Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church Lesson 9: Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 – 18:23) Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Philippi (16:11-40) Paul’s method of teaching Went to where the people were – v. 13 Spoke to women gathered to pray – v. 13 Use every opportunity – v. 24-32

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Philippi (16:11-40) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response Slave girl possessed with spirit of divination Thought to be inspired by a Greek god A demon’s endorsement is an unfavorable one Once demon cast out, owners deprived profit Paul and Silas thrown in prison No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Materialism (16-19), defamation of character (19), prejudice (20), politics (20-22)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Philippi (16:11-40) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Lydia – a woman of prayer, piety, prosperity She faithfully obeyed the Word Jailer – a man who needed faith He was told, “Believe” – v. 31 Taught the Word of the Lord – v. 32 Responded by repenting & being baptized They rejoiced when they had bel’d/obeyed

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Philippi (16:11-40) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Key to conversion Like Lydia, must have an open mind. Like the Jailer, must have an unquenchable desire for salvation.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Thessalonica (17:1-9) Paul’s method of teaching Went to where the people were – v. 1 Try, try, try again (3 Sabbaths) – v. 2 He “reasoned…from the Scriptures” – v. 2 He spent time “explaining and demonstrating that…Jesus…is the Christ” – v. 3 Presenting Jesus as King – v. 7 This type of teaching led to the accusation: “These who have turned the world upside down…” – v. 6

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Thessalonica (17:1-9) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response Jews proved to be very non-receptive These words are used to describe their response: “envious,” “evil,” “mob,” “uproar,” “attacked,” “dragged,” “troubled.” Attacking a home and dragging the occupants out is pretty harsh! No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Envy (5), gossip (5), stir up hatred (5)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Thessalonica (17:1-9) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Paul “persuaded…a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women” (v. 4). Aristarchus and Secundus later became Paul’s traveling companions (20:4)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Thessalonica (17:1-9) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Key to conversion Like certain Thessalonians, must be given to a logical use of Scripture.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Berea (17:10-15) Paul’s method of teaching Went to where the people were – v. 10 He didn’t put it off He spoke the oracles of God – v. 11

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Berea (17:10-15) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response Enemies from Thessalonica: Pursued Paul & Silas Stirred up the crowds Forced them to leave No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, envy, etc. (cf. Gal. 5:19-21)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Berea (17:10-15) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Found fair-minded, noble individuals Received Paul’s message with readiness They had a predisposition to listen—desired it Researched Paul’s message “The Scriptures” were their authority/standard Responded to Paul’s message with faith Obedient, including Sopater (cf. 20:4)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Berea (17:10-15) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Key to conversion Like certain Bereans, must accept, respect & use the Bible as the only authority in religious matters.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Athens (17:16-34) Paul’s method of teaching He reasoned – logically, methodically Went to where the people were Talked “with those who happened to be there” The same message about “Jesus and the resurrection” (v. 18) was applicable to all men, even Epicureans, Stoic philosophers & idolaters Recognized who he was speaking to and aimed his lesson directly at their spiritual needs

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Athens (17:16-34) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response “Some mocked” – v. 32 Some delayed—“We will hear you again on this matter” – v. 32 No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ridicule, “this babbler,” trying to keep the people “given over to idols” (16, 18, 32)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Athens (17:16-34) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response “Some men joined him and believed” – v. 34, including: Dionysius the Areopagite A woman named Damaris And others with them

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Athens (17:16-34) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Key to conversion Like certain Athenians, must have a submissive spirit even when unpopular.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Corinth (18:1-17) Paul’s method of teaching He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath – v. 4 Preached that Jesus is the Christ – v. 5 When rejected, he did not stop. He went to find others who would be receptive. – v. 6 Took strength from God and preached faithfully the Word of God – v. 9-11

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Corinth (18:1-17) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response “Opposed…blasphemed” – v. 6 “the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul” – v. 12 Took Paul to the proconsul saying, “This fellow persuades men…contrary to law” – v. 13 Took Sosthenes & beat him – v.17; cf. 1 Co. 1:1 No doubt a product of Satan’s opposition Ridicule, anger, rejection, politics (6, 12-17)

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Corinth (18:1-17) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response “Crispus…believed on the Lord with all his household” – v. 8; cf. 1 Cor. 1:14 “Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized” – v. 8 “Believed” and “were baptized” are in the Greek imperfect tense—i.e., people just kept on coming; a constant flow of conversions

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) Advances in Corinth (18:1-17) Paul’s method of teaching Negative response (product of Satan’s opposition) Positive response Key to conversion Like certain Corinthians (Crispus, Gaius, Sosthenes), must have a willingness to change religions.

Evangelistic Fervor Advances His Glorious Church (Acts 16:1 - 18:23) We can be effective soul-winner for Jesus if we will follow the example of Paul: We must be sensitive to our prospects’ feelings—why Paul circumcised Timothy (Acts 16:1-3). We must love the lost—why Paul incessantly went to synagogues (Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1). We must believe in the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16). Such was Paul’s message in every city. We must never silence God’s word. Even when opposed, mocked, imprisoned, etc., Paul courageously preached without compromise (Acts 17:30-31).