Lesson 9 Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church

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Lesson 9: Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 – 18: 23)

Lesson 9: Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 – 18: 23) Paul’s 2 nd Missionary Journey

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Philippi (16: 11 -40) – Paul’s method of teaching Went to where the people were – v. 13 Ø Spoke to women gathered to pray – v. 13 Ø Use every opportunity – v. 24 -32 Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Philippi (16: 11 -40) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response Slave girl possessed with spirit of divination Ø Thought to be inspired by a Greek god Ø A demon’s endorsement is an unfavorable one Ø Once demon cast out, owners deprived profit Ø Paul and Silas thrown in prison Ø – No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ø Materialism (16 -19), defamation of character (19), prejudice (20), politics (20 -22)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Philippi (16: 11 -40) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response Lydia – a woman of prayer, piety, prosperity – She faithfully obeyed the Word Ø Jailer – a man who needed faith – He was told, “Believe” – v. 31 – Taught the Word of the Lord – v. 32 – Responded by repenting & being baptized – They rejoiced when they had bel’d/obeyed Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Philippi (16: 11 -40) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response – Key to conversion Like Lydia, must have an open mind. Ø Like the Jailer, must have an unquenchable desire for salvation. Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Thessalonica (17: 1 -9) – Paul’s method of teaching Went to where the people were – v. 1 Ø Try, try again (3 Sabbaths) – v. 2 Ø He “reasoned…from the Scriptures” – v. 2 Ø He spent time “explaining and demonstrating that…Jesus…is the Christ” – v. 3 Ø Presenting Jesus as King – v. 7 Ø This type of teaching led to the accusation: “These who have turned the world upside down…” – v. 6 Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Thessalonica (17: 1 -9) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response Jews proved to be very non-receptive Ø These words are used to describe their response: “envious, ” “evil, ” “mob, ” “uproar, ” “attacked, ” “dragged, ” “troubled. ” Ø Attacking a home and dragging the occupants out is pretty harsh! Ø – No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ø Envy (5), gossip (5), stir up hatred (5)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Thessalonica (17: 1 -9) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response Paul “persuaded…a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women” (v. 4). Ø Aristarchus and Secundus later became Paul’s traveling companions (20: 4) Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Thessalonica (17: 1 -9) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response – Key to conversion Ø Like certain Thessalonians, must be given to a logical use of Scripture.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Berea (17: 10 -15) – Paul’s method of teaching Went to where the people were – v. 10 Ø He didn’t put it off Ø He spoke the oracles of God – v. 11 Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Berea (17: 10 -15) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response Ø Enemies from Thessalonica: – Pursued Paul & Silas – Stirred up the crowds – Forced them to leave – No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ø Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, envy, etc. (cf. Gal. 5: 19 -21)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Berea (17: 10 -15) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response Ø Found fair-minded, noble individuals – Received Paul’s message with readiness » They had a predisposition to listen—desired it – Researched Paul’s message » “The Scriptures” were their authority/standard – Responded to Paul’s message with faith » Obedient, including Sopater (cf. 20: 4)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Berea (17: 10 -15) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response – Key to conversion Ø Like certain Bereans, must accept, respect & use the Bible as the only authority in religious matters.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Athens (17: 16 -34) – Paul’s method of teaching He reasoned – logically, methodically Ø Went to where the people were Ø Talked “with those who happened to be there” Ø The same message about “Jesus and the resurrection” (v. 18) was applicable to all men, even Epicureans, Stoic philosophers & idolaters Ø Recognized who he was speaking to and aimed his lesson directly at their spiritual needs Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Athens (17: 16 -34) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response “Some mocked” – v. 32 Ø Some delayed—“We will hear you again on this matter” – v. 32 Ø – No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ø Ridicule, “this babbler, ” trying to keep the people “given over to idols” (16, 18, 32)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Athens (17: 16 -34) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response Ø “Some men joined him and believed” – v. 34, including: – Dionysius the Areopagite – A woman named Damaris – And others with them

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Athens (17: 16 -34) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response – Key to conversion Ø Like certain Athenians, must have a submissive spirit even when unpopular.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Corinth (18: 1 -17) – Paul’s method of teaching He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath – v. 4 Ø Preached that Jesus is the Christ – v. 5 Ø When rejected, he did not stop. He went to find others who would be receptive. – v. 6 Ø Took strength from God and preached faithfully the Word of God – v. 9 -11 Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Corinth (18: 1 -17) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response “Opposed…blasphemed” – v. 6 Ø “the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul” – v. 12 Ø Took Paul to the proconsul saying, “This fellow persuades men…contrary to law” – v. 13 Ø Took Sosthenes & beat him – v. 17; cf. 1 Co. 1: 1 Ø – No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ø Ridicule, anger, rejection, politics (6, 12 -17)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Corinth (18: 1 -17) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response “Crispus…believed on the Lord with all his household” – v. 8; cf. 1 Cor. 1: 14 Ø “Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized” – v. 8 Ø “Believed” and “were baptized” are in the Greek imperfect tense—i. e. , people just kept on coming; a constant flow of conversions Ø

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • Advances in Corinth (18: 1 -17) – Paul’s method of teaching – Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) – Positive response – Key to conversion Ø Like certain Corinthians (Crispus, Gaius, Sosthenes), must have a willingness to change religions.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • We

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16: 1 - 18: 23) • We can be effective soul-winner for Jesus if we will follow the example of Paul: – We must be sensitive to our prospects’ feelings— why Paul circumcised Timothy (Acts 16: 1 -3). – We must love the lost—why Paul incessantly went to synagogues (Rom. 9: 1 -3; 10: 1). – We must believe in the power of the gospel (Rom. 1: 16). Such was Paul’s message in every city. – We must never silence God’s word. Even when opposed, mocked, imprisoned, etc. , Paul courageously preached without compromise (Acts 17: 30 -31).