Bible Challenge Acts 13: “And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.”* In this chapter Saul is called Paul and together with Barnabas they set off on a missionary journey. Read Acts 13 online or look it up in your Bible. Going Deeper Before you start your daily reading, say a prayer asking God to guide your thinking as you read, and then read the Bible with the aim of learning something new. After the reading, consider how it may affect your life and relationship with your heavenly Father and allow your increased knowledge of the Scriptures to shape your character and strengthen your trust in God. Discussion notes on Acts 13 •As we saw with Stephen earlier, so we read (vv16-41) that Paul begins his witness with a summary of what his hearers would have already known. Why do you think he did this? •Can jealousy still overpower the desire for truth in today’s world (v45)? More on Acts 9 Barnabas went to Tarsus, bringing back Saul to Antioch – the centre of Christian activity. As the preached there, the worshippers came to be known as ‘Christians’ (Acts 11:26). But they felt the need to spread the Word to others. And so, with John Mark as their helper, they were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit (13:4). As each place, Saul’s strategy was to enter the synagogue and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the Jews first. Only when the message was rejected does Saul – who was also called Paul (v.9) – turn to the Gentiles. Jewish opposition soon forced Barnabas and Paul to move onward – to Iconium, Lystra, Derbe. Upon returning to Antioch, they sought to resolves the issue of how to integrate newly converted Gentiles into previously all-Jewish congregations. The Holy Spirit mentions Barnabas before Saul, when calling them on that first missionary journey. Barnabas could have easily tried to be the leader; after all, he’d been the church leader at Antioch, recruiting Saul as his ‘assistant’. He could have become envious of Paul’s leadership skills. But Barnabas had been given a priceless gift: that of being an encourager. In fact, his name means ‘son of encouragement’. He recognised Paul’s leadership and rejoiced in it. Encouragement is such a needed gift in the Church. Missiologist Ralph Winter gave his life to alerting Christians to the world’s ‘hidden people’. He tells us our globe contains over 17,000 areas that still need to hear of Christ. More than two billion people have no access to the gospel. What can we do? We can each be an encourager; praying, supporting those who are able to spread the gospel abroad. We can support those evangelising in our inner cities and communities. We can encourage those going through difficult times. Let’s be encouragers – always!
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 06:09:30 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015