Christian Perseverance

Jay Haugh
March 7, 2021
Acts 14:1-20

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra –which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. —2 Timothy 3:10-12

This is Paul’s first missionary journey.

Acts 14 is going to be about Idolatry.

Acts 17 is going to be about Philosophy.

Iconium is the perfect place for the gospel to spread throughout Galatia.

Now at Iconium, they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. —Acts 14:1

The Gospel brings division.

Jesus is the aroma of life and death in Iconium.

They stand firm and boldly speak.

So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord. —Acts 14:3

…speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. —Acts 14:3

Signs are SIGNificant.

Signs validate the message and the messenger.

Division Leads to Discrimination

When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, —Acts 14:5

they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel. —Acts 14:6-7

Another Miraculous Event

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. —Acts 14:8-10

Signs and Miracles are SIGNificant

God wants us to understand there’s something wrong with all of us. We are all lame.

And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. —Acts 14:11-12

Paul Rejects Idolatry

And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. —Acts 14:13

Paul Rejects Syncretism

Syncretism = keeping your religious beliefs and syncing it with other religious beliefs.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, —Acts 14:14

Repent and Turn to God

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” —Acts 14:15

“…that you should turn from these vain things…” —Acts 14:15

“…that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” —Acts 14:15

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. —Acts 14:19

All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. —2 Timothy 3:12

But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. —Acts 14:20

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. —Acts 14:21-22

BIG IDEA

Stand firm and persevere even when holding to the Gospel is hard and scary.

SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE
Christian Perseverance
Acts 14:1-20

Imaginative Prayer

This spiritual practice was created by St. Ignatius in the 1500s. His desire was to find a way to experience the presence of God and did so by entering the biblical narrative with his imagination. Imaginative prayer brings the Bible narrative to life in our mind and offers an opportunity to engage in a new experience with the Word. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as active and alive. There are occasions when coming to Scripture in a new way reveals something vibrant that we may have missed through our normative practices. Below you will find the steps to lead your group through this experience.

Step One
Select one person to read Acts 14:8-18. During this reading find a comfortable position to sit and close your eyes. The process for listening will be given next. If you are reading the passage, do so slowly and carefully.

Step Two
As you listen to the Scripture, keep the following in mind:

1. Feel free to have a way to make notes - some people find it helpful to jot things down as they go.
2. Imagine yourself entering into biblical times. You may become a person or animal in the story or an object along the way.
3. Use all five of your senses to engage fully with what it would be like to be there. Notice what you see, smell, hear, touch and taste as you’re in the story. Notice sounds other than voices. What do you hear in the distance? Is there something you can taste, touch or smell? As the story is read, become a part of it as best you can.
4. Notice the facial expressions of people in the story. Notice who you are near and who is far away from you in the story. Notice who you are drawn to and who repels you. Notice tones of voices as you hear the voice, not of the person reading, but of the actual people in history.
   

Step Three
The reader should instruct everyone to open their eyes at the end of the story and note some things that affected them. Then processes these questions together:

1. Is there anything anyone would like to share with the group that happened as you became a part of the biblical story?
2. Who were you in story?
3. What did you see?
4. What did you touch?
5. Where did you find yourself in the story?
6. Who was close to you and who was far away?
7. Whose facial expressions did you see?

**If you did not get anything out of this practice or found it really challenging, that is ok. Some practices work better than others for different people.

Next
Process this experience as a group. Are there ways God is trying to activate you or your group? The “Activated” Group Process questions on page 6 may be a helpful guide as your group engages with this material and with God

ACTIVATED: GROUP PROCESS

How is God activating your group this week?

Share how you are sensing God’s call on your 2 life this week. Listen as others share with you.

Lean into the Holy Spirit and spur one another on. This may include encouragement or asking questions.

Pray over these specific activations in the lives of one another.
What did you enjoy about this group experience? What was uncomfortable?

How do you think a regular practice of this could
benefit our group?

SELF-REFLECTION

How did God get your attention during your personal rhythms with Him this week?

What is one thing God brought to your attention while listening to the sermon this week?

How do you think a regular practice of this could benefit our group?