The New Testament Story

‘Helping you find your way from Matthew to Revelation’

Regular Baptist Press

Unit 2  ‘Christ’s Church: Her History and Leadership

Session 5    The Church to the Ends of the Earth

PP Overview      

          This class is a survey of the life and work of the apostle Paul. It covers his three missionary journeys, his trip to Rome and the importance of the Jerusalem council.

PP Aims

By the end of this class, you will be able to:

          1. Briefly compare the missionary journeys of Paul

          2. Describe the importance and decision of the Jerusalem Council

          3. Summarize the activities of the early church

          4. Compare and contrast our church with the activities of the early church               

PP Key Verse:  ‘While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.’ Acts 13:2-3

Question: If this was all you knew about the rest of the book of Acts, what would the church’s next step be under the leadership of the Spirit?

·        To be a church on a mission following the direction of the Holy Spirit.

PP Read: Acts 1:8 ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

Question: Based on Acts 1:8; how far was the church to go in its ministry of witnessing of Jesus Christ?

·        To the ends of the earth

PP I. the First Missionary Journey

          Acts 13:1-14:28 records Paul’s first missionary journey. The church, which started in Jerusalem on Pentecost, had begun growing and reaching out.

PP    A. The Church of Antioch

          Some Jewish Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene (north Africa) planted a church in Antioch of Syria (Acts 11:20). With the growth of the baby church, the mother church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to give the new church plant spiritual guidance. (11:22) Under Barnabas’ ministry, the church grew and Barnabas needed help. He remembered Saul of Tarsus and went to find him. Barnabas and Saul spent a year teaching the new believers in Antioch (Acts 11:26)

          At the end of the year, the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul into full time missionary work (Acts 13:2). The church at Antioch became their sending church. Today this pattern is still followed.  Though many missionaries serve under the umbrella of a para-church mission board it is usually a local church that sends the missionary out to serve.

PP    B. The Field of Cyprus

PP     1. Salamis

                   Barnabas, Saul and John Mark took a ship from Selucia and sailed to Cyprus                             (about 125 miles) Their first stop was Salamis, the island’s largest city and seat of    government for that part of the island. It was there they preached in the  synagogue.

PP     2. Paphos

                   Crossing Cyprus and going west, they came to Paphos (Acts 13:6). It was there   they met the Roman Governor Sergius Paulus who wanted to hear about Jesus.   Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer opposed Saul, Barnabas and John Mark, but Saul called  down judgment on him and he was temporarily blinded. At this point, the governor  because a Christian.

                   It was here that Saul began to use his Roman name, Paul.

PP    C. The Word in Asia Minor

PP     1. Perga

                   They left Paphos and sailed to Pamphilia in Asia Minor (current Turkey) about 180 miles north. It was there that John Mark left the group.

Question: Why did John Mark leave Paul and Barnabas?

·        We don’t know. Whatever the reason, Paul didn’t take it well.

PP     2. Antioch in Pisidia

                   Traveling by land, Paul and Barnabas arrived in another city called Antioch about 100 miles away. Here many Jews and proselytes believed in Jesus. But those who did not believe ran Paul and Barnabas out of town…this happened a lot to them.

Question: What is a proselyte?

·        A convert

          3. Iconium, Lystra and Derbe

                   Paul and Barnabas traveled southeast and preached in the southern cities of                                Galatia.

                   In Lystra the people thought Barnabas was Zeus (Jupiter) the chief of the Gods.                         They thought Paul was Hermes (Mercury) the messenger of the Gods. They tried  to worship Paul and Barnabas, but they finally convinced them not to.

                   The people were superstitious and very gullible. They allowed the unbelieving                             Jews to convince them to have Paul stoned...he was stoned but by the grace of God  he survived.

Question: This is what true persecution is like. How have you been ‘persecuted’ for your faith?

PP    D. The Return to Antioch of Syria

          Paul and Barnabas returned home by way of Perga to Antioch of Syria. They had been gone 2 ½ years. When they retuned to their home church they gave a full report including a spectacular PowerPoint presentation. (Acts 14:27) They remained in Antioch for 3 years.

          Their homecoming was a time of real celebration as the home church heard all of what God had done through the lives of Paul and Barnabas. Modern missionaries also take what’s called ‘furloughs’ after a term on the field to report to their supporting churches all of what God had done through and around them. We should do our best to support and encourage our Kingdom Builders who are on furlough.

PP of 1^st Journey

PP II. The Jerusalem Council

Question: What do you know about the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15?

Read: Acts 15:1-35

This passage records a remarkable event in the life of the church. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that so many churches function as if there were no Jerusalem Council and no Acts 15:1-35.

