• Read Acts 17: 1-9

Paul and Silas move on and again within a month have the whole place stirred up!

They start sharing with the Jews weekly in the synagogue. They pursue relationships with the god fearing Greeks and some prominent women. I love the wide net that they cast.

This past summer, Andrew encouraged us all to develop a trellis, something that would support our life with the Lord. Rhythms, routines, and “ways” that put us in a place to grow deeper in the Lord. And that also put us in places to be used for His glory.

Paul, in verse 2, has “customs” that govern how he moves about his days and weeks. “As his custom was”…

This phrase has me thinking about my “customs”, my “ways”, my rhythm of life.

How about you?

• What are the ways that you connect with Jesus?
• Daily?
• Weekly?
• Monthly?
• Individually?
• Corporately?

• Read Acts 16:25-40

Three things amaze me about Paul and Silas in this story. First, they have no idea of their outcome and are choosing to pray and sing hymns.

Secondly, the care that they show for their captor and guard is staggering. Loving their enemy is real for them.

Lastly, though they have been wronged, beaten and painfully imprisoned, they keep their head in the game and are able to share the love of Jesus with the jailer and his family!

• What is a situation in your life right now where you can pray to “keep your head in the game” and remember our mission here?
• How are you responding in the midst of your challenging story? What could move you to prayer and praise?
• Who are the people in your life that seem like an enemy (or perhaps are actually an enemy) that the Lord would have you love?

• Read Acts 16:16-24

This is not the first time Paul angers people, and certainly won’t be the last! I keep thinking of how messy life can be. This demon possessed slave girl was surely in a way better place once she had been delivered by the demon. But her owners disagreed. And we actually have no idea what she thinks either.

After all, she hadn’t asked to be healed.

But quickly, many lives are changed forever by this one action. Slave owners, the slave girl, Paul and Silas are all impacted.

• Share a time when you believed you were acting in love and concern and it was received otherwise. What happened?
• How did you resolve this?
• Have you ever questioned or felt disillusioned with a turn of events in your life? Certainly Paul and Silas had not woken up that morning thinking they would be put in jail.
• How can you trust God’s sovereignty in allowing events in your life that impact you?

We will continue on with Paul’s missionary journey as he travels, plants churches, and encourages the believers.

• Read Acts 16: 1-15

We get a chance to peek into the comings and goings of Paul as he heads onwards. He meets Timothy, from an ethnically mixed family, who soon becomes a traveling companion.

We are told that Timothy has a believing, Jewish mom, and a dad who is Greek. I can’t help but wonder what life was like culturally for this young man and his family with a Greek father and a Jewish mother who becomes a Jesus follower. Timothy is called a “disciple”, someone who follows.

Then the Spirit speaks in several ways and stops them from going here and there, and then sends them to Macedonia- incredible!

Finally, in Macedonia we meet a God-seeking woman who responds to the message about Jesus and brings her whole household!

• Who has been the older believer in your life- like Paul was for Timothy? How has this impacted your faith?
• What are ways that the Holy Spirit communicates with you? Pray now and tell Him that you are listening.
• Finally- if there hasn’t ever been an older disciple in your life- pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you someone that you could ask to be a part of your life in this way!

• Read John 17:20-26

Ultimately, God’s desire is for unity.

Spend some time praying for unity in our body here at Riverside, as well as the larger church in the U.S. and in the
world. Pray for current issues you know that are dividing.

• Read Acts 15: 22-41

These requirements are so interesting. Let’s Look at them through the Know, Be, Do lens.

KNOW (What does the text say about God?)

BE (What does the text say about us?)

DO (What is the text calling me/us to do?)

Paul and Barnabas do not remain together. We, of course, do not know the whole story.

• What are things that might truly separate us from another believer?

• Read Acts 15: 1-21

Reflect on the following questions:

• What is the dispute that arises? Why does it arise?
• What encourages you about this process?
• What has been your experience with disputes in the body of Christ/ at Riverside?
• How should we as believers work through arguments and differences when they arise?
• In our generation right now, the broader church is often split very publically on issues. What is a possible solution for this?
• How can you begin this process in your own life and sphere?