Daily Faithfulness - Acts 18:1-17

By David Woods

Teacher: If you asked students to develop questions for their community, friends, etc. and then to ask those questions as suggested in last week’s lesson, you may wish to check on what they discovered by conducting this questionnaire.  The following are some questions to ask each person.

Discussion:What “group” did you decide to target with your questions?

Discussion:What questions did you ask?

Discussion:What did you learn about this “group”?

Discussion:What opportunities for ministry, evangelism, etc. did you discover?  Or… What should you/we do now as a result of what you have learned?

I feel like the Church of God (Holiness) treats its young ministers very well.  I can remember several different times, such as General Camp or General Convention, in which other young ministers and I were assured of the support of the rest of the movement.  Often, this support was expressed by the laying on of hands and prayer.

It feels really great when others express their gratitude and prayers for you.  It seems like serving God is a sailboat enjoying a cool, gentle breeze.  Then everyone goes to his or her different places of ministry.

Often, the weather there seems to alternate between two extremes.  Either you are in the doldrums where your sailboat is stuck with no breeze at all or you are fighting for your life to keep the stormy waters from swamping the boat.

Our need is for daily faithfulness.

Unfortunately, too many Christians have allowed something to distract, discourage, or even disqualify them for Christian service.

Discussion: Brainstorm: what are some of the ways the Christian can compromise his/her testimony for Christ?

(Possible answers include: laziness, excessive indebtedness, moral failure, dishonesty, bad attitudes, gossip, short tempers, etc.)

Big Idea: The Christian should faithfully serve Christ in every situation.

From Paul’s ministry in Corinth we see three situations in which the Christian should faithfully serve Christ.

1. Faithfulness in Labor, vv. 1-4.

Read 1 Corinthians 9.

1 Corinthians 9 gives special insight into this thought of laboring faithfully.  This chapter was written by Paul dealing with the issue of eating meat offered to idols.

His point was that our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ should be a higher priority to us than being able to exercise our personal spiritual liberty.

Thus, if your brother’s faith is damaged when you eat meat offered to idols because he cannot understand how a godly person like you would do something he considers to be sinful, you ought to not eat idol meat in his presence.

Paul illustrated the importance of love over personal rights by pointing out that as ministers of the Gospel, he and Barnabus should have been able to expect the Corinthians to have supported them in the ministry while they were in Corinth, the time period that is recorded in Acts 18.

“Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:12b, English Standard Version)

Discussion: What do you think - how could Paul’s ministry have been harmed if he had insisted that the Corinthians pay him a salary instead of voluntarily working a second job to support himself?

Discussion: What are some situations in our lives in which by insisting upon our rights we could hinder the effectiveness of the Gospel?

2. Faithfulness in Witnessing, vv. 5-11.

In this section of our scripture text, the unbelieving Jews begin to oppose Paul’s preaching.  Paul then told them that he had been faithful in preaching the Gospel to them; now, he would primarily focus on reaching the Gentiles.

Discussion: What is the common reaction of some Christians when they are opposed or ridiculed for sharing the Gospel?

(Too many Christians simply stop sharing the Gospel.  They feel like they are unable to witness because of opposition.  Unfortunately, too many Christians are actually never opposed in sharing the Gospel.  They just assume that they will be opposed so they never try.)

Discussion: Is the Christian relieved of his/her responsibility to share the Gospel when he/she thinks he/she will be opposed?  Is the Christian relieved of the responsibility to share the Gospel when he/she is opposed?

(Like Paul, if a person clearly indicates he/she will not hear the Gospel, we should respect their decision and prayerfully wait until the person is more receptive.  However, one person or groups’ rejection of the Gospel does not relieve us of our continued responsibility to share the Gospel with all people.)

Discussion: Suppose that Paul had stubbornly insisted on keeping his focus on reaching the Corinthian Jews.  By doing this, would Paul have been faithful in his responsibility to share the Gospel?

(I would suggest “no”.  The Church is tasked with reaching the whole world for Christ.  This, in my opinion, points to a lack of vision of some churches.  I have found that often when exhorting Christians to invite unchurched people to church, they think only of their lost loved ones who often are very hardened to the church and God.  While I understand and share the concern for lost loved ones and believe we should continue to pray for and be a witness to them, I am afraid we are missing a great opportunity to reach others who may be much more receptive to the Gospel.  Like Paul, we may need to focus, at least momentarily, on the “Gentiles” instead of the “Jews”.)

3. Faithfulness in Trials, vv. 12-17.

Discussion: How do you think Paul felt when the Jews brought this false charge against him?  How do you feel when people accuse you falsely?

Paul wanted to defend himself against these charges, but Gallio, the deputy of Achaia, would not let him speak.  Instead, he simply dismissed the case.

Discussion: Why did Gallio dismiss these charges against Paul so quickly?

(It appears that the ridiculousness of the charge was readily evident.)

Have you ever seen a court case or argument in which seemed obvious who was in the right, but because of that person’s attitude and/or actions, he/she spoiled the case and received a less favorable ruling?

Discussion: What are some ways Paul could have spoiled his defense?

(By arguing vehemently with the Jews as he was brought before Gallio, by refusing to be silent and instead speaking rashly, etc.)

Instead of speaking rashly or acting out, Paul showed great confidence while being accused by the Jews.

Discussion: Why do you think Paul exhibited such great confidence while being accused unlawfulness?

Discussion: When we are accused of wrongdoing while serving God, how should we react?  What should we do in order to maintain a spotless testimony before Christ?

The lesson comments on verses eight and nine of our text state: “Our perception of Paul as the super-preacher who never flinched in the face of opposition may be flawed.  Paul was discouraged (1 Cor. 2:3).  He was so despondent that the Lord himself spoke to him in a vision.

“Paul was afraid he was going to be hurt.  He was so afraid that he though about not preaching to those who opposed him.  There were many Christians in Corinth.  The Lord promised to be with him and to protect him from harm.”[1]