bsf blog – Page 14 – The Notes are Good

BSF Acts: Week 7 – Opening Assembly – Acts 14

It was my turn to lead opening assembly last night and I decided to do something a little different than normal. A poem:

Paul and Barnabas

Paul and Barnabas, P&B,
2 brave disciples, missionaries, visionaries, for the man who died on the tree.

From Pisidian they left shaking the dust from their feet
To Iconium they came, preaching to the Jews and the Greeks.

Many are saved, many believe but the non-believing jews gather with not believing gentiles to deceive. Where the spirit moves and power achieves, satanic forces mount creating a division of this very city. Many are fore, some are against, a conspiracy to stone P&B is conceived.

P&B flee.

To Lycaonia, a new song is sung, but confusion ensues from ignorance and a foreign tongue. When Paul, through the power of the spirit of the Lord, heals a lame man, a believer, who jumps up for joy. But confusion, frustration, appalation ensues when instead of worship God the locals brand Paul as Hermes and Barnabas as Zeus. The apostles tear their clothing, they preach and they plead: worship only the creator not a man such as me.

Then the wolves arrive. The Jews strive
to turn the local sheep into an angry herd.

The mob turns on the apostolic messengers, casting out a punishment as if they were common blasphemers,
they pick up rocks they pick up stones and throw them at Paul’s head
Bleeding and broken the mob drags him out, leaving him for dead.

The disciples gather in prayer, around Paul whom they plan to bury
but he jumps up, alive, and marches right back into the city.

Then to Derbe, preaching and blessing, the very next day
despite persecution, despite attempted execution, the word of God is here to stay.

They travel back through each town, lifting up the new leaders, strengthening churches, and teaching, encouraging new believers.

The seeds have been planted, the church roots enchanted with the spirit, the word, the living breath that was granted, that was breathed into man into dirt to create life, that spoke , that healed, that gave everlasting peace, that provided new sight

to the blind, and legs to the lame, hope for a sinner, that is the reason the lamb was slain. But death is defeated, sin has been beaten. The son of man sings from the throne of the King.

So this hollows eve, we focus our thoughts on the work of the spirit that came from the on-high and on 2 humble servants who were open to gentiles like me, these brave missionaries, with the initial P and the initial B.

BSF Acts Study: Week 8, Day 1

2. My take-away from the notes this week was about ways that the local church is built and strengthened. When I think of mission work, either local or away from home, I think mostly about doing works or building relationships to spread the word of the Lord. Clearly, that is a major emphasis and we have seen Paul and Barnabas doing that everywhere they went. But that is only the first step. For that seed to take root it must be nurtured. I found the discussion on page 4 about strengthening, preparing, uniting and committing the new believers into local churches very informative and good food-for-thought. I had not thought about it before, but to realize that these new gentile believers were not welcome in the synagogues (the normal place for discussions about God), and as a result a new structure of house churches was being created even as the good news was being spread. I also thought it was interesting to think about how Paul and Barnabas strengthened their home church in Antioch with the stories about their trip. I had thought about their time back at the church as a way for them to re-energize and rest, but hadn’t thought about how powerful and inspiring their tales would be to the believers in the local church.

BSF Acts: Bible Lesson 8 – Acts 14: Lecture

Aim: A relationship with Christ requires commitment. Commitment means not quitting when things get hard.

Introduction: Have you ever ridden on a roller coaster? When you decide to do it, you step into the car, snap the safety belt and the train leaves the station. You are committed all the way through, there isn’t anywhere to get off or turn back. When Paul and Barnabas were called by the Holy Spirit in Antioch to go on this mission trip, they prayed about it, the church prayed and fasted, they knew this is what they were supposed to do. They got onboard and strapped in. No matter the ups and downs, no matter how scary, they were going all the way. That’s commitment.

Last week we saw Paul and Barnabas shaking the dust from their feet as they left Pisidian Antioch, wanting to leave the negative things behind them. This week we see that the negative people followed them anyway, but some truly amazing things happen in spite of the opposition.

1st Division: Acts 14: 1-7 Paul and Barnabas speak effectively and boldly and many believe, but division occurs.

