The Beginning of Paul's Second Journey
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 15:36-16:5
Optional Readings: 2 Timothy 1:2-14
Memory Verse: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
"They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company." (Acts 15:39) A word received: You are dealing with real people here. Missionaries are strong-willed personalities or they wouldn't be where they are. Strong Christians will sometimes have serious disagreements. One of the things that shows the faithfulness and truthfulness of the Gospel and Bible's writers is how they show people as they really are, "warts and all". It doesn't "sugar coat" famous people. The disagreement was sad but look at how God used it in the long run: two young men are mentored instead of one and Mark gets turned around in the long run. God used this disagreement to get his chosen instruments where he wanted them. See Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11 where it is clear that Paul and Mark are reconciled and Mark has become a real helper to Paul in prison in Rome. (See the note on Mark.)
Paul chose Silas who was already a leader in the Church at Jerusalem and had been sent with Paul and others back to Antioch. (Acts 15:22). They were "commended by the brothers (in Antioch) to the grace of the Lord" (Acts 15:40). A word received: This is the model I want you to follow. Commend those going forth to my grace. Place them in my care and keeping. I will watch over them. Recall the commending and commissioning of people we have sent out on short term mission trips from our parish.
Even though it would be a very long trip, Paul was concerned about how the new Gentile believers were doing. They had already experienced persecution and it was and is important for Christians not to be isolated or feel forgotten. (Recall the messages we have received from the Sudan.) A word received: When you travel and visit other churches, do you strengthen them? You can be a witness for me. Bring encouragement wherever you go. I will be with you.
As they traveled (Acts 16:4) they delivered the letter from the Council in Jerusalem about its decisions. Their visit and the letter encouraged and strengthened the churches. They grew in their faith and in numbers (Acts 16:5). A word received: Seize every opportunity I give to share what I have said and done. You will be building up my body by doing that. A word received: That is my goal in ministry, that my people are strengthened and fed. Other ways we can support Christians in other places are to pray for them and have personal in contact with them. This is important both for individuals and churches.
Timothy is a young man from Lystra who was well known and well spoken of by disciples in his own town of Lystra and also Iconium. Paul sees possibilities in Timothy and decides to take him along and mentor him. Both Barnabas and Paul were doing this. In fact mentoring or apprenticeship was the way all the professions were trained until just a few generations ago (lawyers, doctors, clergy, etc.)
Paul circumcised Timothy, not because it was needed for salvation but because Timothy's mother was a Jewess and Jewishness was considered to be inherited through the mother. (People can be Jewish without being religious.) Therefore he should have been circumcised on the eighth day even though his father was Greek. His being uncircumcised would be an obstacle in evangelizing Jews in the future. Sometimes we have to do similar things (that are not central to the gospel) out of consideration to fellow believers or to those we want to evangelize. Paul talks about refraining from eating meat bought in the temple market (Romans 14:21 and 1 Corinthians 8:4-13) so as not to cause a weak brother in Christ to stumble. Another example would be to refrain from all alcohol if you are trying to reach Muslims!
The optional reading from 2 Timothy is part of a letter of encouragement and guidance Paul wrote to his spiritual "son" many years later. Timothy was now ministering on his own but still receiving encouragement and mentoring from Paul who loved him like a son. A word received: When you speak to one another, encourage and build up each other as Paul encouraged Timothy. As you grow together my church will grow.
We see in this letter to Timothy that faith can be passed down in families from one generation to the next BUT each person must receive this gift of God for himself! Paul laid hands on Timothy years earlier but Timothy needed to fan the flame (gift/calling) he had received. If we neglect to "fan the flame" that has been passed to us it can go out! What are we doing with the gifts God has given us? Are we taking for granted a faith we received from our parents? "God has no grandsons." We each have to receive for ourselves what our parents have tried to pass on to us. We each have to use whatever spiritual gifts or natural gifts God has given us. God holds us accountable for what we have received. Have we buried our "talent" or used it for God?
For those who have had Christian parents or grandparents, let us thank God. Prayer: Thank you that they passed on their love for you to me. Help me to fan those gifts into flame and to pass them on to my children in turn (even if those children are still unborn). For those who are first generation believers we can pray: Thank you Lord Jesus for giving me the gift of faith and love for you and for those who witnessed to me. Help me to fan into flame the gifts you have given me and pass them on to my children someday.
The Memory Verse in the Amplified Bible reads, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the Word of Truth." Timothy -- and we -- are called to be eager fellow-workers with God. Part of our job is to accurately and skillfully present/teach God's Word of Truth to others. We need to think carefully (study) about how to do this so that when we someday give account to God of our stewardship, he will be pleased, approving what we did.
Martin Marty in "A Short History of Christianity" dates the apostolic Council of Jerusalem between 48 and 51 AD. He dates the death of Peter and Paul at 64 AD.
Note on Mark (from Eerdman's Bible Dictionary 1987, pages 692-3) John Mark came from a family of some importance in the early church in Jerusalem. Peter, after his miraculous escape from jail, came to Mark's mother's house where the church was gathered to pray. After the disagreement with Paul, Barnabas went to Cyprus with Mark. Twice Mark is referred to as "John who's other name was Mark". Much later that same John Mark was with Paul in Rome when Paul wrote Colossians.
1 Peter 5:13 probably places "my son Mark" at Rome ("Babylon") with Peter. Mark may well have been in Rome at the same time as both Peter and Paul ("son" means spiritual son here.) According to early church tradition Mark accompanied Peter, for whom he was an "interpreter" and wrote the Gospel of Mark at Rome. Church tradition also speaks of Mark as the first Christian preacher in Alexandria and later associates him with Venice.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 17
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. Sometimes even people who know and love Jesus have arguments. God wants us to work together and forgive each other.
2. God wants us to pray for those who go out on mission trips. Who do you know now who is on a mission trip or going on one soon?
3. When we meet someone new, Jesus wants us to be friendly and show God's love.
4. In your church or when you visit a church God wants you/us to show Jesus' love and encourage others. (You can share what you have seen God do.)
5. Share who taught you about Jesus and thank God for them.
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