Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece
Acts 20:1-12
Describe a time when, much to your embarrassment, you took a spill or fell "off your rocker."
#God #People #Time #Place #Obedient
faith #Sin #Key Idea
Paul in Macedonia and Greece
1After the uproar ceased, Paul
sent for the disciples, and after encouraging
them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3There he spent three months, and when a plot was made
against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through
Macedonia. 4Sopater
the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and
Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and
Trophimus. 5These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we
came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Eutychus Raised from the Dead
7On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul
talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged
his speech until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9And a young man named Eutychus, sitting
at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by
sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed,
for his life is in him.” 11And when Paul had gone up and had broken
bread and eaten, he conversed with
them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12And they took the
youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- Why did Paul revisit the churches he had founded in Macedonia?
- What words of encouragement do you think he spoke to the Macedonian churches?
- One reason for this trip was to collect money for Christians in Judea (see Romans 15:25-29). Why then would Paul want companions for this task (see 2 Corinthians 8:16-23; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4)? Why else might Paul want to present these Gentiles to the church in Jerusalem (see ch. 15)?
- What can you learn about Paul and the church in Troas from this lengthy meeting?
- Why is Sunday a special day for Christian assemblies and worship?
- How do you sanctify Sunday to the Lord?
- What would it have been like to eat the Lord’s supper with Eutychus?
- What is the most meaningful memory you have of taking the Lord’s supper? What made it that way?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- Paul's companions protect him from anyone accusing him of misusing funds. How could churches and other ministries today be helped by such accountability? How would this enhance outsiders' opinions of Christian integrity?
- Are you at all related to Eutychus: Do sermons put you to sleep? Or are you wide awake spiritually? How can you keep from falling flat?
- What Is the role of miracles in God's purposes today?
- 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.
Hashtags
#Paul
#the disciples
#the Jews
#Thessalonians
#Sopater the Berean
#Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus
#Eutychus “the youth” “young man”
Topics
#Encouraging them
#First day of the week
#gathered together to break bread
Why We Meet
Acts 20:7 says, “Now on the fist day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” It is often said that the purpose for the early saints’ assembly at Troas was to “break bread,” or to remember the Lord’s death by keeping the Lord’s Supper. This is true. But we should not make the mistake of thinking that this was the ONLY reason for their Lord’s Day meeting. We learn from 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 that they were also instructed in giving on the first day of the week. So, fulfilling that command was another reason they met. The New Testament pattern of worship includes the Lord’s Supper, giving, preaching (Acts 20:7), praying (Acts 2:42), and singing (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). To conclude that taking the Supper is all that is required, and to make a hasty exit after it concludes, is to make a grievous mistake (John 4:24)! All of the appointed acts of worship are important and commanded by God!
Darwin Hunter
Sunset church of Christ
Shreveport, LA
Bulletin Digest
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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY — This report of Paul's return visit to Macedonia and Achaia is the briefest account of an extended ministry in all of Acts—even more so than the summary of the ministry at Ephesus (cf. 19:8-12). Nevertheless, it can be filled out to some extent by certain personal references and historical allusions in 2 Corinthians and Romans, which were written during this time.
Paul strengthened, disciple, and encouraged those who were believers. He traveled to several recently planted churches and spent time with Christians there. Paul, knowing that he would never be back at Ephesus again, was careful to explain that his sacrificial love for the Ephesians was like Jesus’ love for the church.
True Christianity is more than just going to church on Sundays. It’s a genuine love for other people—a sacrificial love.
Who wants to live with yesterday’s rubble? Who wants to hoard the trash of the past? You don’t, do you?
Or do you?
Not in your house, mind you, but in your heart? Not the junk of papers and boxes, but the remnants of anger and hurt. Do you pack-rat pain? Amass offenses? Record slights?
A tour of your heart might be telling. A pile of rejections stockpiled in one corner. Accumulated insults filling another. Images of unkind people lining the wall, littering the floor.
No one can blame you. Innocence takers, promise breakers, wound makers—you’ve had your share. Yet doesn’t it make sense to get rid of their trash? Want to give every day a chance? Jesus says: Give the grace you’ve been given.
Do an inventory on your caregiving, locally and globally. Who gets your help? What does it take for you to agree to meet someone’s need? Ask God to help you do more. Give something extra today—there are many unmet needs around you.
Think about it!
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Encouragement
How many people stop because so few say "Go"!
In his fine little book Fully Human, Fully Alive, author John Powell relates a true story. It didn't happen to him but to a friend of his while he was vacationing in the Bahamas.
What attracted the friend's attention was a large and restless crowd that had gathered toward the end of a pier. Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man began to walk down the pier and investigate the cause of all the noise and commotion.
Powell continues:
Upon investigation, he discovered that the object of all the attention was a young man making the last-minute preparations for a solo journey around the world in a homemade boat. Without exception everyone on the pier was pessimistic. All were actively volunteering to tell the ambitious sailor all the things that could possibly go wrong. "The sun will broil you!" "You won't have enough food." "That boat of yours won't withstand the waves in a storm." (And of course, those familiar words) "You'll never make it."
When my friend heard all these discouraging warnings to the adventurous young man, he felt an irresistible desire to offer some optimism and encouragement. As the little craft began drifting away from the pier towards the horizon, my friend went to the end of the pier, waving both arms wildly like semaphores spelling confidence. He kept shouting: "Bon Voyage! You're really something! We're with you. We're proud of you!" (p. 17-18)
Had you been there as the afternoon sun was setting and the homemade boat was leaving, to which group on the pier would you have joined yourself?
See: Acts 13:15; Acts 20:2
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Time in Church
Many churches wisely have a large clock behind the congregation where it is quite obvious to the preacher. Some don't. The one where Rev. Sam has been invited to speak did not. As time when on, Brother Sam finally commented that he had forgotten his watch and asked, "Does anyone have the time?"
"There's a calendar right behind you," piped a voice.
See: Eccl 5:3,7; Acts 20:9
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Lord's Day
Sunday dinners with my mother Adah, my father Fred and my three siblings were always lively. On one occasion all of us except my mother were in a silly mood, and we began requesting, in rhyme, items at the table. "Please pass the meat, Pete." "May I have a potatah, Adah." "I'd give you the moon for a spoon." After several minutes of this, my mother had heard enough. "Stop this nonsense right now!" she shouted. "It's Sunday, and I would like to enjoy my dinner with some good conversation, not this silly chatter." Then she sat down, still in a huff, turned to my father and snapped, "Pass the bread, Fred."
-- In The Reader's Digest, June 1995, p. 99.
See: Psa 127:4-5; Acts 20:7
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Jesus spoke about the ox in the ditch on the Sabbath. But if your ox gets in the ditch every Sabbath, you should either get rid of the ox or fill up the ditch.
Billy Graham (1918- )
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