03 December 2023 // Acts 14
On Mission – Pt. 2
Kyle Childress
Acts 14
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION: Read Acts Chapter 14 & watch/listen to sermon.
SERMON REVIEW:
Rejection at Iconium – vs. 1-7
Rebellion in Lystra – Vs. 8-23
Review of the Journey -Vs. 24-26
Report to the Church- Vs. 27-28
QUESTIONS:
LIFE APPLICATION:
The Single Starfish
Walking along a beach one day, a boy saw a man pick up a starfish and throw it back into the water. “Why did you do that, mister?” asked the boy.
“Because the tide is going out, and the starfish would be stranded here and dry out. In all likelihood, he would be long dead before the tide comes in again,” responded the man.
“What difference could it make? Surely there are thousands and thousands of starfish in that ocean. What difference would it make if you throw just one back in the water so it can live?”
“It makes a great deal of difference to this one” smiled the man as he walked on down the beach, perhaps to find another starfish.
What difference does it make if we hand out a gospel tract to a filling station attendant or a bellman at a hotel? What difference could it make if we precisely outlined the gospel in a Sunday school class on a day when we know two unsaved visitors are present? What difference would it make if we sacrifice a bit in order to send missionaries to those hidden peoples of the world we talked about at the beginning of chapter 13? Like the lame man Paul healed at Lystra, it makes a great deal of difference to each one as an individual.
People don’t trust Christ in huge groups; that became the second and third century way of “making Christians.” People trust Christ one by one and, like the starfish thrown back to the sea, receive opportunity for life by hearing the gospel.[1]
DIGGING DEEPER:
A. Great Pairs in Acts
We notice repeatedly how the ministry in Acts is carried out in teams. Sometimes the teams number three (Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark); sometimes, larger; but often, two. At least seven prominent couples in Acts form a study all their own.
• Peter and John (Acts 3; 4:13; 8:14)
• Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:25–26; 12:25; 13:2)
• Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:43, 46, 50; 14:1; 15:2, 12, 22, 35)
• Judas and Silas (15:32)
• Barnabas and Mark (15:39)
• Paul and Silas (15:40; 16:19, 25; 17:4, 10)
• Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:14–15; 18:5)
B. Zeus and Hermes (v. 12)
Two inscriptions discovered by archaeologists near Lystra identify the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes as worshiped in the Lycaonian portion of Galatia. One reflects the dedication to Zeus of a statue of Hermes, and the other refers to a “priest of Zeus.” Longenecker’s recitation of the legend (as told earlier in our study) may very well have basis in fact.
As chief of the Olympian gods, Zeus was the Greek equivalent of the Roman Jupiter. In Greek fantasy religion, Saturn married Rhea. They became “father and mother of the gods” and gave birth to Zeus. He, in turn, through various marriages and illicit unions, became the father of most of the greater gods of the pantheon. Hermes parallels the Roman Mercury, known both as the messenger of the gods and their chief spokesperson.
As we noted earlier, the Romans generally accepted the gods of conquered peoples and added them to their collection. In addition to gods of their own which paralleled Greek deities, they worshiped Athena, Isis of the Egyptians, and, had the early Christians let them, might very well have added Jesus along with the worthless gods in the pantheon.
C. Common Grace (v. 17)
Common grace is a theological phrase which describes God’s bounty poured out on all men and women regardless of their faith or righteousness. In our present passage it describes God’s gifts of rain and grain, both of which come into the hands of the saved and the unsaved (Ps. 145:9; Matt. 5:45; Luke 6:35). We also see common grace in the Spirit’s restraint of sin in the world. Without common grace Satan’s activity would run rampant over a wicked society all too ready to embrace his cause (Gen. 6:3).
In a more specific dimension, common grace can refer to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in the world. In John 16:7–11 Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Through common grace the Holy Spirit enlightens the minds of unbelievers so they can understand the gospel; through special grace the Spirit regenerates the heart and brings the believer to salvation.
Common grace also explains why unsaved people can be so pleasant and kind, sometimes even more gentle than members of God’s family. That is because God’s common grace curbs the devastating effects of sin in the world so it does not reach its fullest extent. Osterhaven offers a useful definition: Common grace is understood to be the unmerited favor of God toward all men whereby 1) he restrains sin so that order is maintained, and culture and civil righteousness are promoted; and 2) he gives them rain and fruitful seasons, food and gladness, and other blessings in the measure that seems to him to be good (Osterhaven, 172).[2]
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How do city churches and rural churches in your area cooperate to make sure that every person has a chance to hear and respond to the gospel? Is there something you could do to help the churches do this in a better way?
2. What reputation does your church have in the community? What are you doing to improve the image of the church so more people will be drawn to it and through it to Jesus?
3. What kind of ongoing program does your church have to strengthen and encourage its members in discipleship growth?[3]
PRAYER:
[1] Kenneth O. Gangel, Acts, vol. 5, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 239.
[2] Kenneth O. Gangel, Acts, vol. 5, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 239–242.
Kyle Childress
Acts 14
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION: Read Acts Chapter 14 & watch/listen to sermon.