Question: Why do you think I say that?

    A. The Date and issue

          The year is 50 AD. Certain men with Jewish backgrounds visited the church in Antioch and told them that they had to be circumcised (it was a Gentile church) to be saved. (Acts 15:1). Paul and Barnabas strongly opposed this and considered it to be false teaching. A church council was called to decide on the issue.

    B. The Leaders and the Decision

          The leader of the council and the church in Jerusalem at that time was the apostle James, the half-brother of Jesus and the one who wrote the Book of James.

          At this meeting both sides presented their views, followed by much debate, I am sure. Peter sided with Paul and told how God had sent him to Cornelius, the Roman centurion.  Cornelius was saved when he placed his faith in Jesus Christ for eternal life and not by participating in some religious ritual. That testimony ended the debate and the council was ready to hear from Paul and Barnabas about how God was working among the gentile churches. James, the leader of the Jerusalem church brought the council to an end. The council decided in favor of Paul and Barnabas.

PP Steps to the Temple in Pauls day.

    C. The Importance of this Council

Question: Why do you think this council is important to the church then and now?

PP

·        It was the 1^st great church council

·        The whole church was represented

·        It was the only council attended by the original apostles

·        It freed Gentile Christians from observing Jewish Christian rituals.

PP

·        It showed that churches can differ on doctrine, worship practices and governmental structure and still stand together.

·        It declared that salvation was by faith alone and not by works.

·        It showed that we all don’t have to be the same to be one and we shouldn’t judge other Christians or other churches just because they don’t believe, worship or live exactly the same way we do.

PP III. The Second Missionary Journey

    A. The Time

          Acts 15:36- 18:22 record Paul’s 2^nd missionary journey.

          After the council, Paul wanted to get back out on the field and so did Barnabas,  but there was a problem.

Question: What was the problem?

·        Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark, his cousin along. But Paul wouldn’t have it. Both men were very strong in their positions, neither would give in…too bad. So they went their separate ways.

                   -Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus and to the churches Paul and Barnabas had                         already started. It was also where Barnabas was from.

                   -Paul took Silas and went to Galatia by way of Cilicia.

          I have no doubt that Barnabas and Mark served the Lord faithfully on their missionary  trip, but Luke decides to retell Paul’s journey instead…Perhaps because he accompanied him on parts of it.

    B. The Places

PP     1. Cilicia

                   Paul and Silas went through Cilicia in Southeast Asia Minor. With Tarsus being on   the way, they probably stopped by to say hello to Paul’s family.

PP     2. Galatia

                   In southern Galatia they revisited Derbe and Lystra. At Lystra they added Timothy  to the team. Timothy was probably saved as a result of Paul’s 1^st missionary trip to   Lystra.

PP     3. Troas

                   Paul, Silas and Timothy left Lystra and went to Troas, the ancient city of Troy.

Question: What is famous about the city of Troy?

·        The Trojan horse

PP              It is in Troas that Luke joins the missionary team.

                   In Troas Paul received his Macedonian vision and from there he traveled to                                Europe.

          4. Samothracia (Sa  moth ra see ah)

                   Paul and his team head out by boat and 90 miles out they came to Samathracia.                          They stayed there for an unspecified amount of time. 90 miles later they came to the shores of Macedonia.

PP Macedonia

          5. Philippi

                   Paul then took a Roman road called ‘The Egyptian Way’ from Neapolis (New                            City) to Philippi. The 10 mile journey would have taken about 4-6 hours.

                   Philippi was named after Alexander the Greats father, Phillip of Macedon.

                   Philippi had very few Jews and no synagogue so Paul had to employ a different                          approach to his ministry. He and his group crashed a women’s prayer meeting by  the river and used this as his focal point for ministry.

Question: What does this tell us about how to reach out to people?

·        There are many acceptable ways, not just one way.

·        We should be trying new and different things depending on the people and the need.

Question: What specific woman did Paul find there and God saved?

·        Lydia was perhaps single or widowed and apparently wealthy: she was a merchant selling  purple cloth. She was a faithful supported of Paul’s ministry .

                   Later, a demon possessed women followed Paul and the group all over town. Paul  cast out the demon and the people of the city falsely accused Paul and Silas and they were thrown in prison w/o a trial.

PP Prison

Question: What happened in prison that makes this event rather special?      

·        Paul and Silas witnessed not only with spoken words but with their lives…and with song. They held a hymn-sing while in prison.

·        Their actions were a testimony to the other prisoners.

