© Learning to Walk the Paths of Life Acts2:28

The Book of Acts

Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement The Book of Acts021 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Story

Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement The Book of Acts

Supplemental Reading: “Counterfeit God’s” By: Tim Keller

Memory Verses: :8, 4:12, 10:43, 20:24

Outside The Journey: Verbally sharing your testimony with the lost

2 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement The Book of Acts

Disciple-makers, The Gospel Journey is about studying the Word of God, led by the Spirit of God, in a discipleship relationship, to grow in the grace of the Gospel. The Field Guide is NOT to be taught as a Study or even as the primary curriculum for the Gospel Journey. The curriculum is the Word of God, and we want there to be great freedom for those in a group to discuss what the Holy Spirit has been revealing to them in their study that week. We do not want the discussion to be limited to the content covered in the Field Guide.

With that being said, the Field Guide is an effort to prepare you for significant theological terms, concepts, and themes that will likely arise in the course of discussion in a given week of reading. Thus, we encourage you to read over the content we have chosen to include in the Field Guide a couple times before your weekly discussion, so that you are able to explain these terms, concepts, and themes faithfully and clearly as they come up. If they do not come up naturally, we’d encourage you to bring them up at some point in the discussion, as we believe they are things that a mature and equipped disciple of Christ needs to understand.

Again, our hope is that far more than what is covered in the Field Guide be brought up in discussion each week, and that this tool might prepare you to explain foundational Gospel terms, concepts, and themes found in each week’s reading. Ultimately the Gospel Journey is about studying the Word of God, led by the Spirit of God, in a discipleship relationship, in order to grow in the grace of the Gospel. May your journey be blessed!

The Harvest Team

The Book of WEEK 01 Acts 1:1-3:26

Ascension and Return (Acts 1:1-11)

While it is more common to focus on the death and resurrection of Christ, His ascension and return was also a major focus of His disciples. They wanted to know when Jesus would return to establish His Kingdom on earth. While we don’t know when Jesus will return, we do know the day is coming. Until the day He returns, we seek to live in obedience to the Holy Spirit as witnesses of the King and stewards of His Kingdom to the ends of the earth. , therefore, live in hopeful anticipation of His return and the full establishment of His Kingdom. In one sense, there is nothing that Jesus’ disciples want more than for Him to return, but until He does, we find great joy in seeking His kingdom first and employing everything else for His glory, rather than our comfort. Just as the Jewish people awaited their Messiah with great anticipation, we now await Jesus’ return. Maranatha = Come Lord Jesus, Come! See also: I Timothy 6:14-15; II Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:11-14 Witnesses (Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 is often described as an outline for the entire book of Acts. The followers of Jesus were to be His witnesses in , Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The book of Acts opens in Jerusalem, and by chapter 8, the gospel has spread to Judea and Samaria. and following increasingly focus on the disciples witnessing* Jesus to “the ends of the 4 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement earth.” We continue to be witnesses of Jesus by following this pattern and sharing the gospel in our neighborhoods, city, nation and to the ends of the earth. We do not just witness to the information of the good news, but the reality of our experience of the good news in our lives each and every day. (*Witness comes from the Greek word “Martyr”. Webster defines a martyr as a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle.) See Also: Luke 9:23-24, I Corinthians 2:1-5; I John 1:1-4

Pentecost ()

Pentecost was an Old Testament festival, held exactly 50 days after Passover, which celebrated the spring Harvest and remembered Moses’ receiving of the law at Mount Sinai. It was on this annual celebration, in the year Jesus had been crucified as the Passover Lamb, that He fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit to empower and help His followers. The Holy Spirit came with what appeared to be flames of fire and allowed the apostles to speak the tongues of all who were present, so that all could understand the gospel. The coming of the Holy Spirit was a clear sign to Jews and Gentiles alike that the gospel had now gone out to all peoples. Nearly 2,000 years later, Pentecost still serves as a reminder to us that we too are empowered by the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives, and the power of the Holy Spirit is more than enough for our salvation and that of all the nations. The Book of WEEK 01 Acts 1:1-3:26

Repentance and Baptism (Acts 2:37-41, 3:19)

