SESSION 6 RETURN TO THE TASK 146 SeSSion 6
The Point A revitalized church spreads the gospel. The Passage Acts 13:1-3, 44-52 The Bible Meets Life Sports teams play best when they play as a unit, rather than a loose collection of individual players. What s true in athletics is even more true in the church. God calls our churches to a singular mission: sharing the gospel and working to expand His kingdom in all the world. Churches experience an incredible unity as they focus on Christ and work toward that singular goal of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Setting The spread of the gospel at Pentecost continued its outward push, eventually sweeping over the Gentiles in Antioch. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, that church sent out Barnabas and Saul on the first missionary journey to spread the gospel even further. As they took the good news to new places, the duo repeatedly met with rejection, repeatedly returned to the task at hand, and repeatedly found receptive hearers. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 147
What does the Bible say? Acts 13:1-3,44-52 (HCSB) Ministering to the Lord (v. 2) This phrase literally means serving the Lord. In the Old Testament, it referred to priests and Levites carrying out their duties in the temple. Our English word liturgy is derived from this Greek term. Laid hands (v. 3) This was a symbolic and ceremonial act of recognizing a divine call, separating for a designated task, and invoking divine blessing. Gentiles (v. 46) This term referred to people who were not Jewish by birth. Synonyms of this term include nations and pagans. 1 In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to. 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. 44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: It was necessary that God s message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles! 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent women, who worshiped God, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. 51 But they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. 148 SeSSion 6
THE POINT A revitalized church spreads the gospel. GET INTO THE STUDY 5 minutes DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 123 of the PSG: Where do you like to go to recharge your batteries? Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to The Bible Meets Life on page 124 of the PSG. Introduce the theme of prayer and fasting by reading or summarizing the text or by encouraging group members to read on their own. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point of this session at the top of page 124 of the PSG: A revitalized church spreads the gospel. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Prior to the group meeting, purchase a set of postcards featuring beach scenes from an idyllic location Hawaii, Fiji, or someplace similar. Write the following three phrases on the back of the card: Pray. Fast. Share the gospel. You can distribute these cards at the beginning of the group meeting as a way of connecting Question #1, above, with the primary theme of this session. Or, you can distribute the cards at the end of the group meeting in order to reinforce your discussion. In either case, encourage group members to place the cards on their refridgerators or in their Bibles as a reminder to seek God and share the good news of His gospel. Note: You could also consider writing a personal note of encouragement to each of your group members on the backs of the cards. If you do so, be sure to create a couple extra cards in case you have visitors. PRAY: Transition into the Scripture discussion by thanking God for what you have learned and considered throughout this resource. Ask that His Spirit would be present with your group and empower you to finish well. TIP: Vary the time and sequence of different activities in your group prayer, discussion, socializing, and so on. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 149
5 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Acts 13:1-3 1 In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to. 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. READ: Acts 13:1-3 on page 125 of the PSG. Read the text out loud or ask a volunteer to do so. GUIDE: Use the first paragraph on page 151 of this Leader Guide to offer some historical context for Acts 13. Note: The third paragraph on page 151 of this Leader Guide offers an interesting perspective on the multicultural nature of the church leaders in Antioch something that may be worth highlighting in your group. RECAP: Call attention to the third paragraph on page 126 of the PSG: ALTERNATE QUESTION: When is it necessary and/or appropriate to fast as a body of believers? When we come to Acts 13, the Christians in Antioch were worshiping the Lord and fasting. Many scholars believe this time of worship, prayer, and fasting was undertaken with a specific goal in mind. The church had a heart for evangelism and missions, but how were they to proceed? What were they supposed to do? Instead of coming up with a plan that seemed best to them, the Christians at Antioch stopped. They prayed and fasted. They fixed their hearts completely on God. DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 126 of the PSG: What can we do to intentionally seek God s guidance? Note: This is another question that can be approached in two ways: 1) What can we do as individuals, and 2) What can we do as a group? TRANSITION: The church at Antioch experienced a powerful connection with the Holy Spirit but that didn t prevent them from dealing with opposition. 150 SeSSion 6
THE POINT A revitalized church spreads the gospel. Acts 13:1-3 Commentary Because of the persecution in Jerusalem, believers scattered across the known world, preaching the gospel as they went (see Acts 11:19). When the Jerusalem church heard about a new congregation in Antioch, they sent Barnabas to check on them (see Acts 11:22). Barnabas became a leader in the church there and eventually brought Saul to minister with him (see 11:25-26). This community of faith in Antioch became instrumental in spreading the gospel all over the world. [Verse 1] This passage lists five leaders in the church at Antioch who were designated as prophets and teachers. The gift of prophecy can be that of foretelling the future, like Agabus in Acts 11:27-28, but more often prophecy was the speaking of an inspired word from God to build up His people. Teachers interpreted the Scriptures and explained their implications for the lives of believers. Barnabas was among the leaders in the Antioch church. So was Simeon who was called Niger [NIGH guhr]. His surname, Niger, meant black, leading most scholars to suggest he had dark skin and came from African descent. A third leader, Lucius the Cyrenian [sigh REE nih uhn], came from the city of Cyrenaica in northern Africa. Manaen [MAN uh en], a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, was also a leader in the church at Antioch. He would have had exposure to both Jewish and Gentile culture as the close friend of Herod Antipas. Saul was the persecutor of the church who met Jesus on the Damascus road. With this group of multicultural leaders, God was preparing the church for the task of reaching the world