Principle: The power of the spirit raises the notice of the opposition

Illustration: Picture this: In a football game, a player is fumbling the ball, missing catches, doing bad passes or hand-offs and you are the coach of the other team. How many of your players are you going to devote to covering this person? Probably none. It is like they are on your team already. But what about the player who is doing everything well and scoring lots of points for their team. You might double or even triple team that player. We see this with Paul and Barnabas, but we also see it with our christian leaders today. When you are actively spreading the word and being bold and effective, evil powers will be sent to put pressure on you, to get in your way and to try to prevent you from winning. Thankfully, God has the master game plan!

Application: Are you asking for the ball? Are you practicing to be a better player on God’s team? Would satan worry about getting in your way?

2nd Division: Acts 14: 8-18 Paul and Barnabas show the power and majesty of the Creator, but the people of Lystra give credit to the created.

Principle: Only those who truly listen receive the miracle of faith

Illustration: When my wife was a child her parents saved up for months to buy her and her sister a kitchen set for Christmas. After opening the gift, the 2 kids spent much of the rest of the day playing with the box, ignoring the actual gift. This is how people can be. The healing of the lame man was only the outer wrapping of the actual healing that was occurring in his soul. The ability to walk on this earth was very short compared to his ability to walk the streets of heaven.

Application: Where are you being blinded by the wrappings instead focusing on the real gift? Where do you need to listen first so that you may be blessed?

3rd Division: Acts 14: 19-28 The Jews arrive, Paul is stoned, Paul is revived and continues in strength

Illustration: Life is full of peeks, valleys and plains. When we are a committed christian we will face opposition and persecution, and while we may not be stronger and we may be afraid and beaten down to our very last breath, God is stronger. God doesn’t ask us to go on alone. He doesn’t promise a smooth path, just the opposite, but he does promise to yolk us together with Him and with others. Often we gain our greatest encouragement and strength from those we teach. This is what Paul and Barnabas experienced as they finished their roller coaster ride back to its starting point in Antioch.

Application: Are you committed? Do you desire a flat trail – if so that might only be achieved once you flatline? Who are you encouraging and teaching so that you might be strengthened?

Conclusion: Lynn Anderson may have summed it up best – “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain sometimes.”

BSF Acts: Week 7, Day 6 – Acts 14:20b–28

Acts 14:20b–28.

15. I think Paul and Barnabas strengthened and united the disciples through teaching, leadership, helping them establish organization and leadership, through prayer, through a pattern of worship and through hands-on-blessings?

16. Faith is like a muscle, to be strengthened it must be exercised which can be difficult. I want to encourage others to persevere and to establish a “faith exercise routine.” (something I need to do far more of myself)

BSF Acts: Week 7, Day 5, Acts 14:20b-28

Acts 14:20b–28.

Summary: A stop at Derbe (another shepherds town in the plain), more disciples and more preaching. Then, believe it or not, Paul and Barnabas travel right back through all the towns they just visited. Not quietly. Not in hiding. But boldly proclaiming the gospel and continuing to win souls. They appoint elders as they go. They return to their home church and stay “for a long time.”

Questions:

13. a. Gaius and Timothy

b. The first difference is that they did not get run out of town. Maybe the Jews thought Paul was dead and went back home. Secondly, they picked up companions who would travel with them.

c. The question about how God shows grace implies that we are promised breaks in our suffering. I may just be a contrarian, but I do not think that is really what the scripture says (see more in conclusions below). I think the main area of grace that is shown in the city of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Pisidia is that God allowed Paul and Barnabas to be strengthened by seeing the harvest begin to come in.

14. How does each of the following verses show Paul’s love and care for those he led to Christ?

a. Acts 14:21–23 First: The fact that he came back! We must face many hardships

b. 2 Corinthians 7:3 Paul is willing to live or die for the disciples

c. Galatians 4:19 Paul thought of new believers as his own infant children (still in pains of childbirth)

d. 1 Thessalonians 2:7–11 Disciples are like family. Shared the gospel and life, working day and night to care for them (like a parent).

e. 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 Believers are Paul’s Joy, Crown, Glory in heaven

f. 1 Thessalonians 3:8 Believers standing firm in the Lord is the very meaning of Paul’s life

Conclusion: First, please do not miss the utterly amazing fact that Paul and Barnabas go right back through these places where there were direct and imminent threats on their lives. Talk about a walk of faith. In Rotary Club we talk about putting “service above self”, but we see that magnified in this death defying bravery.

