Overview
Paul’s final days were ahead of him and even though the religious leaders at Jerusalem were looking to arrest him, he longed to share with the believers what God was doing on behalf of the gospel. He also wanted to present to them the generous offering from the Gentile believers all over the world. This week’s lesson is about Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem, where he voluntarily turned himself in. This act had been prophesied by the prophet Agabus when “he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, ‘This is what the Holy Spirit says: “In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles”’” (Acts 21:11, NASB). Upon his arrival the news spread, and the authorities came to arrest him. It is at that time that Paul asked for permission to speak to the crowd and when he did, he simply told the story of his conversion experience.
Scripture
Discussion Video
Lesson 1
Scripture Passage
Paul’s Faith in Jesus
The religious leaders in the time of Jesus and continuing into the time of Paul were in a head-to-head battle that could easily be labeled “Man vs. God.” Although, they would not say it that way. Paul’s mission was to share the gospel of Jesus and help people to accept God’s gift of salvation. Meanwhile, the Jewish religious leaders still did not accept Jesus as the promised Savior. They stayed focused on the law and being authorities of the law in Scripture. They found security in the law, defined their identity by their observance of the law, considered themselves experts of the law, and enjoyed using their knowledge to command authority over others. Paul focused on Jesus and His authority as the Savior foretold in the prophecies, while the religious leaders placed the most emphasis on their own authority. Is there still today a battle going on between human authority and God’s authority? Paul warned the believers in his time to stay faithful to their belief in Jesus and the gospel message, and we must also be aware of deception and keep the faith too!
OPENING ACTIVITY: BUBBLE MAPS
Supplies: Paper, pens or pencils
- Give each person in the group a paper and a pen or pencil. They will use both sides of the paper to draw bubble maps about the concepts of “God’s Kingdom” and “The Ways of the World.”
- Ask them to make a circle in the middle of each side of the paper.
- Write “God’s Kingdom” in one of the circles, then on the other side of the paper write “The Way of the World” in the circle.
- Now, they will make lines going out from the middle circles and smaller circles on the ends of those lines (sometimes these are called mind maps).
- In the smaller circles, ask them to write down ideas or words that describe God’s ways on the one side, and world’s ways on the other.
- Come back together and have everyone share what they wrote down and discuss the contrast of what God’s plans have always been versus what happens in this world of sin.
QUESTIONS
- What are some of the concepts that can identify whether something is from God versus from the enemy?
- Some of the things of the world are very attractive. Why do you think you are drawn to sin?
- Did you identify any ideas that could be both from God and found in this sinful world? Why or why not?
- While you are living your life here in the world, how can you make sure that you are not conforming to the ways of the world?
- Do you sometimes nurture the ways of the world in your life? How? What can you do to avoid slipping into bad habits or sinful activities?
- How do you grow and nurture God’s ways in your life?
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read each Bible passage, then discuss the questions.
From the Beginning . . .
Read Genesis 3:15.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Read John 12:31.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
QUESTIONS
- From the beginning, a Savior was promised to Adam and Eve and their descendants. How did this promise become reality?
- Do you think the Jewish religious leaders believed Jesus was the promised Savior? Why or why not? Why do you think they were so angry at Jesus and wanted Him dead?
- When Jesus died on the cross, He made it possible for people to be saved and a new earth established. When will “the prince of this world be driven out”?
- Discuss at least one promise in the Bible that confirms to you personally that Jesus is the promised Savior.
Promised Savior
Read Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV).
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
QUESTIONS
- What does it mean to be under the law?
- What is so upsetting about being under the law?
- What made it necessary for God to send His Son to the earth?
- How does Jesus dying on the cross for us turn guilt and fear into hope and peace?
- How does it feel to be an adopted child of God?
Jesus is Lord
Read Romans 10:4, 9.
4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
QUESTIONS
- Why do you think the Jewish religious leaders were so focused on the law?
- What kind of life do you imagine those leaders living?
- What would you have said to those religious leaders if you were in the position of Jesus? Do you think it would have been discouraging to be around them?
- Jesus had large crowds following Him. Why do you think people were drawn to His messages?
- What were some contrasting differences between what the religious leaders were telling people compared to what Jesus was telling them?
APPLICATION
God sent Jesus to save sinners who are in a deeply humbled position. We are weak as sinners and are heading towards death. But, Jesus healed our mortal wound of sin. He stands as the only authority Who can proclaim us saved and make us new creations capable of living forever. Paul was God’s representative to help people see the truth. He fought a continuous battle against the empty ceremonial practices, exclusive prejudices, and ritualistic traditions that had become the accepted religion in that area. Ultimately, Paul was a voice of truth in a time when people were oppressed by religion. He was led by the Holy Spirit to teach the people about the freedom and salvation that is only found in Jesus.
QUESTIONS
- How can you help God’s message to be louder and more meaningful than the empty things the world offers for fulfillment?
- How can you continue and persevere in the mission Paul started all those years ago?
FOLLOW UP
Consider applying what you learned in this week’s lesson by doing one or all of these activities:
Ask someone you admire to share their personal testimony with you.
