Paul in the Book of Acts: A Character Study - Preach by: Roberto Beruffi on 21/06/09

Welcome:

Scrambled Verses:

Divide the home group members into smaller groups of equal numbers (where possible), depending on the amount of people present on the night. Write out or cut and paste the below verses onto pieces of paper, but write them out or cut and paste them in a scrambled fashion.

Verses in original form that are to be scrambled (cut and paste):
All those things that I used to consider noteworthy and to my credit, I now reckon them to actually amount to a loss for Christ’s sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as a complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have given it all up; I consider it all totally rubbish, so that I may gain Christ and be found complete in him. I no longer have a righteousness derived from my own effort, as I try to obey the Jewish Covenant requirements which are defined by Torah (the Law). I now have the righteousness that is given because of Christ’s faithfulness, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. This is defined as knowing Christ, knowing the power of his resurrection, and knowing the partnership of his sufferings; as if I were sharing the form and pattern of his death, so that I too may one day attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11 -combination of Good News Bible / Tom Wright ‘s translation / my own input).

Let the groups try to figure out what the actual verses say. The first group that manages it wins a prize. [ You may want to put a time limit to the exercise lest it takes too much time from the rest of the meeting. In which case then, the closest group to figure it out wins the prize]

Worship:

Try to focus on one or all of the following topics in all of the songs that you sing or Scripture that you read / meditate on:
a) The Lordship / kingship of Christ
b) The cross of Christ
c) Wanting to know him / live for him.

Word:

“ (This is) according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labour for me;” (Philippians 1:20-22a)

• The goal is to inspire and to challenge the home group to truly count the cost of following Jesus by looking at the character and lifestyle that Paul modelled for the early church and for us.
• The outcome would naturally be fruitfulness and church growth.

1 Zealous for God and for his kingdom

Before conversion:
• Zealous for God and Torah (Law) and so persecuted church (Acts 8:3; 9:1)

After conversion:
• Paul’s zeal for God and his kingdom was demonstrated by Paul’s willingness to suffer for Christ as he preached the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 9:16; cf. 2 Cor.11:23-27)
• He was undeterred in his commitment:
Acts 21:13: “Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Question (possibly rhetorical): Are you challenged by his statement?

2 Solemn with respect to the call of God to preach the kingdom

• Solemn means: serious and sincere

Acts 20:24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify
solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

Question: Has God asked you to do something for him and his kingdom?

3 Humble and obedient servant of Christ

Acts 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house

Acts 23:11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

• And he did, just as the Lord commanded without ever murmuring.

Question: Has there ever been a time that the Lord or one of your church leaders or work bosses asked you to do something difficult? How did you feel and what did you do?

4 Courageous

• Speaking boldly with reliance on the Lord (Acts 14:3; cf. Acts 19:8)
• In spite of persecution: (Acts 14:19-21)

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, (Acts 14:19-21)

Question: How was Paul courageous in the above passage?

5 Faithfully steadfast in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

Acts 26:19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
21 “For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death.
22 “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great

Question: What do the above verses say about Paul’s faithfulness and steadfastness? How did he manage to be that way?

6 Sincerely concerned for other’s spiritual growth and other’s physical, emotional and psychological well being

• He was prayerfully vigilant against spiritual attacks both for himself and others under his care and ready to take on false teachers.

Acts 20:28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Question: From these verses, how do we know that Paul was vigilant and prayerful?

• He met peoples needs by being an exemplary sacrificial giver
Acts 20:33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Question: Are there any people that you are concerned about?
Question: What should we do and when?

7 Man of integrity – he walked the talk

• Acts 23:1 Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”
• Acts 24:16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. (Cf. also 2 Cor.1:12; 2 Tim. 1:3)

Question: How are you doing in this area of walking the talk?

If there is still time and you are prepared, discuss the following questions with regard to Welcome Scripture passage.

First ask the following 2 questions then read the Welcome Scripture passage at the top again and ask the third question and the concluding question

1) Is there anything that you are finding difficult to let go for the sake of Christ?
2) Is there anything that you are presently struggling with in your life?
3) What do you understand to be the message that Paul wanted to convey to the church at Philippi?

Concluding question: Is there anything that has challenged you with what we have discussed this evening that you would like to share?

Witness:
Pray for one another with regard to challenges / important issues that were raised

Roberto Beruffi, 24/06/2009