Acts 18

HOW TO USE: This blog is written to serve as the basis for discussion. Find a partner or group to read through it together! Take turns answering the questions and listening to each other’s answers. Comment, email, or share your insights from your discussion with us! I am thankful that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be able to take my job. ChatGPT can write a sermon or bible study in seconds. Some forms of AI can even make phone calls. It can organize a calendar. It might even be able to plan a year of worship services. But I am not worried that AI will take my job. Being a pastor requires one thing that cannot be achieved artificially: relationships. You may be a pastor or not. You may be curious or terrified about how AI will impact your profession. But you have something that makes you irreplaceable: you have the gospel message of Jesus Christ. This gospel powerfully creates relationships based on peace, forgiveness, salvation, and unconditional love. It is a message God wants all humans to hear, and he uses humans to do it. AI can perform nuts-and-bolts ministry-related tasks, but it will never be able to replace your ability to speak the living gospel to someone’s heart through your relationship with them. As you read Acts 20, notice all the ways that gospel-relationships uplifted the hardworking Apostle Paul and his ministry team. Notice how “human” these Christians are, and how the love of Jesus formed them as the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) in wonderful relationships. Notice also the practical ways the church designed to ensure that those relationships would continue to be nurtured with the gospel. Read Acts 20:1-12. After the uproar in Ephesus, it was time to go. Luke can give a detailed account of the travel log, because he was present for much of it (follow the “we” passages such as Acts 21:6 for clues about which events Luke played eye-witness to!). When the group arrived at Troas, they “broke bread.” Based on what we’ve read in Acts so far, what is involved with this simple phrase? (see Acts 2:42-47 as well) What was the longest conversation you’ve ever had? What was it about (if you’re comfortable sharing)? Why do you think these people were willing to hear Paul talk “on and on” (verse 9) through the night? What do you suppose the conversation was about? Was the “revival” of Eutychus natural or miraculous? Either way, what is the point of including in this narrative? Read Acts 20:13-38. Even though his travel schedule is absurdly busy, Paul arranges a meetup with the Ephesian elders. What he had to say to them was urgent and absolutely crucial for their continued leadership. Almost every word of his address applies to modern leaders in the church as well. In verses 18-21, what is the right job description of a good church leader? Which parts are easiest to overlook or miss? In verses 22-27, what is the attitude leaders should have while they execute their task? How does this apply to all Christians as well? In verses 28-31, Paul frames the church leader’s task in terms of a shepherd taking care of sheep. In many ways, this is the perfect metaphor for the task (hence why public ministers are called “pastors,” which means “shepherds”). Take a look at the following metaphors people may use to describe church leadership or the public ministry. In what ways are they accurate? In what ways do they fall short, or can be misleading? A pastor is a CEO; his church is his company A pastor is a father; his congregation are his children A pastor is a Drill Sargent; his congregation are soldiers in training Others? Finally, verses 32-38 show us how powerfully the gospel unites us. Examine these statements thinking about what you read. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? “You should put your faith in God, not in human beings.” “You should find a church that has a likeable pastor.” “Church is where you go to get your faith fed. If you form relationships with other people there, that’s just a bonus.” God bless your meditation and discussion! Pastor Mike Cherney

HOW TO USE: This blog is written to serve as the basis for discussion. Find a partner or group to read through it together! Take turns answering the questions and listening to each other’s answers. Comment, email, or share your insights from your discussion with us! Discuss or meditate on this thought: What does it mean to be “teachable”? Are there some situations in which it is more beneficial to be teachable than others? Is “teachability” ever a bad thing? What personal traits are required to be truly “teachable”? In this chapter of Acts, you’re going to get a lot of examples of people who are teachable and people who are not. The fact is, none of us know everything – not even about the Bible. But we dare not use that as an excuse not to grow. Follow along with Acts 19. As you do, think about what it means to be a teachable Christian, what you stand to gain when you are, and what you stand to lose out on when you aren’t. Enjoy! Read Acts 19:1-12. Paul encounters some people who are confused and who need help. We’re not positive how they received their Bible