Session 14: Ministering and Reaching (19-20)
This final lesson of our study of Acts brings us back to the mission of churches. We learn that churches have a dual-mission: seeking to share the good news of Jesus and caring for and building up the believers. These two purposes are inter-twined and cannot be separated. Churches on mission lovingly care for those inside and passionately share Jesus with those outside the church membership.
Paul traveled to Corinth to minister there and then on to our final setting of Ephesus, that great cultural center and seaport, located on the Aegean coast of modern-day Turkey.
Read 19:8-10
1. What is the significance of Paul preaching at Corinth in the synagogues?
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2. When he faced opposition what did he do? _________________________________
3. How long did Paul continue this ministry approach? _________________________
4. How many of the people heard the word because of Paul’s work? _______________
Read 20:17-38
5. Who did Paul meet with in Ephesus? _____________________________________
6. How did Paul describe his ministry in 20:24? _______________________________
7. What warning did Paul give the elders in 20:29-30? _________________________
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8. What was Paul’s final act with them? ____________________________________
9. How did they bid him farewell? _________________________________________
While Paul’s ministry continued for several more years, he left Ephesus and traveled to Jerusalem where charges were brought against him and he began his journey through the legal system and finally ended up in Rome where his appeal would be heard by Caesar.
Even in Rome, in prison, he continued to minister to those within the fellowship and to evangelize those outside the fellowship of the disciples. The final verses of the Book of Acts show us the dedication he had to his work.
“Then he stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness and without hindrance.” Acts 28:30-31