Second (soapbox time): All too often misquotes of scripture end up in our common language and become elements that believers think are actually in the bible. One of these common misquotes is that “God will not give us more than we can bear.” That isn’t actually what it says. The verse this refers to is 1 Cor 10: 13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Notice that this refers specifically to temptation, not every day life and hardships.

Why am I so preachy on this? I am concerned that it is implied in question 13c. Clearly Stephen received more than he could humanly stand. James did as well. It is important because I think sometimes, when we don’t understand what this is really saying and we grasp to the misquotation, we struggle in our faith. When we feel utterly broken, when we experience senseless death and violence, when we suffer from the loss or betrayal of a loved one – we can feel that, in fact, God has given us more than we can bear and therefore the scriptures must be a lie. But that is not what it says!

God does not promise us 2 hard days followed by an easy day. What he does promise is that he will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can stand up under. In other words, He will not lose us to sin ever again. We are His and neither sin nor temptation can ever steal us away from Him.

But, in regard to hardship, pain and sadness he promises something different. He promises to be yoked to us, to share our burden and carry us through it. He promises hope and eternity. He promises us His love and the willingness to lay down His son’s life for us.

If you are experiencing depression, pain, loss, fear, sadness, all more than you can bear – please do not fall to misquoted bumper stickers. It may, in fact, be more than you can humanly bear – but it is not more than God can take and bear for you. Pray. Allow others to pray for you, but know that you are not abandoned and the real scriptures do not lie.

End of sermon (sorry!)

Acts: Week 7, Day 4

Acts 14:19–20a and 2 Timothy 3:10–17.

Summary: The wolves arrive in Wolf Land! Out of town Jews travel over 100 miles to “win the crowd”. They take stone Paul and take him out of the city, but after they leave him for dead he got up and went back into town.

10. How quickly things can turn and how dangerous crowds (mobs) can become. But, seriously, after being left for dead by stoning Paul gets up and “went back into town”!?!?! I cannot see myself ever stepping foot back in the gates!

11. From Acts 16:1–3; Philippians 2:19–21; and 2 Timothy 1:2–5:

a. Timothy

b. I’m assuming this question refers to Gal 5:22-23 the fruits of the spirit (especially since that was the children’s memory verse this week!) Paul, in Timothy, found love, joy, kindness, goodness and faithfulness

c. God provides, through trials and persecution come blessings, the spirit blesses us through those we help teach and lead

12. (Challenge) I think this question is asking if Paul died at Lystra and then came back from the dead. Did he have an experience such as described in modern books such as Heaven is for Real or The boy who came back from heaven (both great reads, BTW)? Reading verse 5 of 2 Corinthians 12, I don’t think so. I think, in these verses he is talking about John. Paul may have died and been revived and he may have had a vision of heaven and the writing of this second letter to the Corinthians may have been 14 years later, but I think this passage refers to the Revelation to John – Rev 1:9-10, Rev 4:1

Conclusion: This verse and a half are the patron verses (is there such a thing?) of anyone who has worked in senior management, particularly at a large corporation. One day you can do no wrong. The people think you are a god. The next, a new consultant/author/leader comes on the scene. Next thing you know, you are being dragged outside the city walls and people are hurling stones at you!

Matthew Henry once said, “popular breath turns like the wind.” In our culture being liked, being popular, fitting in, particularly in youth but, frankly in all of us, can become an obsession. We can count and compare how many “friends” we have on Facebook. We can turn the television on to any number of shows based on judges criticizing (lambasting for sport) contestants. Paul learned a very important lesson in Lystra that he never forgot. It is never about Paul’s ministry, it is always about Jesus Christ.

Finally – is anyone else having a Sergeant Peppers album flashback??? Paul is dead. I buried Paul. (sorry, another one of those generational moments I have!)

Acts: Week 7, Day 2

Acts 14:1–7

Summary: Paul and Barnabas preached “as usual”, effectively and boldy, in Iconium. God confirms His message of grace through miracles. The city is divided into two camps, Apostles and Jews. P&B learn of a plot to stone them so they leave for the outlying towns.

Questions

3. a. Effectively and boldly

b. Because I have learned to rely on the words of the bible and not my own, my witnessing is effective. However, I find that I am mostly bold in situations which probably do not require much boldness.

4. The word was spoken, many are saved, miracles are performed, but opposition was organized against the truth.

5. They rejected the message as being the truth and, as a result, fought it with the same fervor that Saul did before he saw the light. This is not a surprising reaction, although it is wrong.