Repentance is the act of turning away from sin and turning to God. Peter describes the truth of repentance in Acts 3:19 when he says “repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Therefore, repentance is necessary for salvation. Baptism has two expressions: water and Spirit. Water baptism is an outward expression or confession of an inward change. It is done publicly, if possible, to demonstrate someone’s “death” to his or her old self, and his or her “aliveness” in Christ. Few pictures are more powerful of our death to sin and new life in Christ than water baptism. Spirit baptism happens the moment a person is regenerated and exercises faith and repentance in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. *In the Book of Acts, we see a few occasions (:14-17; 11:16; 19:1-7) where people, who had previously believed in Christ, get baptized by the Holy Spirit at a later time. It is important to understand that the Book of Acts describes a very unique transition period, in which many people believed in Jesus while He was still on this Earth and were told to “wait” for the promise of the Holy Spirit. So those who believed in Christ before the coming of the Holy Spirit had to subsequently receive the Holy

6 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement Spirit, which was evidenced in various places throughout the Book of Acts. This does not seem Repentance and Baptism (Acts 2:37-41, 3:19) to be a normative pattern set for believers. The person receives the Holy Spirit the moment he or she is converted. Paul describes this indwelling of the Spirit experienced by every believer in his letter to the Corinthians by saying, “we are all baptized by one Spirit into One Body.” (I Cor.12:13) Thus, while Spirit baptism subsequent to salvation is described on occasion in Acts, it is not prescribed for the Church going forward. Rather, the idea that the Holy Spirit “baptizes” a believer into the Body of Christ at the moment of conversion is the teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit that would apply to Christians today.

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, we pray that God would lead us into lives that are repentant, dependent and expectant. We pray we would repent by regularly turning from our sin and to Jesus, so that we might be witnesses of the power of the gospel in our own lives. Also, we pray that God would grow us in dependence on the Holy Spirit as He who empowers our walk with Jesus and our witness of the power of the gospel to our neighbors, cities and the world. Lastly, we pray that we live expectantly, knowing that we are stewards of the Kingdom of God, as we await the return of Christ and the final and full establishment of His kingdom on earth.

The Book of WEEK 02 :1-5:42

Christ Alone (Acts 4:12)

“Christ alone” is one of the five “onlys” that summarize the Protestant Reformation. It is the basic belief that our salvation comes through the atoning work of Christ on the cross and that He is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved. He acts as the only Mediator between God and man. See also: I Timothy 2:5

The Boldness of Ordinary Men (Acts 4:13) When Peter and John stand before the Sanhedrin, they are standing before the very men who had put Jesus to death just weeks before. They are ordered to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, and they know full well that if they continue to spread the gospel, they could be put to death in the same way Jesus was. In the midst of this opposition, they pray for boldness and power from the Holy Spirit to continue their ministry (-30). These men were not simply more courageous than us; rather, they depended on God to give them boldness by remembering His promises and His sovereignty. As we seek to follow Christ, it is helpful to remember that we will also be opposed by this world, but He who is in us is more powerful than this world.

When the religious leaders saw the courage of Peter and John, they were astonished that these

8 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement ordinary men could speak so boldly to them. They noted that these were the men who had been with Jesus. As the 12 disciples had spent day after day with Jesus during His ministry, they were slowly transformed from ordinary Jewish men into bold and passionate heralds of the gospel. It wasn’t their natural abilities or talents that made them who they were; it was the way they followed, imitated, and were shaped by the discipleship of Jesus. On their own, they were ordinary, but by following Jesus and through the Holy Spirit’s power, they became extraordinary. God loves to use humble, ordinary people in His service! Jesus desires for us to be available, faithful and to spend time with Him, so we too may be transformed into men and women who will impact the world for Christ. See also: Philippians 1:6, 2:13; I John 4:4

Obey God, Not Men (Acts 5:29)

The disciples are filling Jerusalem with the gospel of Jesus, and many are being converted. The religious leaders call them in and give them strict orders not to teach in the name of Jesus. Peter and the other apostles reply, “We must obey God rather than men!” The disciples would rather die as faithful witnesses of Jesus than stop telling others about their Savior and King. Their greatest desire is to be obedient to the Lord Jesus and to share His love with others. This attitude creates an incredible freedom to