instruction, but it was incomplete. Sure, the baptism John the Baptist did was important, but even he taught that it was nothing compared to the baptism inaugurated by Jesus (see Mark 1:4-8). Once they are brought up to speed, God the Holy Spirit showed his approval in a way that is typical of the early life of the church, as you’ve noticed by now in your study of Acts. This section may be one of the best cases to point to whenever someone says, “It doesn’t matter what doctrines someone holds to, as long as they are sincere in their relationship with Christ.” How so? This section may also be great to respond to the notion, “I love Jesus and I want others to know Jesus, too. I just feel uncomfortable telling people what to do or believe.” What are your thoughts? Did Paul tell them what to believe? Is that what we’re doing when we witness to others? How did Paul distinguish between confused Christians and opponents to the faith? How do we tell when someone is simply struggling to walk with Christ and his people, and when they are “obstinate”? Read Acts 19:13-22. Although not everyone believed in the Jesus Paul preached, they couldn’t doubt that there was real power in Jesus’ name. Some people tried to exorcise demons in Jesus’ name, but failed. What was missing from their efforts that would have made them more successful? James 2:19 tells us that even the demons know who Jesus is, and Luke 8:28 shows that demons fear Jesus’ power. Yet, as spiritually evil forces, they will never be able to acknowledge or glorify Jesus for his saving love. They will always hate and fear it. Therefore, what advantage do you have over demons? In other words, how do you make sure you know Jesus better than the demons do? Read Acts 19:23-41. This section gives us a clue into the economic and religious life in Ephesus, a place where statues of gods and goddesses were popular, as was the deeply-seated beliefs in powerful spiritual forces. Folks like Demetrius could make a killing selling religious paraphernalia that would make people feel protected from dark forces, or like they were on the gods’ good sides. For Paul’s full response to these ideas, read the letter he wrote to the church in Ephesus (the New Testament book of Ephesians). Does any of this sound familiar? Can you think of religious enterprises that seem to profit off of people’s fear of darkness, or their desire to ensure they’re on God’s good side? Name all the ways in which Paul’s preaching of only one true God would be counter-cultural in a place like Ephesus. Paul was not happy that his teachings caused wide-spread controversy. He even tried to reason with the rioters! The city clerk had to intervene before this civil unrest got out of hand, as it would result in consequences for everyone from the Roman authorities. Reflect on the events of this whole chapter and discuss or meditate on the Christian’s role during times of civil unrest – even when that unrest is caused by faithful gospel witness. What can we apply from Paul’s example? God bless your meditation and discussion! Pastor Mike Cherney

HOW TO USE: This blog is written to serve as the basis for discussion. Find a partner or group to read through it together! Take turns answering the questions and listening to each other’s answers. Comment, email, or share your insights from your discussion with us! Your four-year-old’s voice pipes up from the backseat of your car. Time slows down as you hear those infamous words uttered in such a small and sweet voice. You’ve joked about this moment before, but now it’s happening to you. You would give anything to get out of this conversation, but you can’t. You’re stuck in the car with your kid who has just asked you, “Where do babies come from?” What do you do? You know what not to do. You know what you could say, but shouldn’t. You have known the answer to the question ever since you took your first biology class in high school. Ignorance is not what stresses you out; rather, how to frame your answer in an appropriate way that will satisfy your child’s curiosity, but save the troubling details for a later date. It’s hard to meet people where they’re at. Whether you’re answering your child’s complicated questions, or you’re trying to explain a concept to someone who barely speaks your language, you leave the conversation mentally exhausted or even frustrated. Therefore, when you read Acts 17, notice Paul’s tremendous ability to meet people where they’re at and speak to them on their level. Put yourself in his shoes, and imagine the effort he’s expending in this chapter to talk to people in terms they might understand. Then, imagine yourself going and doing the same thing, not in answer to awkward questions, but to the most joyful and important question, “So, what has Jesus done for me?” Read Acts 17 Standing before a congregation of Jewish folks in Thessalonica, Paul connects the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah with their fulfillment in Christ. Standing before the Athenian elites, the foremost intellectuals of that part of the world in that time, he can’t start with the Old Testament, but instead finds common ground in the philosophies popular at the time. From there, Paul ventures to explain the significance of Jesus’ work. How do Paul’s methods explain what he means by “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b)? Why do the Berean Jews get kudos for “fact-checking” Paul’s teaching? What about their process of “fact-checking” is the most worthy of imitation? To what degree is it appropriate to “second-guess” your spiritual leaders (pastors, teachers, etc.)