for Christ. [Verse 2] God revealed this important task in the context of a worship encounter with Him. The term translated ministering to the Lord is one of the words for worship that literally means serving the Lord. In the Old Testament it referred to the people of God carrying out their duties before Him. In addition to worshiping, the congregation was fasting. The association of worship with fasting indicated that the people were involved in an intense time of devotion with the Lord and seeking the will of God. Luke clearly indicated the Holy Spirit spoke to the congregation during this time of worship. Whether He spoke in a supernatural way or through one of the prophets is not indicated, but everyone in the church recognized His voice. He told the church to set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul. The church at Antioch had to be willing to give up two of its key leaders for the benefit of the proclamation of the gospel elsewhere. They were to set them aside for the work He had called them to do. [Verse 3] The church prepared the two missionaries for service by fasting, praying, and laying their hands on them. The laying on of hands likely was meant as a commissioning and setting them apart for this task. The church invoked God s favor on the missionary candidates and then sent them off. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 151
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Acts 13:44-47 44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: It was necessary that God s message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles! 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. GUIDE: Encourage group members to read the first paragraph on page 127 of the PSG in order to understand what took place between verses 4-43. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What opposition do churches sometimes face when they set out to obey God? Note: The first paragraph on page 153 of this Leader Guide provides additional context and historical background. READ: Acts 13:44-47 on page 125 of the PSG. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 127 of the PSG: What do these verses teach about the process of sharing the gospel? SUMMARIZE: Highlight the key points from page 127 of the PSG: > > In a town called Antioch Psidia, Paul preached about the connection between God s work in the Old Testament and His work through Jesus. Many > > > > responded positively to the gospel message (see Acts 13:43). Not everybody was enthusiastic about Paul s preaching, however. This is a principle: whenever God is working, we can fully expect Satan to fight against that work. > > Yet when Satan raises his ugly head even today, we must continue to march on. We must not back down from our call to the Great Commission. TRANSITION: As we conclude with verses 48-52, we ll see two competely different ways people responded when Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel. 152 SeSSion 6
THE POINT A revitalized church spreads the gospel. Acts 13:44-47 Commentary After the church at Antioch prayed for Barnabas and Paul and sent them out to preach the gospel, the two missionaries began a mission that took them first to Barnabas s home country of Cyprus (see 13:4-12). From there they traveled north to the region of Asia Minor, ending up in another city named Antioch (see v. 14). Antioch Pisidia, located 100 miles north of the coast, was a Roman colony that served as the governing and military center of the southern region of Galatia. The town was cosmopolitan for its day. It also contained a strong Jewish population that was instrumental in the events of Acts 13:44-47. [Verse 44] On the next Sabbath, a surprise awaited the Jews who gathered together. Almost the whole town had gathered to hear the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. Though Antioch Pisidia had a significant Jewish population, the Gentiles vastly outnumbered them. As the Jews arrived that day, many Gentiles also crowded the place to hear the message. Certainly this did not sit well with the Jews because Paul preached a gospel that was inclusive of the Gentiles. God wanted to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The message of the Lord, the gospel of Jesus Christ, was for both Jew and Gentile. [Verse 45] When the Jews saw the crowds of Gentiles, they were filled with jealousy. The English word zeal comes from this Greek word translated jealousy. Though it can mean passionate commitment in a positive sense, it often described those who opposed the gospel. Paul himself had this same attitude before his conversion (see Gal. 1:14). The Jews were upset about far more than a crowd invading their personal space in the synagogue. They felt threatened that Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and leading them to faith in Christ. This jealousy inside led to opposition outside. The Jews began to oppose Paul s preaching of the gospel by insulting him. [Verse 46] In spite of the attempt to discredit Paul and Barnabas, they continued to preach boldly. They stood against their opposition by pointing out the error in the Jews attitude. Paul noted that God s message, the gospel, had been preached to the Jews first. God did not choose the Jews so they could be exclusive. He gave them the privilege of hearing so they could evangelize their Gentile neighbors. Instead, they decided to reject it. By refusing the gospel of Jesus Christ, they proved that they were unworthy of eternal life. Therefore, Paul decided to turn to the Gentiles. [Verse 47] To provide justification for his ministry to the Gentiles, Paul quoted Isaiah 49:6. This was a scriptural reminder of why God had chosen the Jews in the first place. God made them to be a light for the Gentiles. They never existed merely for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the nations (see Gen. 12:1-3). Through a small, seemingly insignificant nation, God would bring salvation to the ends of the earth. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 153
20 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Acts 13:48-52 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent women, who worshiped God, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. 51 But they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. READ: Acts 13:48-52 on page 125 of the PSG. DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 128 of the PSG: How have you experienced resistance in your attempts to make disciples? DO: Direct group members to complete the activity The Spark of Persecution on page 129 of the PSG. If time allows, encourage volunteers to share their responses. Using the map below, mark an X on the different countries or regions where you know Christians are actively persecuted today. What steps can you (and your group) take to support persecuted Christians around the world? ALTERNATE QUESTION: How do you hope to see God move in your life and community? 154 SeSSion 6 DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 128 of the PSG: What steps can we take to strive for revival in our church and community? GUIDE: Refer back to The Point of this session: A revitalized church spreads the gospel. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share any final thoughts or questions.
