Paul's rule of order
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 45:42
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Handout
Patterns/Examples
Patterns/Examples
There are patterns you can see in scriptures, some show sin, judgment, repentance, return to obedience, others examples for us to follow (i.e. salvation’s path; Jesus examples, etc.) Tonight we are looking at Paul’s mission team example, what procedures did he put in place, in what order, to what end.
For us to get our setting in place for tonight we need to look back at the mission trip as it has gone thus far.
Paul stoned outside of Lystra, left for dead, but yet rose up and departed to Derbe (Act14:19-20)
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
Prior to that, lets take a quick look
Paul/Barnabas in Iconium - intentions to stone them (Act14:1-7)
Healing in Lystra people think they are god’s (Act14:8-18)
(Transition) now comes the time for Paul and Barnabas to retrace their steps. Retracing with a purpose, first may we look at the retracing, and then what they did as they retracted the steps.
Mission teams return trip
Mission teams return trip
As we look at the return trip, Paul/Barnabas retracing their steps we may be reminded some of the facts of the 1st missionary trip.
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia.
25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished.
27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Let’s bring out some points in the passage and I will give some reminders as we go.
Question: on first leg of return trip where did they stop (v.21)?
They Stopped in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch
Lystra: Paul healed the lame man, but then unbelieving Jews raised up a people, brought division and Paul was stoned and left for dead.
Iconium: Paul preached/taught, people again brought division, but Paul stayed for a long time and was bold in the preaching. They planned to stone him, but he caught word of it and fled to Lystra from here.
Antioch of Pisidia: Paul preached in the synagogue, many Jews and Gentiles wanted more, got more until Paul was chased out of the region.
Question: Second part of journey took them where (v.24-25)?
Passed through Pisidia, Pamphylia, then Perga and went down to Attalia.
Perga: This is where John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem.
In our passage tonight we learn ore about Perga they did preach the word in Perga (v.25); that was not mentioned previously
Attalia is a city along the coast of Pamphylia
Question: After Attalia, where was next (v.26)?
They sailed to Antioch of Syria
Antioch of Syria was the starting place of the mission trip. This is where they were prayed, fasted over, hands laid on them and sent out under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit.
(Transition) There is much more for us to learn by example from this passage and that is what we are going to shift our focus to now.
Rule of order
Rule of order
Patterns, Paul preached the same thing everyplace he went. He taught the same thing, and he did the same thing. He shows a great example and and order to church planting and growth.
Notice the order of how things happened.
Preached the Gospel (Act14:7, 21; Mk16:15-16; Rom10:17; Rom1:16)
7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
And again you can see it
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
(Preach the gospel-1 picture inserted here)
See it is the word, preaching the gospel is the fulfilling of the great commission (Mk16:15-16)
(Below scriptures are not on slide, keep it that way, just quote them)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
It is the gospel that brings about faith (Rom10:17)
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
It is the gospel that Paul was unashamed of (Rom1:16)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
They made disciples (Act14:21; Mt28:19-20)
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Not only was there preaching, there was teaching that happen with disciples as shown in Matthew.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
They established churches (Act14:23; Rom16:16)
Paul was specific did not create a para-church (defined as: Jump to Definition - Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism) Paul established local autonomous churches
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
They strengthened, encouraged the brethren (Act14:21-22)
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Question: What does it say they did in (v.22)?
They strengthened the souls, encouraged the continued faith.
Question: Not on the sheet, look at at (v.22) how can we do what they did? (Stop and discuss this some; draw out what it says at the end too, that is an important fact)
They appointed elders (Act14:23, 20:17, 28; 1Tim3:1-7; Tit1:5-9)
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
This was a pattern as seen in Act20:17, 28 too. Then there is qualifications for elders too, and will look briefly at them, but will keep discussion for another day, another teaching, maybe a series on eldership.
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
and more information found in Titus.
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
You can see several words used, Elder, overseer, other names are shepherd (1Pt5:2) even pastor (Eph4:11) some call bishops in other translations. They are all the same.
They commended them to the Lord’s care (Act14:23, 20:28-32; 12:2)
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Commended a great word, defined as: praise formally or officially; To present as suitable for approval or acceptance; recommend.
I think I want to bring in another passage that addresses elders/overseer’s and being commended.
28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.
32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Question: In looking at (act20:32) What was the church being commended to and for what reason?
Commended to God; commended to the word of His grace.
Done because it is able to build up and give an inheritance to those who are sanctified.
They gave mission report about the work (Act13:1-3; 14:27)
I think reporting back to sending congregation, supporting congregations, people who help maintain the ministry work is vital because they share in the blessings of the fruit of the labor put in on the mission field.
May we look at a our scripture example and one other
27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Think about the mission report
Healed a lame man, got stoned for it, but the gospel was preached
Preached and it brought division and they wanted to stone me, yet God protected me and got me out of there.
I went back and visited the established local churches and strengthened them, encouraged them, appointed elders to oversee them.
Well, there was a mission team split, John Mark left and went back to Jerusalem. I’m sure he is giving a report there of what happened too!
And God opened the door for the Gentiles to receive the gospel!
Churches were planted, church grew because of the gospel!
now look at this more
1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
(Transition) It was the sending church, local church, Antioch of Syria that sent them out under the power of the Holy Spirit. Now back in the starting place, giving the mission report they stayed there for long time. Without a doubt they were preparing through prayer and fasting on what God wanted to do next.
(Transition to close) Now we know it was really the Holy Spirit who called them, who sent them, using man as the vehicle to do it. Without a doubt the Holy Spirit guided them, protected them and returned them so to encourage others.
We can learn much from Paul’s (Holy Spirits) rule of order if we want to help establish and grow a church, to increase the kingdom of God!
(Encouragement slide- Pauls policy procedure and the gospel) encouragement, (prayer) (Closer)