SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 30 May 14, 2006

The Trial Before Felix
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 24
Memory Verse: "Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." for it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11

      Five days after Paul had been whisked away secretly at night by a small army to Caesarea (the Roman headquarters) the High Priest, Ananias, some of the Elders and an orator (lawyer) came down (literally because Jerusalem is on a mountain and Caesarea is on the coast) to bring their charges against Paul.
Flattery & falsehood vs truth

      Tertullus, the lawyer, spoke very eloquently, buttering up Gov. Felix and making all sorts of false charges against Paul. Of course he called on the High Priest and elders to agree with what he said and they did. He also implied that the Roman commander had violently interfered with their dealing with Paul according to their own laws.

      Felix is an experienced Governor and gives Paul his chance to speak. (Remember that he knew about the plot to kill Paul and why he was taken down to Caesarea.) Paul has no hesitation about defending himself with the truth. Word received: Always tell the truth. Truth brings honor to My Name. If you tell the truth you don't have to cover up a lie. Then Paul speaks of the real reason for their opposition. He worships the God of Israel as a follower of "The Way" (Christianity) which his accusers call a "sect" (literally-"heresy") and quickly points to the belief he shares with his accusers, (many of whom were Pharisees) the Resurrection of all, both righteous and wicked. For this reason he, Paul, works at ("exercises himself") at having a conscience without offense toward God and man.

      Then Paul tells briefly what happened and again points to the Resurrection of the dead as the reason he was on trial. Recall in 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection of Jesus is tied to the resurrection of all the dead. Paul says, if the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised and you are still in your sins. The Resurrection of the dead and of Jesus is absolutely central and essential to the Christian faith. Word received: It was for Me, Jesus, that Paul was on trial. Paul believed enough to put his life on the line. Are you committed to Jesus enough to put your life on the line like Paul did?

      Governor Felix understood what was going on and put off the accusers till later. He had "more accurate" knowledge of "The Way" than the accusers thought he did. Word received: Knowledge is not enough, nor is wisdom enough. There must also be faith. Felix had knowledge, but that wasn't sufficient. You must have faith in Me; I alone am sufficient. Felix planned to wait for the Commander, Lysias, to come down. He ordered Paul kept under guard but with some freedom.

      Felix also seemed drawn to Paul and God used it to allow Felix to hear about Jesus from Paul several times. Paul used every opportunity to share the gospel and faith in Jesus with Felix. Felix listened to Paul till Paul began to talk about righteousness, self-control and judgment, then Felix was afraid. It hit too close to home. Felix shows how not to follow Jesus, listen as long as it is interesting and convenient but when it becomes scary, turns away. (He also kept wanting a bribe.) Sometimes when sin meets God's truth there is fear and escape. Word received: I want you to hear My whole message, the pleasant and the difficult. I want your heart, your whole life, turned completely toward Me.

      Look at the Memory Verse. Word received: Paul didn't worry because he knew I would be there to help. I will be there to help you too if you can trust Me.

      Felix was interested in hearing Paul but his main interest was personal gain: getting a bribe or doing the Jewish authorities a favor (to put them in his debt). He also violated Roman law which said that a Roman citizen couldn't be held in prison more than two years without being convicted. What is our chief motivation? -- self-interest or serving God?? The call and question is still there. Joshua asked the Israelites "Choose you this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15).

      Both Jesus and Paul were falsely accused. While Jesus "opened not his mouth", Paul eloquently defends himself. How do we know what to do if we are falsely accused? Listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Sometimes it is appropriate to keep silent; other times it is right to speak up. (See Memory Verse.) Example, when false accusations were made against our bishops and staff at the Spiritual Life Center, Bp; Bena wrote an elegant, truthful, convincing rebuttal. Those who had ears to hear were reassured and encouraged.

      Paul was left in prison, "bound". Word received: You can be bound in body and free in My Spirit. You can be bound in spirit and in terrible bondage though outwardly you are free. Real freedom comes from Me. Paul was really free even though he was a prisoner. You can be free or you can be bound -- the choice is yours. Ask for the freedom of My Spirit in your life. Let Me have My way in your life so that you can be truly free. Do not pity Paul. He was free in Me in a way that few men are. You have a choice: choose life. (See Deuteronomy 30:19.)

How to teach Word for teachers: I want you to ask the teachers to be willing to be on trial for Me. I want them to be willing to surrender their lives to Me as Paul did.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 30
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 wants us to always tell the truth, even when it is scary.
      2. Even if it is scary, we can always ask God in Jesus for help. He will tell us what to
say.
      3. God wants us to trust Him in everything we do & say. He will always be with us if we ask Him. That is why God in Jesus wants us to give our lives to Him.
      4. If we have a chance, God always wants us to share about Jesus' love, that he died for us and was alive again and can always be near us and help us.