LIFE GROUP LEADER GUIDE Bible Study SERMON OUTLINE Series: We Are Sent Title: The Danger of Mission Paralysis Text: Acts 15:36 - Acts 16:15 We are going to look at three truths about Paul s experiences with Barnabas, Timothy, and Lydia. 1. Disagreement can threaten the advance of the Gospel (v. 36-40) 2. Discernment matters for the advance of the Gospel (v. 41-16:5) 3. Desire must be submitted to God for the advance of the Gospel (v. 6-15) MAIN POINT We will be challenged to prioritize good things over Gospel advance, but nothing should stop the advance of the Gospel. DELIVER Use this commentary to rightly understand and teach God s Word. The last time we were in the book of Acts, we saw four truths about Paul s argument against requiring circumcision of new converts. Paul attempted to make it clear to the circumcision party that they were adding to the Gospel, and we will encounter people who will also try to do so. He also made it clear that the Word of God reveals a salvation by grace for all people. He showed that we must live in light of others and the Gospel brings freedom and joy. Paul s overall message in his letter was that the Gospel was sufficient to save, and we should not burden anyone with extrabiblical expectations. Today, we will see the result of Paul parting ways with Barnabas, starting a relationship with Timothy, and converting Lydia.
15:36-41. After some time had passed since the time of the Jerusalem council, Barnabas suggested they go on a return journey back to the places they had already been to in their first mission and make sure they were doing well in the Lord. the reason Paul and Barnabas decided to go separate ways was not a positive reason. They had a disagreement about the involvement of John Mark in their journey. Barnabas wanted him to join since they were cousins and he had been on the previous mission (13:5). Paul did not want him to go since John had abandoned them in the first mission (13:13) and perhaps feared that John would not follow through this time either. There might have been another issue that was plaguing their friendship that is not mentioned in this passage. Galatians 2:11-13 talks about an issue that happened after the Jerusalem council, in which Paul confronted Peter on his hypocrisy in withdrawing from table fellowship with Gentiles, as well as Barnabas for following Peter s example. Whatever the reason, Paul and Barnabas split up and took new partners on mission: Barnabas took Mark and Paul took Silas. This situation, while it may seem bleak in the moment, it is similar to Joseph s situation in Genesis. Joseph was thrown into a well to die by his brothers, and once God intervened, through a series of events, Joseph was put into a position of great authority; once a famine came that plagued the people, Joseph was the only one who could save his brothers. When Joseph had the ability to return the favor to his brothers, he instead said, you planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result the survival of many people. In the same way, while Paul and Barnabas seemed to have ruined the narrative, the result of their separation meant that twice the work was being done, and they even reconciled at a later time. Paul mentioned Mark as a co-worker several times in his letters (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). Standing in the background was Barnabas, always the encourager, showing faith in Mark when others had lost theirs and eventually redeeming him - ironically for Paul. Paul choosing Silas was an easy decision, since the places where they traveled to first (Syria and Cilicia) were where they sent the apostolic decrees to in 15:23. 16:1-5. Paul and Silas visited the cities where the churches were established on the first journey, but in reverse order. It was at Lystra where they met the disciple Timothy. Timothy s conversion dated back to Paul and Barnabas first witness in that city (14:20). Luke added that Timothy was well-spoken among the Christians in Lystra and Iconium. Timothy s Father being Greek and his mother being Jewish is essential into why Timothy was to be circumcised. He was considered to be Jewish because of taking on his mother s lineage. Paul has made it clear on numerous occasions, including the previous chapter, that circumcision is not required for salvation. However, Paul is using his all things to all people mindset from 1 Corinthians 9:22, in that Timothy being considered a Jew who is also not circumcised would not work well in an attempt to be authoritative to a Jewish community. Paul knew it would be wiser for their mission if Timothy was circumcised so certain people would be willing to listen to them. It was a missionary strategy more than trying to work out Timothy s salvation. This was
arguably Paul s most important ministry partner, considering the two letters addressed to him and the many times Paul listed him as a co-sender in six other letters. Paul found it important to fortify and nurture the churches in his prior mission. He was concerned with not only planting the seed but also making sure the seed grew and bore fruit. His concern in the things of God resulted in the things of God coming to pass. The churches were strengthened and flourished. 16:6-10. Having done what they initially set out to do in these churches, Paul, Silas, and Timothy set out on another leg of their journey, but in every place where they tried to get into, the Spirit prevented them from advancing into that place, whether it be in parts of Asia or Bithynia. We know that it was not God s will for these places to not be evangelized, because they end up going back to those places at later times. It is God s will that all people come to know Him. God s intention for leading them away from those places was so they could go to the place they needed to be first, which was made apparent to Paul in a vision from the Lord, of a man calling him to Macedonia. Paul accepted the mission to Macedonia, as did Timothy and Silas, and since the narrative from them to we, this implies that Luke was now part of their mission. Four men now shared the vision for evangelizing Macedonia. 16:11-12. Comparing this journey to the same journey in Acts 20:6, which took them five days, they had the weather and wind in their favor to get them to Neapolis so quickly. This could be a sign that God was in favor of their journey to the place he commanded them to go. Philippi was a leading city in Macedonia, but not the capital. It was a Roman colony where a number of military veterans lived after completing their service. As a result, Roman law was in effect there. 16:13. After waiting until the Sabbath to begin their witness, Paul did what he always did and sought out the Jewish synagogue. Instead, they found a Jewish gathering place outside the city gates. While Judaism was an established religion in that area, there was no formally constituted synagogue, so the women had to meet outside the city. This was the closest thing Paul could find to a synagogue, and as usual, he took the posture of speaker and sat with the women. 16:14. Lydia s name matches the ancient territory in which her native city of Thyatira was located. Therefore, her occupation fit her place of origin. Purple goods were often expensive and a sign of royalty. The fact that she is able to accommodate for these four missionaries shows the amount of wealth she likely has from her lucrative business. The Philippian church was even the most generous in its endeavors to support Paul on his many journey s after this (Philippians 4:15-18; 2 Corinthians 11:8). Lydia is likely a principal contributor. After this passage, we will see many women playing significant roles in the ministry of Paul (17:4, 12, 34; 18:2). Lydia would even take an important
