Unstoppable ChurchSample

Overview of Week Two

Acts Chapter 16 – 18:17 NKJV

This week covers the following ways in which the members of God’s Church can grow in their faith as God grows His Church.

1. To approach my circumstances with faith and wisdom, not fear.
2. To instill in my friends and family that God’s way is the best way.
3. To encourage those around me that God can use them to fulfill His will.
4. To be used by God to give life-altering encouragement to those who are discouraged.
5. To always be on the lookout for the many ways God puts his supernatural power on display.

An Overview of Acts 16 – 18:17

After gathering with the prominent leaders of Christianity to confirm that they all are relaying the clear, pure, and unadulterated Gospel mes- sage, Paul prepared to devote a prolonged amount of time to revisit existing churches he started in order to reaffirm that they were remaining strong in their faith, accurately sharing the Gospel, and to encourage them as they
live the Christian life in their communities. After determining who would travel with whom (Acts 15:26-41), Barnabas and John Mark traveled to the churches located westward beginning in Greece (Acts 15:39), and Paul and Silas traveled to churches closer to them in the east region of Asia Minor (Acts 15:40-41).

Paul chose to return to cities that contained people who ran him out of the city and who often threatened his life. In fact, Paul returned to one city named Lystra (Acts 16:1-5), where just one year earlier he was beaten so badly that the citizens left him in the street believing he had died (Acts 14:19b-20). It was obvious that Paul took Christ’s Commission very seriously to share the Gospel and to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). The reader of this portion of Acts quickly realizes that Paul not only risked his life to preach the Gospel, but also risked his life to disciple existing believers. Upon returning to Lystra, Paul and Silas invited a young man named Timothy to join them in the ministry trip and to be mentored by Paul.

As Paul proceeded in following his own travel plans, the Holy Spirit in some natural or supernatural way prohibited Paul and the team from continuing to pursue their original travel plan (Acts 16:6-8). Paul had a vision (Acts 16:9-10) that pleaded with him to proceed to Macedonia, an area that was not on Paul’s original itinerary. Paul, who was conditioned to remain flexible, nimble, and agile to run to the center of God’s activity, “immediately” (Acts 16:10) changed course and traveled to Macedonia.

In Macedonia, Paul and Silas began sharing the Gospel with the people of Philippi (Acts 16:11-34). And while they experienced a couple of converts, they were met once again with opposition as they were beaten and placed overnight in prison (Acts 16:19-23). While in prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God to the extent that everyone could hear (Acts 16:25). Around midnight, the Lord caused an earthquake that made all of the prison doors open. Then God miraculously caused their chains to fall off (Acts 16:26). And through this experience, the Philippian jailer and his entire household accepted Christ (Acts 16:27-34).

Paul and Silas were released from prison and were encouraged by the city leaders to leave the city (Acts 16:35-39). They gathered with the handful of brand-new believers, encouraged them, and then left Philippi (Acts 16:40). Paul and Silas then traveled to Thessalonica and preached the Gospel for three weeks, experienced many converts, and were met with strong opposition as a result (Acts 17:1-9). An angry mob was unable to find Paul and Silas as they departed the city, so they took their anger out on some who were sympathetic to Paul’s teaching (Acts 17:6-9). Paul and Silas traveled to Berea and witnessed how the people heard Paul’s teachings, took time to research the Scriptures for themselves to confirm if what he was saying was accurate, and as a result, accepted Christ (Acts 17:10-12). Unfortunately, the angry Thessalonian opposers of Paul traveled to Berea to cause Paul more trouble (Acts 17:13). In response, the believers in Berea safely assisted Paul and Silas out of the city and on course to Athens (Acts 17:14-15).

After Paul observed the religious practices of the people in Athens, he preached to the people, presenting Jesus Christ as the one true and only God (Acts 17:16-31). He received a mixed response as some people believed, some mocked, and some delayed their decision on the Gospel until they could hear more (Acts 17:32-33). Next, Paul traveled to a sinful city named Corinth (Acts 18:1-6) and witnessed firsthand the power of God to save people whose lives had been tarnished by grotesque sin, a sinful culture, or religious tradition (Acts 18:7-8). In addition, he witnessed how God protected his ability to continue to preach the Gospel in a divinely providential way (Acts 18:9-17). While in Corinth, God provided the encouragement that Paul needed to continue to serve the Lord with renewed energy and passion.