To understand that after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the church was unleashed for mission. scripture Passage:

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1 LESSON 10 the gospel spreads Paul and Kingdom Advance To understand that after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the church was unleashed for mission. After Pentecost, the church was unleashed for mission, staying primarily in Jerusalem and Judea. God used Saul s conversion to bring the gospel to the Roman Empire and non-jewish communities. That students understand the Great Commission is carried out in the Book of Acts primarily through missionaries who took the good news to both Jews and Gentiles. Background Passage: scripture Passage: Memory Verse: AC TS 8 : 1-3 ; 9 ; 1 3 ; 1 5; 1 7 AC TS 1 7 : , 3 2 R OMAN S 1 : 1 6 The story keepers Taken down a notch Paul in Athens For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. page 76 the gospel spreads

2 PREPARING TO TEACH As you read the Scripture and study the Venture Up Travelogue, be sure to respond to the study questions. In this lesson the disciples and others, including one new Christian Saul, renamed Paul went into the world in response to Jesus Great Commission. Believers today have the same mission. Sometimes we can share Christ with people from other parts of the world who come to our cities and towns to study, to work, or to live permanently. But we are also called to go into our communities, our nation, and to the ends of the world with the same good news as the disciples and the apostle Paul. As you plan, consider adults in your group who take the gospel wherever they go and others who need to do so. Spend some time in quiet reflection about ways some in your group may challenge others to go and tell, to be story keepers as the disciples were. As you study Saul s dramatic conversion and list the key events in that story, identify Paul s qualities that made him the right person to travel to new places, risk his life for the gospel message, and stand tall among those to whom he took the gospel. In advance, enlist an adult to tell the story of Saul s dramatic conversion as told in Acts 9:1-9. If possible, obtain from a children s department a teaching picture of this event for use with the story. Consider the Travelogue question (p. 101), How do the Gentiles fit into this story? As you review the section, Taken Down a Notch, you will find key questions and answers for responding to this question. If some adults don t see themselves as missionaries in the same sense as Paul, remind them that most of us, too, are Gentiles. (The term Gentile refers to any non-jew.) Keep this statement before you from the Travelogue (p. 102) as you prepare: It [is] through grace alone, by faith alone, and in Christ alone that one becomes acceptable to God. Consider preparing a display of it for use in Taken Down a Notch. Use this lesson to affirm those who are spreading the good news and challenging everyone to go forth to share the gospel with a relative, with a next-door neighbor, or to the ends of the earth. page 7 7 the gospel spreads

3 TEACHING SUGGESTIONS THE STORY KEEPERS To introduce the concept of story keepers outlined in the Travelogue (pp ), use this illustration: Throughout history, people groups who didn t have a written language passed their culture and traditions from generation to generation through storytellers. These story keepers played a significant role in helping their people understand their past even as they looked to the future. In a similar way, after Jesus returned to heaven and God sent the Holy Spirit, the disciples understood their mission was to keep the gospel story alive by going to the ends of the earth. Believers still have that same mission today. Read aloud Acts 1:8. Comment that Jesus had made their mission clear go to the ends of the earth. However, when the disciples did not immediately leave Jerusalem after the coming of the Holy Spirit, God used a tragedy to scatter Christ-followers who then embarked on their mission. Call on a volunteer to read aloud Acts 7:58 8:1. Call on volunteers to report on their response to the Travelogue question (p. 100): What was the catalyst that forced the church out of Jerusalem and into the rest of the world? As responses are given, point out that an eyewitness to Stephen s martyrdom was a young Pharisee and persecutor of Christ-followers named Saul. Call on the pre-enlisted adult to tell the story of Saul s dramatic conversion as told in Acts 9:1-9. While the story is being told, display the children s department teaching picture if you were able to obtain one. Teaching Option Rather than having an adult recount the conversion of Saul, call on adults to identify high points of Acts 9:1-9 they listed in the Travelogue activity (p. 100). page 7 8 the gospel spreads