Conclusion: Iconium, modern Konya, is on a roadway southeast of Pisidian Antioch by approximately 100 miles. According to last week’s notes, we learned that Romans considered a good day travel in this region to be about 16 miles so it would have taken the better part of a full week of travel to get here As you can see from maps of the area, Iconium is on a direct pathway, and roadway of that day, from Pisidian Antioch to Tarsus (Paul’s home town). The city, which was the capital of the area of Lycaonia, sits on the western edge of a great plain at 3600 feet elevation (more on this on Week 7, Day 3 Questions).

As the apostles head in the direction of Tarsus, they begin experiencing more of the fervor that Saul brought to the scene in his previous life. The Jews who stand in opposition to the truth, particularly now that “their God” is being co-opted into a God who is available to gentiles without them becoming jewish, is hitting a little too close to the core of what they hold as “theirs alone.” As a result, the passion against the truth is rising. Even with the authorities in Jerusalem, in opposition to Peter, we saw them mostly imprison, scold, and beat the Apostles. But, here, now, we see the people move quickly from treating them as guests invited to speak in the temple to something less that human that you would kill without trial by a mob throwing stones at it.

We will see Paul return to each of these places where seeds have been planted in future chapters of Acts and in the epistles. However, we also know that he felt the hatred of those who stood in opposition not only of him but of the grace of God. In 2 Tim 3:14 he recounts the persecution that he faced in this area.

Acts: Week 7, Day 1

2. There were three things that I found very interesting in this week’s notes.

The first was that Paul’s three missionary trips, the heart of his ministry, in total lasted only 10-13 years. What an amazing impact he made in such a short period of time. I have worked at jobs for more than 10 years and accomplished far, far less!

The second was the distance and terrain that Paul and his various companions travelled. In this first mission trip of 3 years, they spend almost 10 percent of their total time travelling from place to place, over treaturous seas and snow covered mountains on rickety bridges.. In each new town they have to find lodging and work (they supported themselves along the way so as not to be a burden or lead anyone astray.)

Third was the realization that the only reason that we have the writings of Paul is because God allowed him to be imprisoned. Had it not been for his forced solitude, it is clear that he would be in the field saving souls, not locked in a cell with someone documenting the notes, information and faith.

We are so richly blessed by the way that the Holy Spirit worked through this one man’s life. But, to me, the biggest realization is that the power of the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to work to that level again, today, in any devoted christian. Who knows what an amazing story our generation of believers may leave to childrena dn grand-children.

Acts: Week 6, Day 5

Acts 13:42–52.

Envy and jealousy prevent Jews from accepting the gift. Paul calls them on their rejection and quotes Isaiah – a light to the gentiles is now on the move. Paul and Barnabas leave the torment behind, shaking the very dirt from their sandals, and carry on in joy.

13. Salvation is not a one time event – it means to live a changed life. To lean on and trust in the Lord daily and in all things. Grace is also the means to faith (Eph 2:8: it is by grace you have been saved through faith

14. (Challenge) a. Reject:

Rom 2:8

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger

Isa 49:6

he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

15. a The gentiles listened and were saved. The Jews did not and were not

b. Too often I obsess and it festers. I need to be better at shaking it off and letting it go. I love the analogy of shaking the dust from my feet – not bringing any part of their negativism along with me.

Conclusion:

Paul is not one to mince words. It is not accept the gift or don’t accept the gift. There is no neutral state in Paul’s message. You are either going forward or you are in reverse. There is no parking. You either accept the truth that Jesus is Lord or you have rejected it, calling it a lie.

Again – Paul cuts to the chase of the truth in a way that we are all to “wishy-washy” about today. We allow so many to take a neutral stance, at least in their eyes. “I’m not going to say you are lying in what you say about the gospel, but, while it may be true for you it is not necessarily true for me.” And, we let it go. In the words of the bible, that is the worst possible position to take. Either accept it or reject it, but don’t be luke warm. Why? Because it corrupts the truth. It chisels away, not in an attack on the truth, but like rain does, one drop at a time it wears away at the truth, not making it less true, but by creating a rule of tolerance where you are not allowed to speak the truth because it may not fit someone else’s belief system – no matter that their belief system is wrong and will land them in eternal damnation – we are too polite.

