JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - ACTS 15:36-16:5 - ACTIONS AND RESULTS

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Explore the Bible Curriculum p.47

ACTS 15:36-16:5 – ACTIONS AND RESULTS

Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

ACTION: Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking John Mark with them to visit cities in which they had previously preached the Gospel.

RESULT: Barnabas took John Mark with him, and Paul chose Silas to journey with him. Thus creating two teams of missionaries and covering more ground.

Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

ACTION: Paul and Silas traveled through Syria and Cilicia.

RESULT: The churches were “confirmed” or strengthened. In other words, discipleship was a part of Paul’s ministry as well as evangelism.  The two are interdependent.

Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

ACTION: Paul and Silas traveled on to Derbe and Lystra.

RESULT: Paul chose to take Timothy under his wing and had him join him and Silas on the journey. As we know, much later in His ministry, Paul wrote two letters to the younger man, Timothy, to encourage him in his own ministry. These two letters are included in the New Testament.

Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

ACTION: Paul, Silas, and now Timothy explained the requirements set forth for Gentile believers as decided by the elders in Jerusalem.

RESULT: The churches were “established” which can be translated strengthened (same word used for the strengthening of the lame man’s legs outside the temple earlier in Acts).

Susan: The key that connects these actions and results is the goal of revisiting the churches for the purpose of discipleship. Although their goal was not evangelism on this trip, evangelism resulted as the young believers were discipled and began to evangelize as well.

Susie: Evangelism (leading people to the Lord) results in the need to disciple (teach) new believers which in turn leads to the newer believers evangelizing.

Susan: It’s a concentric circle . . .

Susie: . . . a ripple effect.

Susan: Evangelism and discipleship work in concert with one another. They go hand and hand.

Susie: We cannot focus on either evangelism or discipleship. It cannot be either/or but must be both/and.

Susan: They are two sides of the same coin—the Gospel.