The Story of Acts Acts Paul’s Journey to Rome and Keys From the Book of Acts

Paul’s Journey to Rome

Paul’s Passion 2 Cor. 11: “been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

Paul’s Perspective 2 Cor. 4:7-11; “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to sho that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” The Vision is JESUS!

Paul’s Motivation and Ambition Rom. 15:17-20 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.

Paul’s Goal 1 Cor. 9: “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.“

10 Keys From Acts The Mission: Be Witnesses (Present and Proclaim) of Christ to the Nations (Make Disciples of All Nations) Strategy: A World-Wide Multiplication of Local Churches – 1. They believed the Gospel, Were Rooted in Identity in Christ and Received the Gift of the Holy Spirit – 2. They built a community in Jerusalem: Prayerful Family on Mission (Acts 2:42-47) devoted to Four things The Apostle’s Doctrine Fellowship- The Breaking of Bread Prayer – 3. The believers shared the gospel, found favor with people and many came to faith in Christ (Acts 2:47) – 4. The Twelve Apostles oversaw the expansion of the gospel from the Jews to the Samaritans and finally to the Gentiles. (Acts 3-12) – 5. A local Church was established in Antioch. (Acts 11:19-30)

10 Keys From Acts – 6. A team of leaders was sent from Antioch, after their ministries were established, for the work to which they were called. (Acts 13:1-3) – 7. Their “missionary” work had three primary stages (Acts 13:1-14:26) Following, Obeying and being Empowered by the Holy Spirit Evangelizing Strategic cities (Rom. 15:14-19) Instructing the new Christians (Acts 14:22) Organizing these communities of believers into local churches (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5) – 8. Paul’s team appointed Elders of these local churches to continue the process. (Acts 20:17-28) – 9. They revisited the churches as needed or sent letters to strengthen them of help them solve problems. (Acts 15-21) – 10. Paul left them with instructions for ordering a local church and used his team to help the local leaders implement the instructions. (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus)

Multiplying Churches

How Then Should We Live? The Vision Is Jesus! Believe the Gospel Baptized in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Belong to Christ and His Body Be the Church expressed in Missional Communities Become Disciples who make Disciples in all of life Bring the Kingdom in every heart, home, neighborhood, nation and sphere of society!