THE POINT A revitalized church spreads the gospel. Acts 13:48-52 Commentary [Verse 48] The people in Antioch Pisidia responded in two ways to the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. First, when the Gentiles heard that the gospel was for them, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord. As they heard the preaching about Jesus death and resurrection, the people who had been appointed to eternal life believed. This verse reflects a remarkable balance between human volition and divine providence. [Verse 49] The gospel message spread through the whole region. Cities surrounding Antioch Pisidia began to hear the good news of Jesus, and many became curious about this teaching. The whole region was primarily made up of Gentiles, though Jewish communities existed in those cities as well. This created a lot of tension in the cities of Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Many Gentiles later expressed faith in Jesus, while some Jews opposed the preaching of the gospel. [Verse 50] While the Gentiles openly embraced the gospel, the Jews incited the prominent women and leading men of the city to stir up opposition against Paul and Barnabas. They could not prevent the Gentiles from trusting in Christ, but they could force the missionaries to leave. The plan worked and they began to stir up persecution against Paul and Barnabas. The disciples were expelled from Antioch Pisidia. This same persecution would await them in cities all across Asia Minor. [Verse 51] How did Paul and Barnabas respond to the persecution? They shook the dust off their feet. They followed the words of Jesus, who encouraged the disciples to leave an unreceptive town and shake the dust off their feet (see Matt. 10:14; Luke 10:11). It was customary for Jews to shake the dust off of their feet as they left a pagan place and returned to their homeland. However, for a Jew to do this to fellow Jews was to regard them as pagan Gentiles. The irony of this action was that by rejecting the gospel that was available even to the Gentiles, the Jews were placing themselves in the spiritual position of the Gentiles lost people who needed a Savior. Rather than continuing to serve in Antioch Pisidia, the disciples left for Iconium. The journey involved a walk of 90 miles southeast. [Verse 52] Paul and Barnabas departure to Iconium did not leave the new converts discouraged. These new believers were not followers of Paul and Barnabas. They were disciples of Jesus Christ. Instead of being discouraged, the new converts were filled with joy. This joy was not dependent on circumstances. They had a source of joy inside of themselves: the Holy Spirit. As new believers, they had experienced the indwelling power of the Spirit, and He had filled them with joy (Gal. 5:22-23). Paul and Barnabas, who also may have been numbered with the disciples, also went with joy. Even though they experienced persecution, they knew God was working and bringing people to faith. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 155
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to page 130 of the PSG. Encourage them to consider the following suggestions for actively joining the Great Commission on a regular basis: > > Pray for the lost every day. Pray specifically for someone who needs the message of Christ. Pray for the gospel to advance in your community and around the world. > > Share the gospel. Spreading the gospel isn t just for pastors and preachers. Actively seek out opportunities to share the good news of Christ. > > Lead your group on mission. Make plans as a group to proclaim the gospel in a tangible, practical way within your community. Start with prayer and move out from there. Wrap it Up TRANSITION: Read or restate the conclusion from page 130 of the PSG: We ve seen what we can accomplish in our own lives and in our churches. It s time to see what God can accomplish. And there s no better way to start than through fasting and prayer. PRAY: Conclude the discussion (and this resource) by asking God to clearly convict any person in the group who needs to experience a spiritual awakening. Ask for the Holy Spirit to be present in your group as you move forward in your efforts to serve God and obey His commands. 156 SeSSion 6
My group's prayer requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Students Standing Strong My husband, Jay, and I live in Grapevine, Texas. We have five incredible kids. Our parenting journey began with a few goals: when our children leave home, they ll have a personal relationship with Christ, they ll be filled with His Spirit, they will desire to live according to His Word, and they will know they re unconditionally loved by their parents and God. But achieving goals requires an action plan. To continue reading Students Standing Strong from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 157
Awake: The Call to a Renewed Life We want revival, but spiritual renewal begins within each of us as individuals. Listen to the call of God a call to return to Him and experience His forgiveness, grace, and power as He works through you. Christ God pursues us and calls us back to Himself. He made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Christ loves us fully and completely, and we respond to His love by loving Him in return. We passionately seek Christ through the disciplines of prayer and study of God s Word. 158
Community As we respond to God in our lives, we can call our fellow believers to join us in wholehearted devotion to Christ. Our love for Christ is reflected in our love for His body, the church. Unity is never forced or superficial when Christ is the center of the church. Culture God will use us to point others to the call of God in their lives. A renewed walk with Christ compels us to share the gospel with a lost world. We lovingly engage the culture with the truth and call God gives for all of us to return to Him. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 159