·        God caused an earthquake which released the prisoners chains and opened the cell doors

·        The jailer asked Paul what he needed to do to be saved (Acts 16:30) and Paul answered ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Acts 16:31) He believed and he was saved.

                   That question is the most important question anyone can ever ask. And the answer  is always the same…Believe in Jesus Christ.

PP     6. Thessalonica

                   After leaving Philippi, the gang traveled 70 miles southwest on ‘The Egyptian                              Way’ and came to Thessalonica. Many there believed in Jesus but the unbelievers   started a riot.

                   Jason, a leader in the local synagogue but up bail for the group and assured the city                    there would be no more trouble.

PP gates

PP     7. Berea

                   60 miles southwest of Thessalonica was Berea.

Question: Paul preached there and the people were known for what?

·        For searching the scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching them was actually true.

Question: Do you think this is a good idea? Should you study the Bible for yourself to see if what you are being taught is actually true?

PP     8. Athens

                   Athens was the intellectual capital of the world in Paul’s day. Paul preached there  to the Epicureans and Stoics.

                             -Epicureans were philosophers who taught that it’s hopeless to search for                                     truth, so they taught people should live for pleasure alone. They were                                          known for their complete abandonment to sensual pleasure.

                             -Stoics were philosophers who embraced self repression…they were the                                     traditionalists, the stuffed shirts of their day…nothing new, nothing                                             creative…just maintain the course.

                   A few believed but most remained unchanged.

PP Mars Hill

PP     9. Corinth

                   Paul, his band of merry men…and women, settled down in Corinth for about 1 ½                       years where he planted a church.

PP              Corinth was a wicked city known for its materialism and lust. It had a temple for                         Aphrodite with over 1000 temple prostitutes.

                   It is here that Aquilla and Priscilla joined the gang.

                   Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians  from Corinth.

                   In time, Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue in town came to faith in Jesus Christ.

PP     10. The Trip Home

                   Paul and his gang had been gone 3 ½ to 4yrs. He returned to Antioch in Syria to  give his report. It was 53 or 54 AD.

PP 2^nd Journey

PP IV. The Third Missionary Journey

          Acts  18:23-21:14 record Pauls 3^rd Missionary Journey.

          This trip took him and his group back through Galatia for the 3^rd time.

PP     They spent 3 yrs in Ephesus, the longest time in any of the cities on any of his journeys. In Ephesus Paul taught in the school in Tyrannus and was self employed.

Question: What was Paul’s side job?

PP Tent

·        Tent maker

          Paul’s ministry had such an impact on the people of Ephesus that they burned their pagan books that were worth a kings ransom.

PP     Paul then went to Macedonia and wrote 1 Corinthians and from there he went to Corinth where he wrote Romans. He went back to Philippi. Then back to Troas where he did something rather interesting, something a preacher today would never want to do.

Question: Anyone know what Paul did in Troas?

PP   Eutychus

·        He preached so long, a boy (Eutychus) nodded off, fell out a window and was killed. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, brought the boy back to life.

PP Patron Saint

          Acts 20:7 is an important verse because it shows that the early church met to worship on  Sunday, the first day of their week and not on the Sabbath.

          From Troas, Paul and his merry men made their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Day  of Pentecost.

PP 3^rd Journey

PP V. The Trip to Rome

          In Jerusalem Paul took a Jewish oath that required that he go to the temple. While there a riot broke out. A Roman centurion rescued / arrested Paul from the angry crowd. After a trial before the Sanhedrin, which also ended in a riot , Paul was taken to Roan headquarters in Caesarea. He spent 2 yrs in prison and underwent 3 trials.

PP Caesarea

When he would have been sent back to Jerusalem for another trial, Paul appealed to Caesar. As a Roman citizen this was his right.

Question: What happened to Paul on his sea journey to Rome?

·        He was shipwrecked, but no one was lost.

PP     After getting on another ship, Paul arrived in Rome where he was under house arrest for 2 more years. It is here that Paul wrote his Prison Epistles.

Question: What are the Prison Epistles?

·        Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians

PP Trip to Rome

Conclusion

Question: What is a ‘home’ missionary?

                  What is a ‘foreign’ missionary?

PP             Based on what we just talked about was Paul a foreign or home missionary?

·        Paul is considered a home missionary. Paul was a Roman citizen, born and raised in the Roman Empire. All of Paul’s ministry was to the Romans on Roman soil.

PP Review

          1. Briefly compare the missionary journeys of Paul

          2. Describe the importance and decision of the Jerusalem Council

          3. Summarize the activities of the early church

          4. Compare and contrast our church with the activities of the early church