The Book of WEEK 02 Acts 4:1-5:42

serve the Lord and not be a slave to the opinions of man. As believers in Christ, we live to please God and to be faithful to Him. The disciples exemplify for us what it means to be faithful. See also: Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 11; I John 5:2

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, our hope is that we would celebrate and be humbled by the fact that God uses ordinary men and women like us to bring redemption to the world we live in and those around us. We are inspired by the example of the disciples’ boldness and willingness to suffer for the name of Jesus, and we pray that God would cultivate this same boldness in us. While the world will always be in opposition to the name of Jesus and the spread of His gospel through us, we are called to live wholeheartedly for Christ in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation, holding out the word of life to all. (Phil. 2:15-16) Our desire is that we too would stand firm in the faith regardless of our circumstances, looking forward to the day when we will worship before the throne of Jesus, that we might hear Him say, “well done my good and faithful servant!”

10 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement Gospel Response

The Book of WEEK 03 :1-8:25

Martyrdom (Acts 6-7)

In the death of Stephen, we see the first Christian martyr. Stephen, who was selected to help serve widows because he was of “good repute full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3), was a Gentile convert to Christ. Stephen was arrested by the religious leaders of his day, and during his trial, he clearly testified that all of the Scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah. The religious leaders rejected Stephen’s teachings and stoned him to death. In the first martyr of the church, we see that following Christ does not guarantee us ease and comfort in this life. We also see in Stephen’s death a beautiful picture of the gospel, as he echoes Jesus’ words from the cross, praying, “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” over those who are stoning him. Even in the discomfort of death, he knew the comfort of forgiveness so powerfully that he wanted it extended to those who were killing him! See also: II Timothy 3:12

Forgiveness (Acts 7)

Forgiveness is a major theme of Scripture. This is powerfully displayed in the death of Stephen as he asked for forgiveness for those who were killing him. While forgiving those who wrong us is never easy, it is possible and necessary for those of us who claim the forgiveness of sins in Christ. Apart from experiencing the grace of the gospel, forgiving those who wrong us is not only

12 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement difficult, but also illogical. However, when we are ever mindful of how much we have been forgiven by God, we are able to freely forgive others in the same way. See also: Matthew 6:15; Mark 11:25; Luke 23:34

Free Gift (Acts 8:9-24)

Simon the Magician witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit and desired this power for himself. He offered to buy the Holy Spirit because he wanted His power, but the Holy Spirit cannot be bought. The Holy Spirit is a gift that God freely and graciously sends to bring us into faith and repentance. This gift is not earned or deserved and cannot be bought. As Christians, we have the privilege and assurance of knowing the Holy Spirit now lives in us, and it is only by the Spirit working in and through us that we can minister to others. See also: John 14:16,26; John 16:7-8; Ephesians 1:13

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, may we remember that Jesus Christ does not promise us an easy life here on earth. In fact, the events of the Book of Acts show us that those who truly follow Christ will suffer. However, even as we endure those who scorn and persecute us, we are able to forgive them because in Christ, we have been forgiven! And we have the ability to do this by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and only by His power!

The Book of WEEK 04 Acts 8:26-11:18

Gospel Conversion (Acts 8:26-40)

Philip meets the , and starting with Isaiah 53, Philip explains the good news about Jesus to him. He didn’t understand what he was reading until Philip began to guide him in his understanding. As the gospel is proclaimed to the Eunuch, his mind is illumined to its Truth, which is exemplified by his immediate desire to be baptized. Baptism is not a means of salvation; rather, it is an outward expression of an inward change that publicly declares that someone is identifying themselves as a disciple and follower of Christ (Romans 6:1-4). This passage demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel and how the entire Bible points to Jesus Christ. It also gives a clear picture of true conversion, as the Eunuch having had his eyes opened to his sin and the reality of Jesus as Savior, responds by turning from trust in himself to trust in Jesus, and desires to live a life of obedience shown in his immediate desire to be baptized. See also: John 1:12; Romans 10:14-17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-10

Gospel Transformation (Acts 9)

