The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

I trust you have all had a great Christmas season. The rush of the holiday put me off my game a little but now I am back and ready to jump back into these discussion classes! Even with the holiday rush Deb Maciorowski still had time to comment and share her thoughts concerning our last class. I also want to thank Vincent Egorro, Osarobohenry, Jessica Hoff, Gede Prama and Patty for joining us for the last class.

If you want to catch up with any of the previous classes you can find them here

http://wp.me/P39vIx-Gh

Now on to today’s discussion:

The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

5 Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. 6 When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. 7 And there they preached the Good News.

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe

8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believersgathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch of Syria

21 After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25 They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.

26 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. 27 Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. 28 And they stayed there with the believers for a long time. Acts 14:1-27

Make a list of all the tools Paul used in this chapter for winning people to Christ. List the tools you see Paul using in order of importance.

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Well lookee’hear! We are almost half way through the Book Of Acts. We are entering into our lessons on the formation of the Gentile church and I am really looking forward to the discussions that lay ahead concerning the nature of church in the Christian life. If you have missed any of our previous discussions, you can catch up by going to the House On Fire Page found in the Pastor Wrinkles drop down above.

Here is today’s discussion topic:

image from cupoffaith.org

Our last lesson was about Paul’s message given in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch. Can you find that on the map?

before we read today’s passage I want you to consider that Paul has by the point of his preaching in Pisidian Antioch already carried the word from Syrian Antioch across the isle of Cyprus over the Mediterranean Sea to Perga and up to Pisidian Antioch. That entire journey is given to us in two verses of the Bible (chapter 13:13,14). It’s hardly a foot note in the Word but we have to remember Paul was not travelling by plane, speed boat or monorail. There is no indication that Paul even owned a camel or a horse. As you read the next passage I want you to put yourself in Paul’s shoes. Consider the difficulties of the task God has laid on Paul’s  shoulders. What are some of the difficulties Paul faced in doing this work?

Now that you have answered that, here is today’s reading:

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost Acts. 13:42-52

As you consider the difficulty of the journey and the work Paul and Barnabus were doing, how do you think they felt about being expelled from Pisidian Antioch? How would you have felt?  What mind-set do you think was required for Paul and Barnabus to keep going on to Iconium? Do you have that same mind-set? If not what needs to change?