Watch “Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin.
Write out your personal testimony and read it on a video to your followers on social media.
Create an illustration that shows the very drastic contrast between peace, hope, and love found in Jesus as the authority of our salvation vs. the heavy guilt found in our inability to keep the law perfectly.
Lesson 2
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
Overview
The journeys of Paul are widely recognized to be one of (if not the most) influential sources of missionary work found in the early church. As Paul traveled, he often faced persecution from both the gentiles and Jews alike. However, this did not discourage him from spreading the message diligently, and he worked tirelessly to correct even church leaders from false ideologies. On his last journey, he did not cross Ephesus again, but requested that the church leaders meet him at Miletus. There, he gave a powerful message that served as a farewell. Amongst his remarks about his career and journeys, he gave these elders explicit instructions that apply for our church and our youth today. I call them the Big Three Rules of a Successful Church. The first rule, which probably umbrellas them all, is to guard our own souls, and those of the members of our church. He went on to warn about letting in false prophets, citing that they can cause damage like wolves to a flock of lambs. Lastly, he entrusted the message of God into their hands, and commissioned them to build “an inheritance” for their churches with it, stating that it will be far more valuable than any piece of gold or money the church retains in their keeping. As we grow our churches and our youth, it is imperative to keep these rules in mind. The work that we put in to spreading the gospel is far more valuable than any monetary growth, and the inheritance that we provide our youth is the forming point of what our churches will become.
Saying Goodbye
Have you ever had to say a hard goodbye?
Read Acts 20:13-38.
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
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Why is this Paul’s last time seeing these elders?
- He is headed to Jerusalem.
- He is headed to Rome.
- He knows he will be facing a harsh trial soon.
- The Holy Spirit told him.
- He has to go to other places.
- He knows that he will die soon.
- He was told by God that he will face serious trials in the near future.
- Other.
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Why did Paul choose to work with both gentiles and Jews? (v. 21)
- He believed in equality.
- He believed that Jesus loved all.
- It was just easier that way.
- Both groups needed to hear the same message.
- Both groups needed to repent from their sin, not one more than the other.
- That is what he was told to do by God.
- He was the only one capable to travel that far.
- Other.
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What makes Paul’s life a worthy one?
- Dedicating it to God’s service.
- Partying and traveling.
- Finishing the work that God entrusted to him.
- Telling others the Good News.
- Sharing the word about the grace of God.
- Saving people.
- The recognition that came from his life’s ministry.
- Other.
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What does Paul have to say about false prophets?
- They are hidden everywhere.
- They are hidden within our own church.
- They can be easily identified.
- Believers should beware of falling into their traps.
- They are like wolves amongst a pack of sheep.
- Believers will never fall for it.
- They will come in, damage the church, and then leave.
- Other.
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What does Paul entrust the elders with and what must they do with it?
- The mission of Jesus.
- The mission of spreading the gospel.
- Finishing the work that he couldn’t.
- Building new churches.
- Electing new church leaders.
- Creating an inheritance.
- Creating a remnant.
- Other.
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What is more valuable than silver and gold?
- Supplying our own needs; being self-sufficient.
- Relying on God.
- The work that He has commissioned for us as a church.
- Building the inheritance.
- Giving without wanting to receive.
- Making large churches.
- Working hard.
- Other.
- How do the three rules and commission Paul left for the elders apply to us today as youth?
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How can we grow an inheritance that furthers the mission of Christ?
SUMMARY
It can be difficult to say goodbye to those who have lead us through the formation of something great in our lives. Therefore, we can only imagine how the Ephesian elders felt to say goodbye to Paul. However, his departing speech was definitely one for the record; quite literally, as it is an important part of the Bible that serves as instruction even today. Setting aside Paul’s impressive record of ministry, his statement in verse 35 should be one that we keep in the front of our minds, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” As Paul endured the trials of persecution and earthly powers, he kept God and his mission at the forefront of his mind. As we work to grow as young Christians and shape the minds of the future leaders of our churches, we should remember that we are not working for humans, but for God.
APPLICATION
Pauls’ farewell speech and his words to the Ephesian elders are especially important to us as youth in the modern-day church. It is always a necessary part of studying to sit back and meditate on how a story applies to us today. Below you will find three applications that can benefit the youth in your group and help them meditate on the word shared today. These applications work both individually and in a group.
- BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE
- Give these words some thought, and make a conscious effort this week to “give” to someone, without expecting something in return.
- How do these actions spread the Christian spirit?
- FALSE PROPHET IDENTIFIER
- As youth, how can we identify false prophets? (Think the media, social profiles, etc.)
- Once you have identified common sources of false prophecy, how can you avoid them, and guard the minds of others as Paul says?
- Say a prayer this week asking God to help you steer clear from the false prophets of our modern world.
- BUILDING THE INHERITANCE
As youth, we are the future of our churches. Paul states in his message that Jesus entrusted the message into our hands and commissioned us to build an inheritance from it.
Try to think of ways that are tailored to the community to which your church serves, and speak to the other youth at your church to form an effective strategy.
In your local church, how can you facilitate this process?