In Acts 9, we see the transforming power of the gospel through the conversion of Saul. Before Saul trusted in Christ for salvation, he was aggressively seeking to persecute and destroy the church. Jesus Himself appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, opening Saul’s eyes

14 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement to the Truth of who He is, and Saul’s life was never the same again. After his Damascus Road experience, Saul, now Paul, immediately begins testifying to the Truth of Christ and proclaiming the gospel in the synagogues. Paul clearly has a transformed heart, new desires and a clear mission for his life - to spread the gospel of Jesus to the nations. Paul was not without fault or sin, but he was clearly changed. When Jesus saves someone, He transforms them and makes them a new creation. See also: Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3

Gospel Advancement (Acts 8-11)

One of the common threads in Acts 8:26-11:18 is the advancement of the gospel through the lives of Philip, Paul and Peter, who are proclaiming Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles. They are living out the promise that the Lord Jesus made to the apostles in Acts 1:8, when He said they will be His witnesses in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” As followers of Christ, we have the incredible opportunity of carrying on this promise and being used by Him to proclaim the gospel to all nations for the glory of God and the salvation of sinners. There are so many people who, like the Eunuch, need someone to explain the good news of Jesus to them, and God has chosen to use us to bring the Good News of the Gospel to the world. We have the privilege to be like Philip and help guide others into an understanding of

The Book of WEEK 04 Acts 8:26-11:18

the gospel and witness lives being transformed by its power!

*From this point forward, the gospel will no longer be geographically limited to Israel, but instead, it will begin to expand rapidly to the ends of the earth. We celebrate this happening in that day, and we pray that we might be faithful in continuing the work of advancing the Gospel in our day. See also: Matthew 28:18-20

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, take some time to reflect on how God has been working in your life and how He has called you to Himself and transformed your life. Remembering how the gospel has transformed you (and continues to transform you) will result in living out of gratitude and delight in what Christ has done for you. Think about people God has placed in your life who haven’t experienced and don’t understand the life-changing power of the gospel and pray for them. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with them. Pray that God would give them eyes to see the Truth of the gospel, just as He did for the Ethiopian Eunuch, so they would be saved and made a new creation in Christ!

16 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement The Book of WEEK 05 Acts 11:19-13:52

“Christian” (Acts 11:26)

The term “Christian”, which literally means “little Christ”, is first used in Acts 11 as a term to describe those who followed Christ so closely that their lives resembled His. People didn’t originally claim this term for themselves as they do today. Rather, they were called “Christians” in recognition of their commitment to Christ and with a condescending tone. Even though the label “Christian” has lost much of the original weight of its meaning today, as it is applied so loosely and broadly, understanding its inception helps us understand it was originally meant to signify sincere allegiance to Christ above all else. The idea that this label is less about what we say about ourselves and more about what others say about us as they examine our lives is a great reminder that we want our lives to bring the aroma of Christ to those around us. See also: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Intercession (:1-18)

The church was praying fervently on behalf of Peter, who was in prison. This is what it means to “intercede” for someone. As the saints were praying for Peter, God miraculously released him from prison, much to their surprise. This story reminds us that even in the midst of our struggle to believe in God for what we are asking of Him, He hears our prayers and answers them,

18 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement and at times, He does so in supernatural fashion. God calls us to pray not because of our strong faith, but in the midst of our weak faith. As the church, the body of Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility to intercede on behalf of one another to God, and as we do, we remember and worship Jesus as the One who perfectly and continually intercedes for us all. See also: Romans 8:34; James 5:16

Gospel Joy (Acts 13:13-52)

Typically, people, even Christians, determine their happiness based on their circumstances. However, true joy is not based on our circumstances in this life, but in the unchanging and life-changing truths of gospel. In Acts, we see the “Christians” experiencing true joy even in the midst of great persecution because of their faith in Christ and the good news of the gospel. It was, in fact, the joy of the gospel that allowed them to overcome their fear. There is great joy among the Gentiles (Acts 13:47) when they hear the gospel! Again, in Acts 13:52, we see the disciples are filled with joy. As followers of Jesus, we can be joyful because we find our hope and security in Jesus and not in our circumstances. In Christ, we are promised both purpose and persecution in this life, but as we walk in the Spirit, we are also promised a joy that grows, rather than diminishes, in the reality of all we experience. See also: John 15:1-11; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 1:4

The Book of WEEK 05 Acts 11:19-13:52

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, we may need to recognize and repent of a lack of joy in our life due to our placing our hope and trust in our ever-changing circumstances and not in the unchanging love of Christ. We may need to reach out to our community and ask them to intercede for us in specific areas. The more we experience joy and display peace and love in the midst of difficult circumstances, the more our communities will see a picture of Christ in us, so we might be worthy to be called “Christians”.