Paul was not polite.

Acts: Week 6, Day 3

Acts 13:1–14a.

After establishing leaders and teachers in the church in Antioch, Saul and Barnabas are called out by the Holy Spirit on a mission trip. After prayer and fasting, the church sends them forth. They travel broadly and deliver the good news to many.

5. a. Told by the Holy Spirit

b. Pray, fast and ask other members of the faith to do the same. Seek the blessing of the church.

6. a. Barnabas (and Saul) / Saul AKA Paul

b. Filled Paul with the H/S, Blinded Elymas, converted the procounsel

7. a. Pamphylia to return to Jerusalem

b. We don’t know. Could have been that he felt called back to Jerusalem. Could have been fear. Could have been concern over Paul’s illness and if this was right (Gal 4:13), Could have been issues that power was switching from Barnabas (his cousin) to Saul. We don’t know!

c. For a period of time, he lost Saul’s respect. He also lost participation in what was happening next in their mission

d. Jerusalem

e. We don’t know. Maybe it taught Mark a lesson and he grew to be a stronger missionary?

f. (Personal) Have I not gone a mission trip that later I regretted? Have I ever let someone down and that shaped me to be a better person so that I wouldn’t do it again? Have I fallen back to a position of comfort and safety when I wasn’t ready to face the trials around me? Yes, yes and yes. France and Joplin. Too many people to name including close family and friends. Almost on a weekly basis.

8. Paul’s first Mission Trip

Conclusion: I become frustrated by the “just suppose” questions. I’m of the belief that if it was material for the message of truth, then we would know, but little is gained by guessing the what’s and why’s that an action was taken. We know that Mark left. We know Saul was frustrated by it. We know that later Saul’s opinion of Mark changes with the conclusion that this is because Mark changed. We know Mark later wrote the gospel. We know that all events in our life and the decisions we make shape our learning and growth. But we seldom know why.

Now, off of my soap box. We are getting into territory that I struggle with. Not that I don’t understand maps, because I do, but because the names and arrows don’t tell me about the culture of the city. For business I have travelled a lot and each town and city has it’s own feel to it. So instead of focusing on distances and maps and arrows and miles, I researched the places in regard to feel of the town.

Antioch, we know, was a city of big commerce. This was a hub of activity, a city with solid roots, great infrastructure and good growth. It was one of the first cities to light their streets at night. It was a hub of commerce on major trade routes. This was a New York, Chicago, Denver, Dallas or LA.

From Antioch they travelled to the nearest major port city, Seleucia. There isn’t mention of specific preaching in this area, it seems like more of a launching off point, like a train or shipping hub. New Orleans, Houston, Philedephia.

From here they go to the island of Cyprus. We know that Barnabas grew up in Cyprus from Acts 4:36 and that many of the original preachers in Antioch were from Cyprus and Cyrene (Acts 11: 20). So this was in some ways a first trip into a land with some ties to the church at Antioch. They would have places to stay and people to meet.

While on the island of Cyprus, they travel to the western edge to Paphos. From what I’ve read, Paphos was the Las Vegas of that time. (Interesting that the sin-city of their day was also the seat of government – no further comment on that one!). There was heavy worship of Venus and Aphrodite, the goddesses of love and sex and immorality was rampant. (No offense to God fearing christians living in Vegas who might read this).

There is tradition to indicate that while souls were converted it was not without price or pain. Paul indicates in 2 Cor 11:24 that on 5 previous instances he had received 39 lashes (it was believed that 40 would kill a man). It is tradition in the area that the first of these lashings for speaking of Jesus in the synagogues occurred in Cyprus in Paphos and that Bar-Jesus aka Elymas may have been present.

In Paphos they encounter the Jewish Sorcerer (that is an interesting oxy-moron), who had attached himself to the court. After a smack down by Saul he is blinded but the proconsuls eyes are opened to faith in Jesus. From this point forward, Saul is now Paul.

Next they catch a boat off the island and head north and landed by Perga, which is a major coastal city, 5 miles inland from a major port of Attalia. Perga is a very wealthy city and the capital of Pamphylia. Mark catches a boat back to Jerusalem and Paul and Barnabas head farther inland to the north to Pisidian Antioch, which was the home of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul who had accepted the gift of salvation. We finish our verses today as they enter the synagogue in that city.