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Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Acts 14:1-7 Growth and Persecution in Iconium = February 14

Growth and Persecution in Iconium
Acts 14:1-7

In your youthful idealism, for what social, political or religious causes were you willing to "go to the mat," if need be? Did you ever have to?

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

1Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.  3So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7and there they continued to preach the gospel.

  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
  • With whom are you teaming up to make a difference? Who is your ministry partner?
  • How does Paul and Barnabas' experience in Iconium differ from their experience in Antioch? How is it similar? 
  • What features of the first-century world contributed to the spread of the gospel? Today?
  • What is the purpose of signs and wonders here (see also 6:8)? Why are the people divided (v. 4)? 
  • What are some assumptions about God or gods, miracles, creation, morality, the nature of man, etc. that your friends hold? Which of those beliefs are barriers to understanding and believing the gospel? How can you help them rethink those assumptions?
  • From the following verses, summarize the key features of Paul’s missionary strategy on this trip: 13:14, 46; 14:1-6, 21-23. Why was each element important?
  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
  • Seeing Paul and Barnabas' courage, faith and endurance, how are you challenged to serve the Lord more completely?
  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.







Document for DBS

Series: Immeasurably More “Revival & Revolution in Acts”

It sometimes takes something big and extraordinary to get our attention. In the book of Acts, we see God establish and unleash the Church, and change the world forever! With just a handful of eyewitnesses and a powerful story, God did more than anyone could’ve imagined. And He still does today. It’s time to open your eyes and see God do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.

Title: Get Back Up” (Acts 14:1-22)

Bookmark: Click Here

Opening Thoughts: When you get knocked down, you have a choice. Will you let opposition and disappointment keep you down, or will you get back up and let God use your story as a powerful testimony for Jesus?

v  Prayer: God, help us dare to imagine what you can do, and give us the faith to see when you do it.

Ø  Ray Caldwell

§  How Do you respond when you get knocked down?

§  John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble...”

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Text: Acts 14:1-22

In Iconium

14 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.

In Lystra and Derbe

8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

 

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Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.

·        Review and retell the story.

Reflections for applications:

v  Acts 14:1-19

Ø  How would you feel?

v  Acts 14:20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

v  Acts 14:21-22 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

v  Responses:

Ø  It’s easier to stand back up when you have support

Ø  We are not always protected from pain

Ø  We can’t assume God is inactive when we suffer

v  Acts 14:27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Ø  It wasn’t about what God did for him; it was about what God did through him

Ø  John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

 

Challenge to say this prayer throughout the series: “God, help us dare to imagine what you can do, and give us the faith to see when you do it.”

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Digging Questions:

·                  How will you respond to God’s “Revival”? What transformative move needs to be made?

·                  What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?

·                  What is God calling us (me and you individually) to do?

 

Take Away Challenges

·                  What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?

·                  Whom do you know who needs to hear this?

·                  What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?

 

Hashtags #Unbelievable #God #Spirit #Recover #Standup #Suffering

Sunday sermon link  https://youtu.be/EvVI4wydPXk

Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources:         Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes

Comments and resources with some more resources:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+14%3A1-22&version=NIV

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