Apostle to the Gentiles – Lesson Plan
Key Thought: Soul was zealous against the church, but was transformed to develop a strong ministry to the Gentiles..
1. Have a volunteer read Acts 6:11-14.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. How can we stand up for religious principles and make sure we are not fighting against God?
c. Personal Application : How do we learn to moderate our zeal with the knowledge that sometimes we just might be wrong? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “The Jews were against the Christians because they didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, so we don’t have to worry about persecution from other Christians, just those who don’t believe in Christ as Messiah.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Acts 9:10-15.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How much did Saul deserve the goodness that the Lord showed to him through God’s grace?
c. Personal Application :How do you react when a person you distrust or dislike seems to have changed for the better? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “Do you think God chose Paul to be converted because He knew that Paul would be a good witness and influence for the early church – because of his special skills, or is His call and grace available to everyone regardless of skills and influence?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Acts 11:20-26.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What happened at Antioch that caused Barnabas to go these and later bring Paul there?
c. Personal Application: What can we learn and emulate from the church at Antioch with its diverse ethnic and cultural membership? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Why was preaching to the Gentiles such a revolutionary practice for the early Christians, and how did they respond to this challenge?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Acts 15:1-5.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why are we tempted to believe that God’s grace may be given in small measured spoonfuls?.
c. Personal Application : Have you ever made a wrong decision by taking no action at all? How did you make it right? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
