July 5-July 11: Paul Preaches to the World

SUNDAY

1. How did the church in Antioch establish as a stable mission center? Acts 11:19-26

STEP 1: Stephen preaching to his own people.

• Acts 11:19 … Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
  
• Application: We need speakers like Stephen preaching the WORD to SDA members.
  

STEP 2: Some (at least 3 or 4) of Stephen’s listeners from Cyprus and Cyrene traveled to Antioch to preach to the Grecians.

• Acts 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
• Application: One speaker inspired many others to become Bible workers preaching to the non-believers.
  

STEP 3: They received great response in Antioch.

• Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
• Application: The interest will grow, if a team of men works together in the same location with same message. Step 1 to 3 – pre-evangelism
  

STEP 4: Jerusalem sent Barnabas, who was an experienced worker and leader, to Antioch to secure the interests.

• Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
• Application: An evangelist should be sent to a place where a team of workers has been doing the groundwork to harvest the interests.
  

STEP 5: Before Barnabas came, many Grecians believed and turned unto the Lord. However when Barnabas gave the messages of exhortation many Grecians, including the Jews, purposed in their heart to cleave unto the Lord.

• Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
• Application: Pre-Evangelism prepares the non-believers to believe and turn to God. Harvest work is a time when you lead them to solid commitment and seal their decision for Christ.
• Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
  

Who was Barnabas?

• Acts 11:24 Good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith
• Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus
• Acts 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Sacrificial man)
• Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (A mediator)
  

APPLICATION QUESTION: What type of worker do we need today?

STEP 6: The follow up work was done by bringing in Paul to teach them for one year.

• Acts 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
• Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
  

APPLICATION: Post-evangelism is training the new members to be competent workers in God’s church.

MONDAY

1. What was the purpose of Paul’s concept of “I am made all things to all men”?

• 1Cor. 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
• 1Cor. 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
• 1Cor. 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak:
• 1Cor. 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
  

ANSWER: “All things to all men” is a method of saving souls by trying to find a common ground with various types of people in the world.

2. What example do we have when Paul became a Jew to them that are Jews?

• Acts 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

ANSWER: Paul, for the sake of the gospel and it was not a sin to circumcise, circumcised Timothy so that his un-circumcision should not hinder the preaching of the gospel to the Jews.

3. What attitude did Paul have when he became all things to all men?

• 1Cor. 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

ANSWER: Paul made himself a servant unto all.

4. What practical way did Paul make himself a servant unto all in 1 Corinthians chapter 9?

• 1Cor. 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
• 1Cor. 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
• 1Cor. 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
  

ANSWER: Paul preached the gospel of Christ without charge even though Paul had the power and the right to demand gifts and financial support. Paul’s first lesson with them was not money offering to the minister. In order to gain their trust first, Paul tried to understand and identify himself with them so that the full gospel can be preached to them at the end. It takes self-sacrifice to gain people’s trust. “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.” 1Cor. 9:12

5. What type of character do we need in order to practice the principle for “all things to all men”?

• 1Cor. 9:23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
• 1Cor. 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
• 1Cor. 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
  

ANSWER: We need to practice self-control in order to be a servant unto all men so that we know how to understand various types of people in the world.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY

1. What was Paul main message to the Gentiles?

• Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

ANSWER: Jesus and the resurrection

2. How did Paul build a connection with the Philosophers?

• Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
• Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
  

ANSWER: “Superstitious” means very religious. Paul acknowledged their religious devotions. Paul used “The Unknown God” as a bridge; he explained what they are curious about.

3. What doctrines did Paul preach to the philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics? And in what order?

• Creator/ Heavenly Sanctuary: Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
• All Sufficient God and the Life Giver: Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
• God made man and All Known God: Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
• Men’s search for true God and God with us: Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
• Men’s Identity is found in God/ We are His Children: Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
• Godhead is like us and we are made in the image of God and not the graven images: Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
• God’s mercy and forgiveness: Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
• Prophecy, Judgment, the Judge, Righteousness, Assurance, and Resurrection: Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
  

ANSWER: Paul spent much time talking about God first. Who is God? Then he made the connection between God and we are His children. Then since we are His children, God cannot be those gold, silver, and stone.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What title would you give to Paul’s sermon?
• What topic did Paul spend the most in his sermon?
• How did he make the connection between the Creator and the Judgment?
• What is lacking in his message? (1 Cor. 2:2)
• Based upon Paul's example, what doctrines should we present to secular and intellectual people?