open to the gospel but this Jewish sorcerer tries to live up to his name - Bar-Jesus – by thwarting their efforts. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks him eyes, says, “You son of the devil, Why do thwart the ways of God. From now you are going to blind.” Bam, he’s blind. When Sergius Paulus, the procounsel, sees what happened, he believes. Barnabas and Paul do exactly what we would we do if we just led the governor to Christ… they up and leave.
Pamphylia -
They Sail north to modern day turkey and first hit the Pamphylia (pam fihl' ih uh), one of the provinces of Asia Minor, a small district on the coast. In Perga, John called it quits and heads up back to mama in Jerusalem. So they leave Perga. Its okay we will hit you on the way back.
Pisidia
They traveled on to Pisidia > (pih ssih di' uh) Small area in the province of Galatia in southern Asia Minor... Antioch was made the capital. On the Sabbath they went to the meeting place and as outside guests they are asked to speak. Remember Barnabas is a Levite and Paul was a Pharisee so they have a little bit of ethos. So Paul stood up, motions with hands, “listen to me…” and he speaks on the message of Jesus being the Messiah. Service is over, Paul and Barnabas are invited back to preach again the next week. They end up in a discussion with Jews and devout converts to Judaism and seemingly some follow Jesus.
Next Saturday, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God. Some of the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, became jealous and tore into Paul, contradicting him. Paul and Barnabas in boldness say 'look we will go to the Gentiles'. This pumps up the Greeks. Many believe. Gospel spread through whole region as a result. Jewish Leaders incite leading men and women, revoked their visas and force them to leave. B and P, High Five each other as they filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
Travel to Iconium.
Iconium is part of the Roman province of Galatia. They went into the Jewish synagogue; a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. They spent considerable time there speaking boldly for the Lord. Their message was confirmed through miraculous signs and wonders. Town’s split. There’s a plot afoot to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled on down a main road to …
LYCAONIA (lihc ay oh' ni uh) - Like Iconium, this is part of larger district of Galatia but also unique part because of the local dialect. First they go to town of Lystra – Paul heals a man lame from birth and the crowd shouts in local language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" They call Barnabas - Zeus, and Paul - Hermes. P & B say, ‘stop, we are humans like you. We are bringing you good news telling you to turn from worthless idols to the living Creator God.” Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium win the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for… Derbe. It’s about 60 miles from Lystra; They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Paul writes later to Galatians that because of physical ailment that he preached gospel to them. Maybe it’s because of the stoning or the throne in the flesh, don’t know.
But after launching a movement with DNA to spread, in each of these cities they strengthen the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. They warn them about persecutions and appoint elders for each of them, with prayer and fasting, they commit them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
After going through Pisidia, they came back to Pamphylia, preached the word in Perga, and then they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
NOTES FROM: PLANTING MOVEMENTS - STINT TEAM LEADER TRG 2007
In the winter of 55-56, while in Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote a letter to church in Rome. This was a little over 9 years after he first left Antioch on the 1st Missionary Journey. .
Near the end of this great theological letter in the 15th chapter to these believers he has yet to meet, Paul writes about his own ministry to Gentiles, that Christ accomplished this ministry through him by word and deed, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and through the power of Holy Spirit. And from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, Paul fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Paul explains: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.” Then he adds, “But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions.”
And yet, there’s no record of Paul ever going to Illyricum in either Acts or in other church writings. And even if he did, how can he say the work is done? There were still plenty of places where it seems the gospel had not penetrated. He will later sent Timothy to Ephesus and tell him to do the work of an evangelist.
Earlier to this same Corinthian church while in Ephesus, Paul wrote that “he planted, Apollos watered by God caused the growth. (The Corinthians) were God’s field.” Then the changed the analogy: (they) were God’s building.” Paul by the grace of God, as a master builder laid a foundation that others built on. His foundation was simply Jesus! He was a planter, a foundation-layer.
