Paul's Odyssey II #2 - The Brewing Storm
Part 2 of a 3-part study of the life and ministry of Paul. This summer segment will focus on Paul's Second Missionary Journey.
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet is July 28th following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
Barry County Cares could use donations of the following items which will be distributed to folks in need in Barry County. If you can help, drop items off in the church office.
Toilet Paper
Paper Towel
Laundry Soap
Dish Soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
Toilet Paper
Paper Towel
Laundry Soap
Dish Soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
Saturday, July 13th - Joe Mater, Mike Mater, William Orton
Monday, July 15th - Stacy Schilz
Tuesday, July 16th - Victoria Burt, Lena Kuestner, Erik & Tarah Godbey
Wednesday, July 17th - Sarah Hoxie, Claude & Sherry Snider, Matt & Donita Firman, Dustin & Tori Jones
Thursday, July 18th - Andrea Kauffman, Doug & Donita Murphy
Monday, July 15th - Stacy Schilz
Tuesday, July 16th - Victoria Burt, Lena Kuestner, Erik & Tarah Godbey
Wednesday, July 17th - Sarah Hoxie, Claude & Sherry Snider, Matt & Donita Firman, Dustin & Tori Jones
Thursday, July 18th - Andrea Kauffman, Doug & Donita Murphy
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July through September our series is entitled: Paul's Odyssey II
Odyssey means "a long and adventurous journey or experience". It is the second of a three-part series about the life and ministry of Paul. The text for these three months will cover Acts 15 - 18, Paul's second missionary trip.
Odyssey means "a long and adventurous journey or experience". It is the second of a three-part series about the life and ministry of Paul. The text for these three months will cover Acts 15 - 18, Paul's second missionary trip.
Last summer we focused on Saul's conversion to Christ. He went from a persecutor to a proclaimer of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord had a new purpose, or mission, for his life.
The Lord didn't just save him to take up space, live the life he had always lived, and attend church on Sundays. God wanted Saul to be on mission.
Galatians 1:13-16a
The Lord didn't just save him to take up space, live the life he had always lived, and attend church on Sundays. God wanted Saul to be on mission.
Galatians 1:13-16a
Galatians 1:13-16
BSB
13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
BSB
If you are a Christian, then you've been given a mission to impact your family, your place of work, school, your neighborhood, your peer group and others. Are you mindful of your mission?
Paul's 1st missionary journey took a good 1 1/2 years as he traveled over 1,500 miles. A LOT happened during this time and Paul had come back to rest and rejoice, but a storm was brewing!
In ministry, you'll always encounter waves...but you just don't know what kind.
In ministry, you'll always encounter waves...but you just don't know what kind.
Today we'll look at what transpired between Paul's 1st and 2nd trips.
Our text begins in Acts 14:26 and goes through Acts 15:29. We'll look at this passage of Scripture in three segments.
Our text begins in Acts 14:26 and goes through Acts 15:29. We'll look at this passage of Scripture in three segments.
First - The CALM before the storm.
Acts 14:26-28
After completing his long trip (first missionary journey) Paul celebrated, communicated, and crashed (recovery).
From this we can learn a few principles about the storms of life:
Storms are a reality of life.
Storms will come and go.
Storms will provide new opportunities.
Storms will test our faith and obedience.
Storms should teach us to be thankful for the calm times.
Acts 14:26-28
After completing his long trip (first missionary journey) Paul celebrated, communicated, and crashed (recovery).
From this we can learn a few principles about the storms of life:
Storms are a reality of life.
Storms will come and go.
Storms will provide new opportunities.
Storms will test our faith and obedience.
Storms should teach us to be thankful for the calm times.
Acts 14:26-28
BSB
26 From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 And they spent a long time there with the disciples.
27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 And they spent a long time there with the disciples.
BSB
Second - The CORRUPTION of truth.
Acts 15:1-2
Gentiles were quickly outnumbering the Jews who had converted to Christ. And the Jews were stubbornly holding on to their identity.
The words, "certain people" were used in verse 1. This wasn't an official delegation, but a few who stepped out from the authority of the Jerusalem church to impose their will on others. Their agenda was purely selfish and not in the best interest of the Lord or those that He loves.
They changed the Gospel message of God's Grace through Faith in Jesus to a system of works.
Galatians 1:6-8
A few points of application:
1. There will always be false teachers and opinionated people - measure them by the Word.
2. Follow God's chain of command in your dealings with others.
3. Put forth the effort to properly understand and communicate the Gospel.
Acts 15:1-2
Gentiles were quickly outnumbering the Jews who had converted to Christ. And the Jews were stubbornly holding on to their identity.
The words, "certain people" were used in verse 1. This wasn't an official delegation, but a few who stepped out from the authority of the Jerusalem church to impose their will on others. Their agenda was purely selfish and not in the best interest of the Lord or those that He loves.
They changed the Gospel message of God's Grace through Faith in Jesus to a system of works.
Galatians 1:6-8
A few points of application:
1. There will always be false teachers and opinionated people - measure them by the Word.
2. Follow God's chain of command in your dealings with others.
3. Put forth the effort to properly understand and communicate the Gospel.
Acts 15:1-2
BSB
1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
2 And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
BSB
Galatians 1:6-8
BSB
6 I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
BSB
Third - The COUNCIL at Jerusalem.
Acts 15:3-4
Most of the rest of the chapter (through verse 29) covers the discussions and decisions that took place at this important council of spiritual leaders. This Scripture lays out the areas of conflict but also the commitment the spiritual leaders had to God's teachings and His people.
The result confirmed that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone, without works or keeping of the laws.
It also showed that men should not be so insistent on their own preference that they wound one another with harshness or unreal expectations.
There is a famous saying, "In essentials Unity, In non-essentials Liberty, In all things Charity.
Application for this third truth:
1. Even in uncertain times, we need to be telling the Story.
2. God's chain of command is for our protection and the preservation of the truth.
3. Give credit to God and resist the temptation to bow to the applause of men.
Acts 15:3-4
Most of the rest of the chapter (through verse 29) covers the discussions and decisions that took place at this important council of spiritual leaders. This Scripture lays out the areas of conflict but also the commitment the spiritual leaders had to God's teachings and His people.
The result confirmed that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone, without works or keeping of the laws.
It also showed that men should not be so insistent on their own preference that they wound one another with harshness or unreal expectations.
There is a famous saying, "In essentials Unity, In non-essentials Liberty, In all things Charity.
Application for this third truth:
1. Even in uncertain times, we need to be telling the Story.
2. God's chain of command is for our protection and the preservation of the truth.
3. Give credit to God and resist the temptation to bow to the applause of men.
Acts 15:3-4
BSB
3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
BSB
As you read verses 22-29 you see how the storm of false teaching is averted, the integrity of God's Word is maintained, and spiritual leadership is enforced.
Application:
The opinions and experiences of men must always be filtered through the pages of the Scriptures and be in subjection to the spiritual leadership of the church.
Application:
The opinions and experiences of men must always be filtered through the pages of the Scriptures and be in subjection to the spiritual leadership of the church.
Acts 15:22-29
BSB
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
23 and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
25 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
29 You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
23 and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
25 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
29 You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
BSB