? Paul was educated in the Hebrew Scriptures, and probably philosophy as well. Not all of us have access to high quality education, though. Brainstorm the ways we can learn about the thoughts and experiences of the people in our communities. What are your favorites? How can you use what you learn about how people think to do what Paul did: venture to explain the significance of Christ in words they’ll appreciate? From a business point of view, getting a few converts after his big speech in Athens might not have been worth the trouble and the ridicule. However, from a Kingdom point of view, the results were outstanding. Explain how this can be true. How far should a church be willing to go to meet people where they’re at? Is there a point at which a church can err by doing this too much? Where is that point? On the other hand, what dangers befall a church that isn’t willing to us “all possible means” in order to “save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b again)?  God bless your meditation and discussion! Pastor Mike Cherney

HOW TO USE: This blog is written to serve as the basis for discussion. Find a partner or group to read through it together! Take turns answering the questions and listening to each other’s answers. Comment, email, or share your insights from your discussion with us! I feel very focused right now. I have eaten my breakfast and drunk my coffee. My kids are occupied in the next room. My wife is contentedly working on her own project in her office. I have devoted the present moment to writing, and I feel determined to get it done. Yet my noble attitude is suddenly tainted with irony when I realize how many times I have checked my phone (always conveniently at my side) in the past five minutes. My dogs are playing happily, but with loud grunts and huffs. My own mind betrays my efforts by calling to attention the other tasks I know I need to take care of today. I know for a fact that I am not alone in this experience. We could bemoan the distractions available in modern America that make productivity an uphill battle. But we don’t even need to go that far. We are our own worst enemies in this fight to be productive. We can distract ourselves with just our own brains, thank you very much. Imagine how hard it must have been for Paul and his companions to do mission work. There was no selling manual of Christian ministry yet (other than the Old Testament); they were very literally writing it themselves. At each new city, it was unclear if they would be met with warm embraces or the hurling of sharp rocks. In such a volatile setting for mission work, how in the world do they stay focused on their task? The same way we navigate the mission work Jesus has called each of us to as we minister to our customers, students, coworkers, soldiers, and families. We remain tethered to God’s guidance. We fight distraction by listening to the words of our loving Savior. We enjoy his loving forgiveness that covers over our weakness to always stay the course. And we follow his noble, sacrificial, loving lead. As you read Acts 16, notice how much good Christians are able to do when they refuse distraction and simply notice where they are, who needs help, and follow Christ’s lead in how to help them. Read Acts 16 More important than the Holy Spirit’s method of communication (whether by direct prophecy or vision, we aren’t told) is the fact that Paul and his companions submitted their plans and designs to God’s guidance. In every age, the Holy Spirit does promise to speak his direction through the inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Tell of a time when God’s Word guided you to change your plans. How does a church remain open to God’s direction as it designs strategies of ministry? How do we as individuals or as congregations submit our plans to the Lord’s greater plan? (James 4:14-15) Luke records three remarkable conversion stories from Philippi: the wealthy and generous Lydia, the suffering and oppressed demon-possessed girl, and the burly retired soldier, the jailor. What similarities do these conversion stories do you notice? What differences distinguish them from each other? What of Paul’s strengths must we mimic in our own mission work? As citizens, Paul and Silas enjoyed legal protections against the kind of public humiliation they were subjected to. It’s unclear why they reveal their citizenship after their release. Maybe Paul tried to relay this information before, but his voice was drowned out by the clamor of his accusers. Maybe the events of Acts 16 happened so quickly that he had no chance to state his citizenship. Even after their public humiliation, their cheerful voices in prayer (which almost certainly was always out loud in the New Testament) and singing hymns echoed in the halls of that dark prison. The content of what they believed that they prayed and sang softened the hearts of their fellow prisoners and the jailor himself (he clearly figured that these men knew something about salvation!). What could have gone wrong if Paul and Silas decided to sulk or bewail their misfortune instead of show this public joy? What applications do you make about the way Christians should behave in the midst of mistreatment and suffering? Every worship service for which we gather at Trinity essentially seeks to accomplish the same goal as Paul and Silas in prison. How so? God bless your meditation and discussion! Pastor Mike Cherney

