By Doug Redford
1. How did you assess and address any issues of favoritism in your relationships with others over the past week? (Make this a matter of personal prayer, and if keeping a journal of both your progress and your struggles helps, do that.)
Ask two people to read aloud Acts 13:1-13, 26-31, 38-39, one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passages.
2. Suppose you were helping your church to select, send out, and support a missionary. What are five character qualities you would most want to see in your recruit?
3. Fasting is mentioned as part of the process by which the church in Antioch worshiped, then sent out Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2-3).
- What would you say are the spiritual benefits of fasting?
- Have you ever taken part in a fast? How would you assess the benefits of your experience?
4. John (also called Mark in the New Testament) is described in Acts 13:5 as a “helper” to Barnabas and Saul. What kinds of “help” do you think John may have provided?
5. Sergius Paulus, the official in Paphos to whom Barnabas and Saul spoke the word of God, is described as an intelligent man (Acts 13:7). Eventually he became a believer (v. 12). Do you think it is harder for intelligent or highly educated people to accept the Christian message? Explain your answer.
6. Elymas the sorcerer tried to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith (Acts 13:8).
- What influences in contemporary culture do you see as especially powerful in turning people from the Christian faith?
7. Sergius Paulus was “amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” What portions of the Bible do you find especially “amazing,” and why?
8. Acts 13:13 says that at one point in the missionary journey, “John left [Barnabas and Saul] to return to Jerusalem.”
- Why do you think John made the decision to return to Jerusalem?
- What kind of spiritual help might John have needed when he returned?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
10. Note the “Personal Challenge” that David Faust included with his essay that accompanies this lesson.
- What are some other steps you can take to become more familiar with missions, both locally and worldwide?
- Why is such familiarity important for all Christians to possess?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Acts 19:8-10, 23-41. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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