24 October 2021 (am) – Acts 14:1-28
 | Andy Bruins preaching from Acts on Sunday 24th October 2021. |
Chapter 14 completes Paul’s first missionary journey with stops at Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (and Perga) before returning to their sending church in Antioch. This chapter gives us a good flavour of how the preaching of the gospel was received by both Jews and Gentiles as well as the personal cost to those who engage in the ministry of evangelism.
As Paul says in v22, “we must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God”.
Q Read v1-7. Where does opposition to the gospel arise from in Iconium? What (according to v3) is the content of the message that Paul and Barnabas are preaching? What does that mean?
Q Read v8-19. What happens in Lystra?
Q How do they explain the gospel in v15-17? How is this helpful to us today?
Q Read v21-28. In light of the recent past, what is so remarkable and powerful about v21-22?
Q This first mission trip resulted in the conversion of large numbers of disciples (v21) and the establishment of a number of churches. How much of this was simply down to the gifts of Paul and Barnabas (see v27)?
Q Compare this with what Luke says in 13:48. How do you think these truths sustained the Apostles through all the hardships they suffered? How is this a great encouragement to us?
