1.26.20 Huddle

Zach Below   -   January 26, 2020

INTRODUCTION

We are in week 4 of our Travel Log series. This week looks at Paul’s speech/message at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, found in Acts 13..

 

  1. On a scale of 1-10…how scared are you of public speaking? Share a public speaking story if you have one.

 

  1. What subject/topic would you be able to stand up and give a 5-minute speech on with no prep (other than something relating to your job)? Don’t worry, you don’t actually have to do it.

 

 

SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT

Read Acts 13:16-43

 

Background Info: In Acts 13:16-43, Paul and Barnabas enter a new town. They head to the synagogue (the place where the Jews met to worship). Based on their reputation as intelligent and wise Jews, Paul is sort of “handed the mic” and asked to speak. This section of Scripture records the speech that Paul gave. His speech is really separated into two different sections. The first section is 16-31, and then he makes an important turn in verse 32. As you read, pay attention to the shift that happens in 32.

 

16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a] in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.

 

“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

 

23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

 

26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.

 

32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’[b]

34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’[c]

35 So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’[d]

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

 

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’[e]”

 

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

 

 QUESTIONS

  1. How would you characterize Paul’s message in verse 16-31. What is he talking about? How would that connect to his audience?

 

  1. How does the message shift in verse 32? What new direction does Paul take?

 

  1. Picture yourself as a part of the Jewish audience listening to Paul’s message. You are sitting in the synagogue (think church) worshipping along with your fellow Jews. With that in might, how might you respond differently to Paul’s message in 16-31 and 32-41?

 

  1. Verse 32 makes a significant shift. Paul takes a new direction, talking about “good news.” What is Paul’s example of the “good news?” How does he describe it? (Hint: Look at verses 32-38)

 

 

GROUP ACTIVITY

What to Do: Break down into smaller groups. You can separate the text into two parts and have each group take one section…or, have both groups look at the whole text.  As you look over Paul’s message, try to find some basic priorities or principles that he uses that could translate today to help us understand how to talk about Jesus more effectively today.

 

On Sunday, Bret gave us three examples…

  1. Start where they are.

 

  1. Use their authorities.

 

  1. Keep the good news the main thing.

 

  • First, discuss what you think these three priorities/principles mean? Where do you see it in the text.

 

  • Next, if you have time, see if you can identify any other principles/priorities that can translate today.

 

COMMUNICATING THE GOOD NEWS

INTRO: In the passage we looked at today, we see Paul creatively communicating the “good news” to his audience. The question is…how do we do that today? Do we know how to communicate the “good news” in an easy and natural way?

 

WHAT TO DO: One way we can creatively communicate is to the good news is to answer one of the following questions

  • What is something different in your life since following Jesus? Think “Before Jesus…, After deciding to follow Jesus …”

 

  • What draws you to Jesus? What is it about Jesus that is compelling to you?

 

  • How does following Jesus affect your daily life? What does it look like?

 

  • Why do you continue to follow Jesus? What keeps you from walking away?

 

If comfortable…have each member share their response to one of the questions. Help each other identify and think through your answers.

 

 

CLOSE IN PRAYER

 

  

PRACTICE

This week, spend some more time reflecting on the question … Why do you continue to follow Jesus?

 

  • What keeps you from walking away? Close by asking God to amplify the Holy Spirit in your life so that you might better live out that change.

 

  • Journal your thoughts