Monday, November 23, 2015

On 11-29-15, Acts 18:1-11, 18-21a will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Teaching God’s Word

Teaching God’s Word
Acts 18:1-11, 18-21a
November 29, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough


Frustration is a common and powerful thing.  You work away with little encouragement and discouragement catches up with you.

Encouragement is one of the gifts of the Spirit and it is something we do not all have the gift of and those who do can offer it in a timely fashion if they do as the Spirit moves them.  

These times when these people make good use of their gift is critical in the kingdom work that is going on.  Other times this encouragement is not available or is not given.  

You perhaps are a teacher and every so often you run out of steam and a Christian in your path gives of their gift and you are able to carry on with utilizing your gift to teach.  Other times they don’t live up to their potential and God steps in.

This week as we study Paul we see this encouragement working with Paul.  I think it shows how important this turns out to be when even Paul is in need.

We read how Paul testified to the Jews but they became abusive to him.  Paul reacts with frustration by shaking out his clothes and in frustration saying, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it.”  Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

But Paul received success anyway and a vision of God to bolster telling him to keep on with what he was doing and he did.  We see him continuing on still going to the synagogues  and not giving up on who he shared the message with.

I would encourage all of you who do the ministry that you are involved with to keep on keeping on.  God sees what you are doing and most who are benefitting from your work are silent but you are important to them.

For those of you who can make a difference through your encouragement, please don’t be negligent in the exercise of your gift as it really matters.

For Discussion:

  1. Discuss the significance of what verse 3 might have meant to Paul.
  2. Discuss Paul’s statement in verse 6.
  3. Discuss what the arrival of Timothy and Silas would have done for Paul.
  4. Discuss what the vision must have meant to Paul.
  5. Discuss the length of time that Paul was in Corinth.
  6. Discuss Paul’s hair cutting for an oath.
  7. Discuss where you have needed encouragement and didn’t receive it.
  8. Discuss where you have received it.
  9. Discuss where you have given encouragement or seen it given.




Upcoming Lessons

12-6-15  Teaching God’s Word  Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-16















Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

3 comments:

  1. Thanks from a retired pastor still teaching Sunday school at 77

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  2. Thanks from a retired pastor still teaching Sunday school at 77

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  3. I appreciate that and thank you for teaching!

    ReplyDelete