20 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement Gospel Response

The Book of WEEK 06 :1-16:15

Stand Firm (Acts 14)

On his missionary journey, Paul and his companions experienced persecution at every stop. They faced a plot to kill them, as well as stoning, and in Acts 14:22, Paul reminded them that, “they must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” It’s encouraging to see that no matter how much opposition they faced, they remained firm and steadfast in their desire to advance the gospel. Even as they were persecuted, the gospel multiplied! Paul’s example inspires us to stand firm in the faith and not shrink back when we face persecution or opposition, as we seek to share the gospel and make disciples in our day. The theme of the Christian needing to stand firm amidst persecution is a common theme in the Bible. Persecution is guaranteed, but so is the presence of Christ. Jesus has promised, “I am with you always” to anyone who is committed to following Him and fulfilling His commission. He has sent His Holy Spirit to lead, guide, encourage, protect and empower anyone who has trusted Him as Lord and Savior. See also: Philippians 1:27-30

Gospel Clarification (Acts 15)

As the gospel multiplied throughout Minor, there arose some false teachers who were preaching a false gospel. The leaders of the church called together the Jerusalem Council to

22 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement clarify the gospel as it moved out from the Jews to the Gentiles. They reminded everyone that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and that we must not add or subtract anything from the gospel. It is vitally important that we have a firm understanding of the gospel and don’t try to take away or add anything to it as we share it with others today. We too must be continually reminded that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. See also: :16; I Corinthians 15:1-11; Ephesians 2:8-9

Discipleship Vision ()

As Paul continues on his missionary journey, he goes through , where he invites a young man named Timothy to join him. Timothy becomes Paul’s son in the faith and travels with him, getting to witness every part of Paul’s life as Paul invests the truth of the gospel into him. Paul is a great example to us of what it looks like to make disciples as a lifestyle, as he was always investing deeply into others. Paul’s example again inspires us to look for those who we can invest the gospel and our lives into, so that Christ may be more fully formed in them and in us as well. Jesus invites us to follow Him and promises those willing that He will make them “fishers of men” There are few things more “Christ-like” than making disciples! See also: Matthew 4:19; II Timothy 2:1-2

The Book of Acts 23 WEEK 06 Acts 14:1-16:15

Gospel Perseverance (Acts 16)

The first time Paul goes to Lystra in Acts 14:8- 20, he preaches the gospel, and though many believe, a crowd rises up in opposition to him and drags him out of the city, where they stone him and leave him for dead. However, Paul is not dead, and when he gets up, he goes back into the city and continues preaching the gospel! In Acts 16:1-5, Paul returns to Lystra, and it’s on this return trip that Timothy joins him. One can only assume that God used Paul’s perseverance in the gospel to capture young Timothy’s heart. What a great reminder to remain faithful even when we are experienc- ing seasons of opposition or making no visible impact on anyone else’s life. Often God will use hard times in the present to prepare His servants for greater effectiveness in the future. See also: I Corinthians 15:58; Ephesian 6:18; Hebrews 4:14; Revelation 2:25

24 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, we remember that as followers of Jesus here on earth, we are going to experience opposition, attacks on the faith, false teachers and various other trials. As these things happen, we should take heart in the fact that God is always in control. We are called to be faithful to Christ and patiently await the day He will return, and we will be with Him forever! Even in the midst of hardships here on earth, we can experience the joy of investing our lives in things that will last for eternity, knowing that God will use our lives for His purposes of bringing the gospel to all nations. The gospel cannot be stopped by our weakness or this worlds strength, and for this, we praise God!