So Paul is saying that is less than 10 years from the time he first left Antioch that work of planting movements and laying foundations in the eastern regions of the Roman Empire was done. It was time to move on. And since the work was done, he was going to go to the western regions starting in Spain. On the way he was going to Rome to fellowship with them and hope they will support him in Spain. He was going to come to Rome but not to be Pope, or start a megachurch or even to stay as their pastor. In fact in verse 14, he wrote: “I myself am convinced that you are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” In other words, he was saying ‘you don’t need me. You are self-sufficient’. In essence Romans is just a long support letter.
So how in 10 years, did Paul proclaim gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum and how plant movements, lay foundations in such a way that there was ‘no where else to go’? What principles can we find that you as smart leaders can say apply to your situation?
Now some things Paul had a huge advantage over us. He saw Jesus when he was converted. He is given ability to do signs and wonders. There was a common language. He is charting new ground – there is no one telling him he can’t go to places. There was no risk management. And he is Jewish and most of these places have synagogues so spiritual seekers who already have some basis on God’s plan. They just don’t know about Jesus.
He also doesn’t have the NT – except what he will write. There are no planes, trains or automobiles; just boats, donkeys and horses. There are no cell phones, text messaging, or blackberries. He doesn’t have a plethora of tools for discipleship on the internet, etc. No playbook just the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission and places to go where there were not yet movements of Christ.
After discussing, here are some key principles to emphasize if people might have missed them…
PAUL WAS SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke writes that the Spirit prevented them from going to certain areas. Paul writes in Romans that it was by the Holy Spirit. It was also through visions that he knew where to go and when to stay.
Application: How lead our teams to be dependent on and sensitive to the Spirit?
PAUL TARGETED CITIES TO REACH REGIONS – Paul and Luke mention regions (Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, etc.) often over cities. Paul passed through some cities to get to certain key cities like Philippi. The gospel rang out from these cities to the entire regions and beyond. ( 1 Thess 1:4-10; Acts 19:8-10)
Application: How can we lead our teams to launch movements with an eye on the whole region/country/world?
IN EVERY LOCATION, PAUL PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL TO JEWS OR THOSE SPIRITUALLY PREPARED – He went first to synagogues. Only two towns where this is not recorded – Derbe and Philippi. But most likely Philippi did not have a synagogue because he looked for a place of prayer. He reasoned with the Jews and Gentile converts moving on if they became obstinate.
Application: How can we model going first to the spiritually prepared? How do we find them?
IN MANY LOCATIONS, THEY GOSPEL WAS NOT ONLY PROCLAIMED BUT OFTEN DEMONSTRATED AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE GENTILES. – The gospel proclaimed was a message of love (cross) and power (resurrection). The gospel was demonstrated too as God preformed miracles through Paul. Sometimes confirmed what was being proclaimed (as in the case of the proconsul on Cyprus or in Ephesus), sometimes it opened the door for the gospel to be proclaimed (e.g. in Lystra). In Philippi, the jailor even asks for the gospel after seeing it demonstrated.
Application: How can we demonstrate the power and love of God especially in hard to reach places? What role can pray and faith play in this?
PAUL DEVELOPED LEADERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MISSION AND HANDED THE MINISTRY OVER TO THEM. - Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each city of the 1st missionary journey and it is assumed Paul continued this practice in Macedonia and Achaia. In Acts 20, there is a list of young leaders traveling with Paul. They represent men from Berea, Thessalonica, Lystra, Derbe, and Asia. Paul’s leadership training, much like Christ’s, was in the context of ministry.
Application: How can you do to lead your team to develop leaders in the context of ministry?
Near the end of this great theological letter in the 15th chapter to these believers he has yet to meet, Paul writes about his own ministry to Gentiles, that Christ accomplished this ministry through him by word and deed, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and through the power of Holy Spirit. And from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, Paul fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Paul explains: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.” Then he adds, “But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions.”
And yet, there’s no record of Paul ever going to Illyricum in either Acts or in other church writings. And even if he did, how can he say the work is done? There were still plenty of places where it seems the gospel had not penetrated. He will later sent Timothy to Ephesus and tell him to do the work of an evangelist.