HOW TO USE: This blog is written to serve as the basis for discussion. Find a partner or group to read through it together! Take turns answering the questions and listening to each other’s answers. Comment, email, or share your insights from your discussion with us! When someone wants to join a church, what should they have to do? Does it seem inappropriate to require anything from people who just want to participate in the church’s ministry? Isn’t the gospel for everyone, and couldn’t making new members jump through hoops prevent people from hearing it? To be sure, the message of salvation through Jesus is one everyone needs to hear. Therefore, we must share it with everyone. However, we don’t want to info-dump about Jesus without sticking around for the inevitable follow-up question, “So, now what?” The Gospel of Luke shared the importance of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The book of Acts, Luke’s second work, is a worth answer to the “So, now what?” question. Throughout the events of Acts, we have seen that the gospel is the Holy Spirit’s tool to change hearts (Romans 1:16,17). And we have also observed that where that gospel is preached and believed, communities form. The gospel creates relationships. “Churches” spring up in their proper sense (“church” in the New Testament means “gathering” or “congregation”). But when those churches form, the question, “So, now what?” resurrects. What do we do when we gather? How do we minister to people who are now coming to Christ, leaving behind various religious beliefs and practices? How should we conduct ourselves so as to fully enjoy the fellowship of being one in Christ? A church’s requirements for membership should never be an attempt to withhold the gospel from anyone. Instead, they will be the conscientious and Scripture-led answer to the question, “We all believe the gospel of Jesus. We want to enjoy the fellowship with each other that the gospel creates. So, now what?” Read Acts 15 to see the budding Christian Church work through their first major issue of what it means to belong to Christ and to belong to each other. What was the issue that kicked off this controversy? How did Peter reveal what was at the heart of this issue? James (the half-brother of Jesus) was recognized as a prominent leader in the congregation at Jerusalem, not because of his family relationship to Christ, but because of his character. How does he show his gifts as a Scripture-led leader of the church? How do Peter, James, and the leaders show their reliance on God’s Word to guide them through issues that arise in the church? How do Peter, James, and the leaders show concern for the diversity of the church? How do Peter, James, and the leaders show their understanding that they are supposed to be conduits of God’s grace? Why was it wise to draft a letter? Of the things new Gentile believers are supposed to avoid, “food sacrificed to idols,” eating food with blood still in it, and meat of strangled animals were all Old Testament Levitical laws (Leviticus 18:16-18) that found their fulfillment in the work of Jesus (Colossians 2:16-17). However, the Jewish Christians would have been so engrained in these dietary practices that they would still consider eating these things disgusting. Even though nothing is wrong with eating these types of meats, why is it wise to still ask that they not be served at church pot lucks? How does this show the concern for fellowship and cohesion? On the other hand, they mention that Gentile should abstain from sexual immorality (sex outside of marriage). This is not a matter of conscience, but is God’s clear plan for human sexuality. Yet, the Gentile Christians were so engrained by their hypersexualized culture that the reminder was absolutely necessary, What things does the church have the right to advise against, even though they may not be sinful in themselves? Is there a line that churches may cross in meddling too much in non-Scriptural areas of its members lives? If so, where is that line? If new members don’t fully understand God’s will for their lives and the sins they should avoid, how should the church go about helping them grow in that understanding? Is there a right way and a wrong way to do this? If so, what are they? What is the blessing of working through these tough conversations together? How must we imitate the leaders in Acts 15 as we do? God bless your meditation and discussion! Pastor Mike Cherney