Acts – Unstoppable Together

Week 9 (November 7 - November 13)

Scripture: Acts 14:1-28

Background: Things get pretty wild here in Acts 14. Division is happening to the extent that people are ready to kill Paul and Barnabas. They flee from Iconium and go to Lystra and Derbe. This persecution does not stop them from sharing the message of Jesus–they are UNSTOPPABLE.
Insights:
synagogue = place where Jews gathered for instruction and worship in the New Testament period; these came into existence when the Israelites were in Babylonian captivity and could not meet at the temple because the temple had been destroyed. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/synagogue/
stirred up = to deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people”
Zeus = As the chief Greek deity, Zeus is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans. Zeus is often depicted as an older man with a beard and is represented by symbols such as the lightning bolt and the eagle; Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. He was called the father (i.e., the ruler and protector) of both gods and men. According to the Greek poet Homer, heaven was located on the summit of Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and the logical home for a weather god. The other members of the pantheon resided there with Zeus and were subject to his will. From his exalted position atop Mount Olympus Zeus was thought to omnisciently observe the affairs of men, seeing everything, governing all, and rewarding good conduct and punishing evil. Besides dispensing justice—he had a strong connection with his daughter Dike (Justice)—Zeus was the protector of cities, the home, property, strangers, guests, and supplicants. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zeus)
vain = (from Acts 14:15); Greek, mátaios, mat’-ah-yos; meaning useless, of no purpose, profitless, empty, of little or no value; see I Peter 1:18.
Text & Questions: (begin with any thoughts or questions about Sunday’s sermon)
Read Acts 14:1-7
What good is there in your current situation?
Are you receiving opposition because you did something wrong, or are others simply offended by the truth? Have you been rude, causing there to be opposition or do you still show love toward them?
Read Acts 14:8-18
How have you directed praise or recognition back to God lately?
Read Acts 14:15
The Gospel is described in Acts 14:15, that God would help us turn from what is vain and walk in the ways of the ‘living God’. When you get stuck, where do you turn or what do you turn to? Is this healthy? Why or why not?
Read Ephesians 2:1-7. Why does the bible describe following the world’s ways as ‘dead’ but following God as ‘alive’?
Pray for each other that each person may turn to things that are healthy and trust God and His timing and provision.
Read Acts 14:19-23

CHALLENGE: Who needs encouragement? Who have you not seen for awhile? Who has shown a lack of attendance in spiritual activities or has ‘grown quiet’ or isolated themselves? How will you reach out to them this week?