4 Ask: What do we learn about God from Saul s dramatic conversion? Point out that people groups exist today who don t have a written language. Believers who share the gospel story with these people follow the oral tradition, sometimes supplemented with visuals such as story cloths (fabric with images of Bible events printed on it). You may wish to do an Internet search for more information. However, the main point to communicate is that believers today fulfill their role as story keepers by doing whatever is needed to tell the story of Jesus and the free gift of salvation to those who need to hear it in a language and manner those people can readily understand. TAKEN DOWN A NOTCH Call on a volunteer to read aloud Acts 9:10-20, the rest of the story about Paul s conversion. Point out God s use of symbolism in Paul s conversion, including striking him blind, then sending him to a street named Straight. Ask: How does the initial response of Ananias to the news of Saul s conversion compare with attitudes of some Christians today? What difference do you see between the response of Ananias and that of many Christians today? Point out that, unlike the disciples in Jerusalem, Paul immediately began to proclaim the gospel (Acts 9:20). Call on volunteers to describe believers they know who experienced a dramatic conversion and immediately wanted to tell others. Ask: What motivated these people? Draw from the Travelogue (p. 102) to emphasize that the description of the gospel mission sounded simple. However, it also raised many questions, especially in the minds of God s chosen people, the Jews. The Travelogue describes this challenge with a question: How do the Gentiles fit into this story? Display or draw attention to the following sentence from the Travelogue (p. 102) as a basis for discussing how to share the gospel story with Jews and Gentiles: It was through grace alone, by faith alone, and in Christ alone that one becomes acceptable to God. Begin the discussion by leading adults to define the three key points in the statement. page 79 the gospel spreads

5 Ask: Why is it important to keep this statement in mind when sharing the gospel with anyone of a different race or culture? PAUL IN ATHENS Draw from the Travelogue (p. 101) to illustrate that Saul, by now renamed Paul, not only shared his faith immediately after his conversion, he did so with power and sensitivity to his audience. In the process he was persecuted and ridiculed. Ask adults to turn to Acts 17. Read aloud Acts 17:22-23 about Paul s message to the Athenians. After walking around the city and seeing statues to many gods, he addressed the Athenians. Ask: In what ways did Paul tailor his message to the location and the people? How did he remain faithful to the gospel? Discuss what believers can learn from Paul about presenting the gospel in today s world. Highlight the three key points from the Travelogue: (1) Going rather than gathering; (2) Remember God s grace; and (3) Start where they are. Going rather than gathering While nothing is wrong with inviting people to church or Christian-related events, point out that Paul set a bold example by going to where the Greeks already were gathered, at the Areopagus (meeting place of philosophers and thinkers on a high hill overlooking Athens). Ask: What were the benefits to Paul of going rather than gathering? Call on a volunteer to read aloud Romans 1:16-17 (v. 16 is the memory verse for this lesson): 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it God s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Ask:How may this passage benefit believers in boldly sharing their faith in difficult situations? Remember God s grace In addition to going rather than gathering, point out that believers must always include God s grace as they tell others about Jesus. A non-judgmental approach is needed along with the ability to share wonder at God s goodness in making the way to be saved. page 8 0 the gospel spreads

6 To illustrate this point, read the Travelogue paragraph (p. 105) that begins: Instead, he began his address in the spirit of grace:. Just as Paul approached gospel conversations with grace and humility, so must believers today. Ask: How can this approach be difficult? What must we do to assure we take this approach? Start where they are Share this illustration: While trying, with little success, to lead Muslims to Christ in Asia, missionary Kevin Greeson asked several Muslim-Christians how they were seeing results. What he learned became known as the Camel approach, based on starting with what the Muslim holy book, the Koran, said about Jesus and then bridging to the Bible and the way to salvation in Christ. By starting with where Muslims are and what they know, many have chosen to follow Christ (The Camel: How Muslims Are Coming to Faith in Christ by Kevin Greeson [Monument, CO: WIGTake Resources], 2010.). Read Acts 17:32 aloud about the two different responses to Paul s message at the Areopagus. By starting his message with something his audience knew about, some were interested to hear more. Emphasize that God had gone ahead of Paul to prepare the hearts of some to hear the gospel. Lead adults to brainstorm places they go regularly where God may have prepared the hearts of some, including those from other cultures, to learn more about the gospel. Record on the marker board or a tear sheet. Discuss. Invite adults to share the types or responses they have received to sharing the gospel. CONCLUSION Lead adults to review individually the list of places where God may be preparing the hearts of people to hear the gospel and identify at least one where they already go. Ask them to write it in the margin of their Travelogue lesson. Ask them to identify at least one way they could support missions by praying, giving, or going. Close the session having adults to pray silently, asking God to go ahead of them and prepare the hearts of those with whom they might share. Have them also pray for the persons sitting on either side of them. page 81 the gospel spreads

7 page 8 2 the gospel spreads FOLLOW THROUGH In your weekly communication to group members, remind them of Paul s example in Acts of spreading the gospel beyond Jerusalem and Judea. Ask them to continue praying for opportunities to witness in places they go and for guidance in how they can best support Kingdom advance. Pray daily this week for group members who participated in this study. Ask God to give them boldness and an ongoing commitment to advancing His kingdom to the ends of the earth.