ministry role in the church. this was due to the elevated role of women in the Roman and Greek cultures. Perhaps, the prominent role of women in this section of Acts has to do with Paul s message of in Christ Jesus, there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28). Lydia is like Cornelius in that she is a Gentile who also happens to be a devote believer in God, but was not a full convert. As always with divine grace, it was God s Spirit moving in her that led to faith. 16:15. Lydia made the missionaries acceptance of her hospitality the test of whether they really believed she had become a believer. Not only did she extend her home to these four, but she also extended her home to the entire Christian community (v. 40). Lydia embraced the ideal of the early church, not laying claim to what was hers but freely sharing it with her brothers and sisters in Christ (4:32). She shared not only good but her faith as well. As head of the household, she led the rest of her household in commitment and baptism. This is the first time the baptism of an entire home is mentioned in Acts, and is a testament to the power and authority of God, beginning with Him leading the missionaries there to begin with. DISCIPLE Use these questions to engage people in discussion on a personal level. Ask your group to open their Bibles to Acts 15 and their sermon notes. Encourage everyone to take notes during sermons in order to discuss what God is teaching them. Have a volunteer read Acts 15:36-40 In this section, the sermon addressed the point that Disagreement can threaten the advance of the Gospel. 1. What element of discipleship do you see in the reason for the second journey? 2. What was the reason for Paul and Barnabas separating into two different journeys? Paul did not want to allow John Mark on their journey, while Barnabas did. They both had logical reasons for their decisions, but this, and possibly an issue mentioned in Galatians 2:11-13, are what split them apart. 3. While this seems to be a completely negative situation, what good comes out of Paul and Barnabas separating?
There was now twice the missionary influence on the mission field. They were able to divide and conquer. They were even able to settle the differences later and rebuild their relationship, based on other various passages. Have a volunteer read Acts 15:41-16:5 In this section, the sermon addressed the point that Discernment matters for the advance of the Gospel. 4. What did it mean for the brothers of Lystra and Iconium to speak highly of Timothy? Timothy was someone who obviously had tremendous faith and was constantly trying to grow in it. He demonstrated his faith to where it was more than just a checklist. Everything he did had to be for the purpose of advancing the truth of the Gospel, or else it is likely the brothers would not have just noticed this about him. He made his faith clear to all. 5. What was Paul s purpose behind having Timothy circumcised? Paul made it clear in the past that act like circumcision do not save a person or make them more right in the eyes of God. However, for the Jewish people they encountered to actually listen to Timothy and take him seriously, he needed to give them no reason to not listen to him, whether it be a valid or invalid reason. Paul knew it was wise for their mission. 6. What does verses 4-5 show about Paul s decision to circumcise Timothy? This all proved to be true, since the people they ministered to were strengthened and flourished. Have a volunteer read Acts 16:6-15 In this section, the sermon addressed the point that Desire must be submitted to God for the advance of the Gospel. 7. Why did God keep Paul and his group from Asia and Bithydia? Was it because he did not want those people to know about Him? God simply did not want them there at that time. He knew that they would be of better use in the place he was to call them to, which was Macedonia. God would later allow them to go to those places, so clearly God wanted them to know Him.
8. How did Paul and his crew even know to go to Macedonia? Paul listened to the voice of the Lord on the situation (in his dream) and accepted his calling and telling the others what God had told him. 9. Why did Paul wait until the Sabbath Day to begin their mission to the Jews in that town? Paul had the same strategy everywhere they went, which included going to the Jewish people first. He knew that the Sabbath day was the most likely time to get the most amount of Jewish believers in one place at one time in the mindset of hearing from God. 10. What led Lydia and her household to believe and accept Christ as Lord and Savior? Verse 14 makes it clear that the Lord is the one that opened her heart to hear and pay attention. 11. What was helpful, challenging, or encouraging in this study or the sermon on this text? DEPLOY Use this final section to help people respond to your time together. Have you ever experienced a disagreement with someone that hindered your relationship with that person? How did you handle it? Could you have handled it better? Did this situation hinder the message of the Gospel in your life? Did you see God make good out of this situation later on? What is something that you have changed in your life, or think that you should change, that has more to do with making the wisest decision than it is about just not doing the wrong thing? What are some examples you have of going above and beyond the basic do s and don ts of your faith to serve God and others better?
What is something in your life that God has called you to? Did you accept it with open arms or were you hesitant about it? Are you even seeking the voice of the Lord on what you should be doing? Why or why not? How else can you use what you have learned in this text to help you moving forward in your Christian walk? What are some ways you can apply this passage to your life to help you draw closer to God and live out His will?