The Book of WEEK 07 Acts 16:16-19:20

Gospel Suffering (Acts 16:16-24)

Paul and his companions suffer physical abuse and are repeatedly thrown into prison. Suffering for Christ is seen as an expectation rather than a surprise. It leads the believers to rejoice. Jesus told His disciples (John 15:18) that if the world hated Him, they would hate those who follow Him. When we follow Christ, we will suffer. It may come through malicious speech, gossip, or false accusations that threaten our reputation. We might even lose friends and family. However, this week’s Scripture reading reminds us that God can use our suffering to bring us into deeper intimacy with Him, and to lead others to salvation. We must remember when we suffer, that we are not alone in our suffering (He is with us!), and it is never an accident. He is sovereign over our suffering and has promised “all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) See also: II Corinthians 4:16-17; Colossians 1:24-29

26 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement Evangelism/Witnessing (Acts 16:25-40)

Followers of Christ have the great privilege to verbally share the gospel everywhere, and therefore, we must be prepared to present Jesus to lost people regardless of the circumstances. The Scripture this week highlights the fact that we do not have to be afraid as we present the gospel because of the work of the Holy Spirit inside of us. Christians must be culturally relevant to effectively witness to different types of people from every walk of life. While cultural relevance serves our effectiveness in witnessing, it is not primarily our expertise, but our dependence on the Spirit that allows us to faithfully share and show the gospel of Jesus to others. See also: I Corinthians 2

Idolatry (Acts 17:1-9)

When Paul stood up at the Areopagus, he mentioned that the men of were very religious. This was evident, as the ancient world was filled with false idols that people worshiped. Today, our society is filled with idols that are not always as easy to recognize, but they permeate the hearts of people nonetheless. Unfortunately, the idols of the heart compel individuals to respond to them with love, trust and obedience. This week’s reading challenges us to examine ourselves so we can repent of the idolatry in our own hearts and live lives surrendered to Jesus. See also: Colossians 3:5-11

The Book of WEEK 07 Acts 16:16-19:20

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, we are reminded that we will suffer in life, and yet the gospel declares that we are not alone in our suffering when we are alive in Christ. We have the great privilege of sharing the good news of Jesus with a world that is suffering. In this world, our hearts are prone to turn to idols, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is far greater than anything this world has to offer. We continue in repentance of the idols we see in our own lives and rejoice that God makes us free from sin and empowers us to live for Him and witness to others about the salvation we have in Christ!

28 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement The Book of Acts 29 WEEK 08 Acts 19:21-22:30

Cost of Following Jesus (Acts 19-22)

As Paul was making his way to Jerusalem, some of the disciples were afraid for his life because God had revealed that Paul would be bound and handed over to the Gentiles there. They begged him not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul kept his eyes on the mission God had given him. Paul makes the declaration that he is not only willing to be bound for the sake of the Gospel, but also that he is willing to die. Paul counted the cost of following Christ and was prepared to go through hardships to be His faithful servant. In the same way, Jesus calls us to count the costs of following Him and not to retreat back into comfort when following Him becomes difficult. See also: Jeremiah 45:4-5; Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:3

Priorities (Acts 19-22)

Paul was twice opposed in these chapters by men who placed a high priority on money and power. In , the gospel had begun to affect the economy so much that the men who made idols were losing money, and thus, incited a riot in opposition to Paul. A short time later, the Jewish religious leaders, afraid of losing their power and authority, had Paul arrested in the temple on false charges. It’s amazing; in light of all he faced, Paul persevered in his mission to make Christ known to a lost world. In each of these

30 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement incidents, it would have been far easier if he had simply stopped following Christ or proclaiming the gospel. But the secret to Paul’s perseverance is seen in :24 when he declares, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul’s first priority was Christ and the advancement of the Gospel; thus, nothing else he faced could deter him from the mission of testifying to the gospel of grace. Paul felt this his greatest privilege, and as followers of Christ, we share that privilege today! See also: Matthew 10:29; John 12:25

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, we ask that God would give us a true and right perspective of our priorities in this life, and that Christ would truly be our all. We ask that we be reminded of His sovereignty in the midst of our hardships and sufferings in this life, and we never forget this world is only a shadow of the substance to come when we are in the Presence of Christ. As God grows our character through hardships, we can more effectively model the gospel to the world around us and faithfully invest our lives into the next generation for the glory of God.

