Survival Kits -- Paul Lives For Christ Alone
Theme: Living by Faith in Christ Alone
Theme Verse "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 NIV
Readings: Acts 28:11-31
Memory Verse: "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 28:30-31)
Notice how once again God has provided for Paul, Luke and Aristarchus in verses 11-16. In last week's lesson we learned that the people of Malta both honored and provided for Paul and the others with supplies they needed (remember they had lost everything.) The Lord provided hospitality and encouragement from the Christian brothers when they arrived in Italy. Then Paul was allowed to live by himself under house arrest for two whole years (verses 16 & 20). A word received: I will always provide for you as you seek me.
A word received: I want you to reach out to others as the brethren did to Paul. It will encourage them. Mutual encouragement is an important part of the Christian community -- of being the Body of Christ and "bearing each other's burdens". These Christian brothers did not know Paul personally. They had only heard about him. They would have walked from Rome. Remember how often we've been told how much it means to persecuted Christians to be visited, to know that people are praying for them. It means so much to know you are not alone and have not been forgotten. When and how have fellow Christians encouraged you? Stop and pray and listen. Is God prompting you to reach out in some way to encourage a fellow Christian or Christians? If the Lord told you something -- Do it! Prayer: Lord, use me when I am brought down by despair, sadness, and life's tough circumstances. When I am weak, you are strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9) "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect (complete) in weakness."
Paul doesn't waste much time before he calls together the Jewish leaders in Rome (verse 17). This is the pattern he always followed -- first take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. To proclaim Christ is the reason God has brought him to Rome. Paul sees himself as a prisoner for Christ and His purposes -- an ambassador in chains. Paul says to these Jewish leaders, "Not that I have anything to which to accuse my nation." (verse 19b). A word received: Paul had much that he could have accused his nation of, but he laid it aside for the higher call of the Gospel. I want you to take Paul as a model and lay aside your resentments. Stop and be silent before the Lord for a minute. Are there any resentments you hold onto that interfere with your sharing the good news of Jesus?
"… because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain" (verse 20b). A word received: Are you willing to bear chains for the hope you have in Me? Take Paul as a model. Paul directs the attention of his visitors to the hope of Israel for a Messiah -- not to his personal situation and problems. He knows God has put him in this situation in order reach many people for the Lord. See Philippians 1:12-14: "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." The Lord is asking us, are we willing to endure hardship so that the good news of Jesus the Messiah may be spread? Where in the world do we see people doing just that?
These Jewish leaders have heard lots of negative gossip about Christians but they are willing to listen to Paul and learn first hand about what he has to say (verse 22). (See the note on page 3.) A word received: The elders of the Jews in Rome were willing to hear Paul, though Christians were condemned everywhere. Pray that your hearers will have such a heart to listen. Some of Paul's hearers were convinced and some of yours will be too. Remember what Jesus had to say about sowing the word of God and it falling on different types of soil. This parable is not only about our personal response to God's word, but also a message of encouragement for the ones who spread the Word. A word received: Don't stop talking about Me when you are rejected. Wipe the dust off your feet and talk to someone else (Matthew 10:14). Verses 26 and 27 are hard words but God is saying to us I have given you the responsibility to tell people about Me. Leave the results to Me. Don't be discouraged. (A word received)
Remember that people have a choice about whether to believe and many people choose not to believe. They have a choice about whether to listen or not. And we have a choice about whether we will share God's Good News when God prompts us and provides the opportunities.
Now look at the hard words in verses 26 and 27, "Go to this people and say, 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.' For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." This is a warning from Isaiah that Jesus also quoted. He is talking about the consequences of hardened hearts -- we lose the ability to really hear and see what is being presented to us. This is a description of what happens. Remember how Jesus was not able to do any mighty miracles in his hometown because of their unbelief and how he wept over Jerusalem which had missed the time of his visitation and were heading into a time of destruction (like a shipwreck!) when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans.
A word received: Is there a time when you are hearing but not understanding or seeing but not perceiving? Be careful to stay close to Me so you will not lose the way. We need to examine our own hearts. When God prompts us to do something, to repent, to respond in some way, if we keep refusing we will lose the ability to hear. Our choices have consequences.
Look at Paul's faithfulness, steadfastness and perseverance over the two years under house arrest. A word received: I want you to receive all who come to you. Teach the things which concern me. Ask for My confidence. Do not be afraid. I will make a way for you.
Luke doesn't tell us what happened to Paul next. His purpose was to tell the story of the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome -- the capital of the Empire and from the Jews to the Gentiles. See Acts: 1:8.
Note: In Acts 18 there is a reference to Paul joining a Jew named Aquila, "lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome." This edict was probably issued in 49 AD. Obviously many Jews returned before Paul's visit to Rome. It is clear in Acts 28 and from Paul's letters to the Romans that there was a Christian Church there before Paul got there. "Spoken against" -- there had probably been a riots over the name of "Christus" which had caused people to speak against it.
Paul wrote letters to churches while in Rome: Colossians, Philippians, Philemon and 2 Timothy. Scholars disagree about whether he was released from prison. But the weight of "such slight evidence as there is appears to be against it." Early Christian tradition is that he was beheaded outside Rome. Again tradition places it during the reign of Nero in 64 AD. (A History of the Christian Church -- 3rd Ed. Williston Walker, pp 27-28)
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 03
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1. God loves you and will always take care of you. Remember that Jesus is "The Way, the Truth, and the Life" and he can show you the way through your problems if you ask him.
2. God wants us to help each other, especially when there is a need. He wants us to encourage each other and to welcome those who come to our church.
3. God wants us to share Jesus and his love in whatever situation we are in. We have a choice when he prompts us.
4. Have you ever "tuned out" what your parent or teacher was saying to you? We can do that with God too. When we do that it becomes harder to hear God the next time. Jesus wants us to stay close to him so we will not lose the way.
How to teach Word to SS teachers: This lesson makes clear who is in charge in Paul's life. I AM in charge of his life and many come to know Me through him. That is still going on today through the Scriptures. If you wish to do enduring work, I must be in charge in your life.
See also John 15:4-5
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