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Home , Acts 18, Acts 20, Acts 27

b. How many people were aboard the ship and how many made it ashore? See :37, 44.

Small Group Questions 4. In Acts 27:3, the ship travels up the coast to “The Church Afire:”In the Midst of the Storm” where Julius frees Paul to go to his friends to provide Acts 27:1–44 for his needs.

Previous Message Summary: Paul, still being held a. From verses 1-3 and 43, what do you know about captive by Governor Festus, had the opportunity to speak Julius? before King Agrippa and Bernice. Governor Festus was trying to come up with some reasonable charges against b. Why do you think a Roman soldier responsible for Paul. Paul gave us a great example of the different parts his prisoner’s captivity would let Paul go freely to of a testimony. his friends?

We learned that: c. If you were the centurion, would you let your a. God is in the “story changing” business. prisoner have so much freedom? b. We need to carefully think through how to tell our story. c. We need to pray that God uses our story to help spread d. Can you share a time when you trusted someone His story. with a big responsibility? Did it pay off or were you disappointed? As you begin, you may want to read this passage in its entirety. 5. Paul warned the crew that the ship was headed for disaster if the voyage continued. Julius chose to listen Introduction to the ship’s pilot and owner. See Acts 27:9-12.

1. Have you ever been seasick? What happened? How a. If you were the ship’s owner, how would you react did you recover? to Paul’s warning about a 50-mile trip they wanted to make (v. 10)? 2. What would you say is the biggest, most exciting, and eventful journey you have ever taken? b. Does it seem reasonable that they were so intent on continuing the voyage? Discussion Questions c. Would you have reacted any differently? 3. As Paul begins his journey to , who are the two friends traveling with him? See Acts 27:2 d. Have you ever been so intent on reaching a goal that you forgot to pay attention to the details? Can a. Where else in the book of Acts have we heard you give an example? about Aristarchus? See :28-31, :4. 6. What in verses 13-20 reveals how severe the storm was? Cor. 11:23-28. With this experience Paul was able to 7. Verse 27 indicates this situation lasted two weeks. keep a cool head, even telling the centurion and How would you be feeling by the end of this period? soldiers to keep the crew from escaping because they were needed to beach the ship. See Acts 27:31-32. 8. There is an interesting contrast between Jonah and Paul. Jonah 1:4-5, Acts 27. a. When have you experienced God’s help making it through a difficult trial, later to find yourself being a. Both were on ships, one following God, one used as an encouragement to others? running from God. b. Does Romans 8:28 reinforce this? b. Paul was interacting with the crew, encouraging them to stay together and eat. Jonah was 11. When have you felt caught in a “northeaster,” carried sleeping inside the ship, unaware of the storm. along by the wind? What happened? What did you learn from the situation? c. Paul and the crew jumped overboard, swimming to shore together and using parts of the ship to 12. What is the greatest pressure you are facing right stay afloat. Jonah was thrown overboard by the now? How can Paul’s example help you? crew so they could save themselves. Challenge d. In both stories the storm was an influential part of what happened to both men. 13. In this passage we see Paul taking each challenge of the voyage in stride, receiving encouragement from e. Even though none of us like storms in life, how God along the way, either through God’s spoken can God use them to guide us? word, or opportunities to share the gospel. Do you know that even through our darkest times God is with 9. In Acts 27:19-20, Paul and the crew gave up all hope you? See Hebrews 13:5. of being saved. In Acts 27:23-25, Paul talks about being encouraged because of receiving a visit from an Next Steps: angel of the God he serves. G I will allow my life to be anchored in God’s word (I a. How many times in the book of Acts has Paul have faith that things will happen like God said). received a heavenly visitation? See :3-6, :9-10, :17-18, :11. G I will be anchored by God’s ownership (the God whose I am). b. Notice that when Paul is in a difficult situation, God meets Paul’s need. Tell about an experience G I will be anchored in my service to God (the God when God met your need in a difficult situation. whom I serve).

10. In Acts 27:39-44, Paul’s voyage ends in a shipwreck. Paul was shipwrecked three times prior to this. See 2