The Book of Acts 31 WEEK 09 Acts 23:1-25:1-27

Live from God’s Approval (Acts 23:1-11)

As Paul is on trial for his life before the council and Felix, he shares his testimony and points directly to Jesus Christ as his only hope. Paul doesn’t fear the leaders of his day who are threatening his life because his hope is found in the Lord and not in men’s approval or protection. (Acts 23:1) As Christians, we have been set free from the insecurities that come with being consumed with what others think of us. When our hope is in Christ, we see his approval as more important than that of others around us, and we can live our lives from the approval of God rather than for the approval of men. See also: Luke 19:17; Galatians 1:10

Trust/ Courage (-15)

Paul evidences incredible trust in the Lord as he’s falsely accused repeatedly in these passages. Throughout this difficult time, Paul believes God is in control, and even leading his circumstances rather than thinking that God has abandoned him. Paul does not give up hope in the face of lies and injustice because he trusts the Lord. May we learn from Paul’s example to trust God in the difficult circumstances of our life and realize that He will never abandon us. Even though his life is in danger, Paul boldly speaks the truth before kings and governors

32 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement because his confidence is in Christ. Everywhere God takes him, he witnesses to what Christ has done.

(Example: Acts 23:11). Paul’s life is an encouragement to us today to speak the truth with courage in every circumstance that God allows or purposes in our lives. See also: Philippians 2:1-11; II Timothy 2:11-13

Gospel Response

In response to this week’s reading, we recognize how enslaving it is to live for the approval of others. We confess that we tend to fear others more than God and care far too much about what others think of us. We also see that it is only in living in light of the gospel that we can find true joy and fullness. As we learn to trust more and more in Christ, we are able to live with courage in the face of opposition, trust in the Lord’s direction of our lives and be confident in His provision for us in the midst of every circumstance.

The Book of Acts 33 WEEK 10 Acts 26:1-28:31

Personal Testimony (Acts 26:1-30)

When Paul goes on trial before Agrippa, he uses the testimony of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and his ensuing transformation as evidence for the truth of the gospel. Our testimonies as believers are a powerful way to share the gospel and give evidence of the power of the gospel in our lives. Do you feel comfortable sharing with others the story of how Jesus has impacted your life? Practice sharing your testimony with your gospel journey group this week, and then encourage one another to share the gospel with a non-believer! See also: Acts 4:33; II Thessalonians 1:10-12; Rev. 12:11

God’s Sovereignty (Acts 27)

In the midst of a terrible sea storm while on the way to , Paul remains confident that God will bring him to safety, never questioning that things will unfold just as God has told him (27:25). Paul has an incredible faith in the sovereignty of God that allows him to be courageous in dark circumstances. See also: Acts 2:23-23; Rom 11:33-35; Philippians 4:19-20; Colossians 2:9-15

Gospel-Centered Life ()

While on his way to Rome and in Rome under house arrest, Paul uses every opportunity he can to preach the gospel and teach the Scriptures 34 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement to those who are around him. Whether he’s standing before a king, the leaders of the Jews or his prison guards, he is always preaching the Word. Paul sees his life as a platform to share the gospel, no matter the circumstance. This is part and parcel to what it means to live a gospel- centered life. As we view our lives as platforms to share the gospel in our homes, workplaces, churches and communities, let us be always ready to give an answer for the hope within us (I Peter 3:15), and to continually look for opportunities to share the gospel with lost people and teach the Word to believers in our desire to present everyone perfect in Christ. See also: I Corinthians 2:2; Ephesians 1:15; Colossians 1:29

Gospel Response

As we wrap up this journey in Acts, we hope that witnessing the gospel movement in Asia minor in the first century would stir afresh the desire within us to see the gospel advance in our communities in our day until Christ returns! Each of us has the opportunity to be a light in a dark world and to invest our lives into others for the glory of God. Pray that at the end of your life on this earth, you would be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

The Book of Acts 35 Notes Notes

36 Path 2: Witnessing the Gospel Movement Notes

The Book of Acts 37 © Copyright Harvest Church of Memphis 2016