Arrest in Jerusalem – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: There is no guarantee that we will be kept safe, but we know that God doesn’t abandon us. He gives us the courage to persevere.
1. Have a volunteer read Acts 21:28-34.
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- Ask class members to share a thought on what is the most important point in this text.
- What happened to Paul at the end of his seven day period of purification?
- Personal Application: Why must we be careful with the kinds of rumors we listen to, or even worse, spread? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why did Paul go back to Jerusalem anyway? Didn’t God call him to be the apostle to the Gentiles? Shouldn’t he have continued to preach in Gentile cities?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Acts 22:22-30.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what is the most important point in this passage.
- How did the crowd respond to Paul’s statement that he was an apostle to the Gentiles?
- Personal Application: Have you rehearsed your conversion story? Have you used it as a part of your witness to someone else? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why did Paul resort to the legal and political advantages he had in this instance to protect himself from being sent to be scourged in public?” How would you reply to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Acts 23:1-10.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what is the main idea of this text.
- How effective was it for Paul to speak truth in such a way that it caused dissention and disruption among his enemies? Share your thoughts.
- Personal Application: How can we promote church unity and work together, even when we have different views of things? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Is God saying we shouldn’t speak badly about religious leaders, pastors, priests, and the Pope even when they are evil and falsely leading people astray?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Acts 23:12-17.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what is the main idea of this text.
- What was the Jews plan, and how was it thwarted?
- Personal Application: Have you ever seen how passionate people can be for wrong causes and misguided teachings? Share your thoughts.
- 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.
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