Mission to Macedonia

Sunday, November 15, 2015
Acts 16:1-5, 8-15 KJV

1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father [was] a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. ... 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next [day] to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, [and] a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither]. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who did the Apostle Paul meet with upon arrival in Lystra, what is written about the young disciple, and what did the apostle do to him to appease the Jewish believers? (v.1-3) 
2) How were the churches established in the faith in the region in which the Apostle Paul and the young disciple went? (v.4-5)
3) What did Paul see when they journeyed to Troas and what did he do in response? (v.8-12)
4) Who did the apostle meet on the sabbath and how did he minister to the individual(s)? (v.13-15a)
5) What was the apostle constrained to do while in that city? (v.15b-c)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Who have you been called to minister to?
7) How did you receive your call?

LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord often uses dreams and/or visions to call believers into ministry?
9) The Lord may progressively reveal His will as we faithfully minister to those He gives us opportunity to serve on the way to fulfilling His call.