• 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?

• Read Acts 14

Verse 27 ends their first journey and they rest.

• As you look through chapters 13-14, what are they reporting?

On a separate piece of paper, write out the following:

• List each city and what you see God doing there:
• What encourages you from these chapters?
• What challenges your thinking?

• Read Acts 13: 13-52

In verse 4 we read “the two of them”.
In verse 13 we read “Paul and his companions”.

• Besides the name change from Saul to Paul, what do you think has happened to their group in this span of time?
• How can this shift in who is seen as the leader work well?
• What does it take from all parties?
• I love verse 36. If you had to define what your purpose is in this generation, what would you say?

Paul clearly explains salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and their rejection. He also explains how their gospel efforts

will extend to the Gentiles. We are all beneficiaries of that—I’ll bet that most of us are

non-Jewish people.

Spend some time praying and thanking God for his expansive mercy that extends to all of us!