SERMON REVIEW:
Rejection at Iconium – vs. 1-7
Rebellion in Lystra – Vs. 8-23
Review of the Journey -Vs. 24-26
Report to the Church- Vs. 27-28
QUESTIONS:
- What did the message teach me about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit?
- What did the message teach me about the human condition?
- Is there anything I need to confess, repent, or be grateful for, because of this passage?
- How do I need help in believing and applying this scripture to my life?
- How can I encourage others with this passage?
LIFE APPLICATION:
The Single Starfish
Walking along a beach one day, a boy saw a man pick up a starfish and throw it back into the water. “Why did you do that, mister?” asked the boy.
“Because the tide is going out, and the starfish would be stranded here and dry out. In all likelihood, he would be long dead before the tide comes in again,” responded the man.
“What difference could it make? Surely there are thousands and thousands of starfish in that ocean. What difference would it make if you throw just one back in the water so it can live?”
“It makes a great deal of difference to this one” smiled the man as he walked on down the beach, perhaps to find another starfish.
What difference does it make if we hand out a gospel tract to a filling station attendant or a bellman at a hotel? What difference could it make if we precisely outlined the gospel in a Sunday school class on a day when we know two unsaved visitors are present? What difference would it make if we sacrifice a bit in order to send missionaries to those hidden peoples of the world we talked about at the beginning of chapter 13? Like the lame man Paul healed at Lystra, it makes a great deal of difference to each one as an individual.
People don’t trust Christ in huge groups; that became the second and third century way of “making Christians.” People trust Christ one by one and, like the starfish thrown back to the sea, receive opportunity for life by hearing the gospel.[1]
DIGGING DEEPER:
A. Great Pairs in Acts
We notice repeatedly how the ministry in Acts is carried out in teams. Sometimes the teams number three (Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark); sometimes, larger; but often, two. At least seven prominent couples in Acts form a study all their own.
• Peter and John (Acts 3; 4:13; 8:14)
• Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:25–26; 12:25; 13:2)
• Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:43, 46, 50; 14:1; 15:2, 12, 22, 35)
• Judas and Silas (15:32)
• Barnabas and Mark (15:39)
• Paul and Silas (15:40; 16:19, 25; 17:4, 10)
• Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:14–15; 18:5)
B. Zeus and Hermes (v. 12)
Two inscriptions discovered by archaeologists near Lystra identify the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes as worshiped in the Lycaonian portion of Galatia. One reflects the dedication to Zeus of a statue of Hermes, and the other refers to a “priest of Zeus.” Longenecker’s recitation of the legend (as told earlier in our study) may very well have basis in fact.
As chief of the Olympian gods, Zeus was the Greek equivalent of the Roman Jupiter. In Greek fantasy religion, Saturn married Rhea. They became “father and mother of the gods” and gave birth to Zeus. He, in turn, through various marriages and illicit unions, became the father of most of the greater gods of the pantheon. Hermes parallels the Roman Mercury, known both as the messenger of the gods and their chief spokesperson.
As we noted earlier, the Romans generally accepted the gods of conquered peoples and added them to their collection. In addition to gods of their own which paralleled Greek deities, they worshiped Athena, Isis of the Egyptians, and, had the early Christians let them, might very well have added Jesus along with the worthless gods in the pantheon.
C. Common Grace (v. 17)
Common grace is a theological phrase which describes God’s bounty poured out on all men and women regardless of their faith or righteousness. In our present passage it describes God’s gifts of rain and grain, both of which come into the hands of the saved and the unsaved (Ps. 145:9; Matt. 5:45; Luke 6:35). We also see common grace in the Spirit’s restraint of sin in the world. Without common grace Satan’s activity would run rampant over a wicked society all too ready to embrace his cause (Gen. 6:3).
In a more specific dimension, common grace can refer to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in the world. In John 16:7–11 Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Through common grace the Holy Spirit enlightens the minds of unbelievers so they can understand the gospel; through special grace the Spirit regenerates the heart and brings the believer to salvation.
Common grace also explains why unsaved people can be so pleasant and kind, sometimes even more gentle than members of God’s family. That is because God’s common grace curbs the devastating effects of sin in the world so it does not reach its fullest extent. Osterhaven offers a useful definition: Common grace is understood to be the unmerited favor of God toward all men whereby 1) he restrains sin so that order is maintained, and culture and civil righteousness are promoted; and 2) he gives them rain and fruitful seasons, food and gladness, and other blessings in the measure that seems to him to be good (Osterhaven, 172).[2]
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How do city churches and rural churches in your area cooperate to make sure that every person has a chance to hear and respond to the gospel? Is there something you could do to help the churches do this in a better way?
2. What reputation does your church have in the community? What are you doing to improve the image of the church so more people will be drawn to it and through it to Jesus?
3. What kind of ongoing program does your church have to strengthen and encourage its members in discipleship growth?[3]
PRAYER:
[1] Kenneth O. Gangel, Acts, vol. 5, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 239.
[2] Kenneth O. Gangel, Acts, vol. 5, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 239–242.