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2. The Macedonian Call Acts 17:1-14

3. Something To Think About Paul was now on his second missionary journey. He really wanted to revisit the churches he and Barnabas had planted on their first missionary tour. In Acts 16:6, they were “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.” Also they “assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” (verse 7). When they came to Troas, God made His will clear to Paul. They were to take the gospel over into the continent of Europe. Paul, Silas, and now young Timothy go to Philippi in Greece and establish a work for God. This church became Paul’s most beloved church: a fellowship of believers who continued to communicate with him after he left. When forced to leave Philippi, the missionary team passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, coming to Thessalonica, a large city located on the Ignatian Way. Paul usually followed the main roads in the Roman Empire.

4. KEY VERSE Acts 17:3 “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ”.

5. Lesson Objectives To show the origin of the church at Thessalonica To share the burden of the apostle Paul in establishing churches To submit to helping establish churches today

6. THE CONVERTS Acts 17:1-4 The Center of Worship (1) The Custom of Paul (2) The Coming of Christ (3) Micah 5:2 Genesis 49:10 Isaiah 11:1,10 Daniel 9:24-27 The Company of Believers (4) Acts 20:4 Colossians 4:10-11 1 Thessalonians 1:9

7. It is exciting to see how Paul and his team went about reaching people with the gospel in Thessalonica. They started in the Jewish synagogues by explaining about Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Quite a number of people believed in the Lord because of their missionary effort. Every Christian is to be a witness. It is a spiritual requirement, not an option. If you have ever won one person to Christ, you would sincerely desire to win others. Jesus said to the disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). If we follow Christ, we will desire to witness and to win others to Him.

8. THE CONTROVERSY Acts 17:5-9 The Conspiracy (5) Romans 16:21 The Charges (6-7) Luke 23:2 The Confusion (8-9) 1 Thessalonians 2:18

9. When God is truly blessing and many are turning to Christ, Satan is always at work. The greater the spiritual response, the more intense will be Satan’s attack. When “some” Jews believed and “a great number” of the Greeks and “of the chief women not a few” became true followers of Christ, we should not be surprised that Satan opened his attack. This is still the way it is. When God is at work, Satan is also at work. When souls are being saved, when lives are being offered to God for His service, when sins are being confessed and forsaken, Satan comes on the scene with a full demonstration of his power. It is at such times we more fully realize Paul’s statement: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

10. THE CONTRAST Acts 17:10-14 The Character of the Bereans (10-12) The Conflict of the Thessalonians (13-14) Acts 20:4

11. Paul and his helpers had a genuine desire to get the gospel out and win souls to Christ. The hindrances were almost insurmountable. First, at Philippi they were arrested, put in jail, and even though miraculous things happened that night, the next morning the authorities “came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city” (Acts 16:39). Second, they went to Thessalonica where the unbelieving Jews stirred up “lewd fellows of the baser sort” and caused something of a citywide tumult. The end result was the brethren felt it best that Paul and Silas leave the city immediately. Third, Paul and Silas came to Berea followed by the Jews of Thessalonica, who stirred up the people, and once again, forced Paul to depart. This was the third time Paul had been forced out of a Macedonian city. Nowhere is there the slightest hint that Paul ever thought of giving up or turning away from Macedonia. We need this kind of determination and perseverance today as we witness to others, plant churches, and seek to enlarge the kingdom of God.

12. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION 1. Why did Paul usually begin his ministry in a new city by speaking in the local synagogue? 2. Explain the approach Paul used to persuade his listeners that Jesus was the Messiah. 3. Why do you think the Thessalonian Jews were so jealous of Paul and Silas? 4. How can the Berean believers be an encouragement and challenge to you? 5. How do you present the gospel to non-Christians? 6. How can you become involved in church planting?

13. May God Bless You For Coming To Sunday School This Morning! Bring Someone With You To Bible Study On Wednesday Night!

14. Acknowledgements Applications taken from Bible Teacher Bible Studies for Adults—Fall Edition (2011) This power point slide presentation may be altered by additions or deletions to fit your own teaching style. There is more information in viewing Note Pages Click on View then Note Pages Presentation Compiled For Randall House By Earl Scroggins