Earlier to this same Corinthian church while in Ephesus, Paul wrote that “he planted, Apollos watered by God caused the growth. (The Corinthians) were God’s field.” Then the changed the analogy: (they) were God’s building.” Paul by the grace of God, as a master builder laid a foundation that others built on. His foundation was simply Jesus! He was a planter, a foundation-layer.
So Paul is saying that is less than 10 years from the time he first left Antioch that work of planting movements and laying foundations in the eastern regions of the Roman Empire was done. It was time to move on. And since the work was done, he was going to go to the western regions starting in Spain. On the way he was going to Rome to fellowship with them and hope they will support him in Spain. He was going to come to Rome but not to be Pope, or start a megachurch or even to stay as their pastor. In fact in verse 14, he wrote: “I myself am convinced that you are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” In other words, he was saying ‘you don’t need me. You are self-sufficient’. In essence Romans is just a long support letter.
So how in 10 years, did Paul proclaim gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum and how plant movements, lay foundations in such a way that there was ‘no where else to go’? What principles can we find that you as smart leaders can say apply to your situation?
Now some things Paul had a huge advantage over us. He saw Jesus when he was converted. He is given ability to do signs and wonders. There was a common language. He is charting new ground – there is no one telling him he can’t go to places. There was no risk management. And he is Jewish and most of these places have synagogues so spiritual seekers who already have some basis on God’s plan. They just don’t know about Jesus.
He also doesn’t have the NT – except what he will write. There are no planes, trains or automobiles; just boats, donkeys and horses. There are no cell phones, text messaging, or blackberries. He doesn’t have a plethora of tools for discipleship on the internet, etc. No playbook just the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission and places to go where there were not yet movements of Christ.
After discussing, here are some key principles to emphasize if people might have missed them…
PAUL WAS SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke writes that the Spirit prevented them from going to certain areas. Paul writes in Romans that it was by the Holy Spirit. It was also through visions that he knew where to go and when to stay.
Application: How lead our teams to be dependent on and sensitive to the Spirit?
PAUL TARGETED CITIES TO REACH REGIONS – Paul and Luke mention regions (Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, etc.) often over cities. Paul passed through some cities to get to certain key cities like Philippi. The gospel rang out from these cities to the entire regions and beyond. ( 1 Thess 1:4-10; Acts 19:8-10)
Application: How can we lead our teams to launch movements with an eye on the whole region/country/world?
IN EVERY LOCATION, PAUL PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL TO JEWS OR THOSE SPIRITUALLY PREPARED – He went first to synagogues. Only two towns where this is not recorded – Derbe and Philippi. But most likely Philippi did not have a synagogue because he looked for a place of prayer. He reasoned with the Jews and Gentile converts moving on if they became obstinate.
Application: How can we model going first to the spiritually prepared? How do we find them?
IN MANY LOCATIONS, THEY GOSPEL WAS NOT ONLY PROCLAIMED BUT OFTEN DEMONSTRATED AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE GENTILES. – The gospel proclaimed was a message of love (cross) and power (resurrection). The gospel was demonstrated too as God preformed miracles through Paul. Sometimes confirmed what was being proclaimed (as in the case of the proconsul on Cyprus or in Ephesus), sometimes it opened the door for the gospel to be proclaimed (e.g. in Lystra). In Philippi, the jailor even asks for the gospel after seeing it demonstrated.
Application: How can we demonstrate the power and love of God especially in hard to reach places? What role can pray and faith play in this?
PAUL DEVELOPED LEADERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MISSION AND HANDED THE MINISTRY OVER TO THEM. - Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each city of the 1st missionary journey and it is assumed Paul continued this practice in Macedonia and Achaia. In Acts 20, there is a list of young leaders traveling with Paul. They represent men from Berea, Thessalonica, Lystra, Derbe, and Asia. Paul’s leadership training, much like Christ’s, was in the context of ministry.
Application: How can you do to lead your team to develop leaders in the context of ministry?
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