Acts - The Unstoppable Church - Acts 18:23-21:25

Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles

Lesson     20                                                     Passage: Acts 18:23-21:15

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus involves Correction, Admonishment and Commotion  (Acts 18:23-19:41) a. Apollos gentle baptism correction and encouragement by Priscilla and Aquila (18:23-28) b. Paul correction of baptism brings Holy Spirit to believers (19:1-7) c. Paul performs miracles bringing imitators and with it evil (19:8-16) d. Motives checked as Word of Lord spreads (19:17-20) e. Disturbance arises by god makers concern about their profits (19:21-34) f. City clerk calms commotion and suggests court rather than riot (19:35-41)

Paul’s ministry in Macedonia and Achaia encourages believers (Acts 20:1-38) a. Paul sets out for Macedonia with words of encouragement. (20:1-6) b. Paul speaks and young man falls from window bringing restoration of life by Paul (20:7-12) c. Paul sends to elders of church at Ephesus encouraging them recounting his ministry to them (20:13-21) d. Paul tell of desire to go to Jerusalem wanting to finish the race set before him. (20:22-24) e. Paul gives final encouragement committing to them the word of grace through Jesus   (20:25-35) f. They pray, wept and Paul departs (20:36-38)

Paul’s ministry continues as he travels to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-15) a.  Paul sails to Kos, Rhodes, Patara, Phoenicia to Syria landing in  Tyre  (21:1-3) b. Paul urged not to go to Jerusalem, but after praying continues (21:4-6) c. Voyage to Ptolemais to the home of Philip the evangelist (21:7-9) e. Agabus takes belt and shares with Paul what will happen in Jerusalem (21:10-11) f. People plead with Paul not to go, but Paul faithfully continues on to Jerusalem  (21:12-15)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus involves Correction, Admonishment and Commotion	Acts 18:23-19:41
Paul’s ministry in Macedonia and Achaia encourages believers	Acts 20:1-38
Paul’s ministry continues as he travels to Jerusalem	Acts 21:1-15

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words

Paul faithfully ministers encouraging believers as he returns to Jerusalem

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT God’s truth brings encouragement to those who follow His leading, we are to finish the race placed before us.

Specific Application Questions

1	What correction have you experienced that lead to your joy in serving Jesus?
2	How can you be an encouragement and restoration in faith?
3	Where is God leading you where you don’t want to go?  What should you be praying as  encouragement in your faith journey?

Principles to Remember

1	Gentle encouragement builds up our faith
2	We are challenged to finish the race set before us in faith
3	Where God leads we must follow

Characteristic of God

Directs our path

Theme

Ministry is faithfully following God’s direction; we are to be a blessing to others and they to us.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?

God’s Heart – What does God care about?

Today’s World – How does this connect to what is happening in my world today?