Paul's Ministry Partners

Sunday, November 29, 2015
Acts 18:1-11, 18-21 KJV 

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews [that] Jesus [was] Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook [his] raiment, and said unto them, Your blood [be] upon your own heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain [man's] house, named Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. ... 18 And Paul [after this] tarried [there] yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn [his] head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired [him] to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who did the Apostle Paul find after arriving in Corinth? (v.1-2)
2) Why did Paul abide with them and what did he do while living with them? (v.3-4)
3) How did Paul's reasonings with the Jews in Corinth change after the arrival of Silas and Timothy, how did the Jews respond to him, and what did the apostle do as a final gesture against them?  (v.5-6)
4) Where did the Apostle Paul abide after that and what was that person like? (v.7)
5) Who did Paul meet next and what happened to them? (v.8)
6) What did the Lord tell the apostle in a vision of the night? (v.9-10)
7) How long did the apostle remain in Corinth? (v.11)
8) When Paul left Corinth, who went with him, and what did he do in Cenchrea? (v.18)
9) What did the apostle do after entering Ephesus? (v.19)
10) What did the believers in Ephesus want Paul to do and what was the apostle's response? (v.20-21)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
11) How many people has the Lord brought into your life to partner with you in ministry at your local church?

LIFE LESSONS
12) The Lord will often send other like-minded believers to labor with us in spreading the gospel among unbelievers.

Apollos Grows in Ministry

Saturday, November 28, 2015
Acts 18:24-28 KJV 

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, [and] mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, [and that] publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who was Apollos? (v.24a)
2) Where did he go to minister (v.24b)
3) What had Apollos been taught and what was his ministry? (v.25a-b)
4) What limited his ministry and who did the Lord sendd to teach him the "way of God more perfectly"? (v.25c-26)
5) What happened when Apollos passed through Achaia? Why? (v.27-28)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you, or anyone you know, every taught others in ignorance of God's word and ways? If so, briefly describe what was done to correct your, or their, errors.

LIFE LESSONS
7) We only grow in ministry to others as we are receptive to being taught by more mature believers in the body of Christ.
8) The humble in heart have a teachable spirit!