HOME GUIDE | August 23, 2020

HOME GUIDE | August 23, 2020
SUMMARY | Church on mission is a sent out church (Acts 13-14)
INTRO | At this point in the Acts story Saul (Paul) and Barnabas take over as the main evangelist in the storyline as they travel about sharing the good news to Jews and Gentiles.  We also start to see a pattern of the gospel message preached in the synagogues to God fearing Jews and Gentiles.  There are those who believe and those who want to shut it down to the point of taking the life of Saul and Barnabas. From a social perspective it is important to realize that every community seems to receive these messages differently.  At one point Saul and Barnabas have people sacrificing animals to them because they think they are greek gods in the flesh.  As you take a few moments to read chapter 13 & 14, notice that Saul and Barnabas keep pressing on even in the face of death. 
Key Words to define to help understand today’s reading: synagogue, fasting, elders, sabbath, Zeus, Hermes, Kingdom of God, sorcerer.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |

1. [Children] Activity: Have the children draw what comes to mind throughout today’s discussion. Help them use their words to describe what GOD is doing in this storyline. 
   - Color sheet: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/293859944420236902/
2. [Children - Adult] Have you ever had to change schools or taken a new job?  Can you name some things that seemed odd or different but normal for everyone around at the new location? 
3. [Children - Adults] What are some things that stood out to you about today’s reading?  Can you name three? 
4. [Teens- Adults] There seems to be a trend with people wanting to hear about this gospel from God, so much that the high ranking governor officials request the company of Paul and Barnabas.  This was not done without resistance. Take a look at Acts 13:6-12 and discuss the situation and happenings. 
5. [Teens - Adults] In 13:13-52, we see the sermon preached about Christ in the synagogue on the Sabbath. This brief summary was to a group of hearers whom likely have already spent much time in what we refer to the Old Testament. They didn’t call it the Old Testament then but they read from scrolls and told the stories passed down from previous generations. The message of the gospel can be found in vs 38-42.   If you had the opportunity to share this with a friend how would you introduce it and summarize the gospel message? 
6. [Children - Adults] Paul and Barnabas were expelled from this region because of the messages they taught.  Isn’t it amazing that we have rules and laws in this country that allow us to freely teach these messages without the fear of being ‘kicked out.’   Did you notice in vs 51 what they did when they left?  What do you think is meant about this exercise?  
7. [Teens - Adults] Each community is different that includes the religious groups. Something we do at West Side might be normal yet very off putting in another town, even in Arkansas.  In chapter 14, this group was not rooted in any message, they were a group that would move with any convening argument.  Paul encourages us not to be like this in his letter to the Thessalonians, not to be tossed around by every thought.   This group went from having an unhealthy reflection of Paul and Barnabas to being convinced by the Antioch Jews to stone them.  How do we see this kind of behavior today? 
8. [Teens - Adults] Starting in 14:31, what are disciples and elders in this context? 
9. [Children - Adults] Find a bible map and see if you can map out the journey of the Gospel message at this point in the story. This link has a map: https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/pauls-first-journey-map.html
10. [Children - Adults] Mr. Jake might say something along these lines in today’s sermon “the church on mission is a sent out church.”  Before logging into the lesson, What do you believe “sent out” means in our church context?  What do you believe your role is in this message? 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS | Family Activity for the summer
[Children - Adults] For several weeks now we have encouraged a family prayer board. How is that going?   Here is what that looks like: Find a blank piece of paper or a whiteboard, go around the room asking about any concerns or thanksgivings before a time of Prayer.   Leave this paper where you can see it all week, discuss them everyday and see where God might be working in them. [Deu 6]
Additional Resource | Mission and Vision of the West Side Church of Christ: https://www.westsidear.org/mission-and-vision.html