Timothy Joins Paul & Silas

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 7th day of December— Monday!

Last Thursday right here at “The Message” we saw the the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas because of John Mark— Barnabas wants take his cousin, John Mark, but Paul insisted that it was not a good idea since John Mark abandoned them during their first missionary journey in Pamphylia— because of that, they parted ways— Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus— while Paul took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches— from this incident we learn that:

SOMETIMES GOD ALLOWS DISAGREEMENTS TO HAPPEN IN THE MINISTRY

NO MATTER HOW SHARP THE DISAGREEMENTS ARE, IT SHALL ALL END WELL

Later on you shall see on the second letter of Paul to Timothy that the relationship between Paul and John Mark was restored— 2 TIMOTHY 4:11

Today we will begin with chapter 16 of the Book of Acts— and the first section of this chapter was the record of events when Paul and Silas found Timothy in Lystra— open your Bible to ACTS 16:1-5

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 16:1-5

BOOK

Acts 16:1–5 NIV

1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

WHAT: Timothy joined Paul and Silas

WHEN: Second missionary journey of Paul

WHERE: From Antioch through Derbe they met Timothy in Lystra

WHO: Paul, Silas and Timothy— Greek dad and a Jewish believer mom Eunice, grandma Lois [2 TIMOTHY 1:5]

WHY: Paul likes working as a team— he kept on recruiting throughout his journey

Paul gathers additional missionaries to continue the work among the Gentiles— the composition of his team indicates his philosophy of ministry and his commitment to the Jerusalem Council’s conclusions

LOOK

PAUL WANTED TO TAKE HIM ALONG ON THE JOURNEY, SO HE CIRCUMCISED HIM

Timothy had not been circumcised since his father was Greek— so Paul circumcised him for the sake of the church’s mission— in order not to unnecessarily offend the Jews— Paul expected that Timothy would be entering Jewish synagogues and homes with him

Paul explained this action of his in his first letter to the Corinthians where we will see the need to become “flexible” [capable of bending without breaking]— [able to easily modify to respond to circumstances and conditions]— [ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances]— if you are to become a great missionary, you must be “flexible” [capable of bending without breaking]— 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-23

THEY TRAVELED FROM TOWN TO TOWN

They conveyed the gospel and the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem so that they may obey them— in the previous chapter we studied that letter from the Jerusalem council [ACTS 15:29] telling the Gentile believers about 4 things: abstain from food sacrificed to idols, food with blood, meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality

THE CHURCHES WERE STRENGTHENED IN THE FAITH AND GREW DAILY IN NUMBERS

How did the church grew in numbers?— first they were strengthened in the faith

From our short devotional study today— a couple of things came out clear— first, Paul kept on recruiting missionaries throughout his journey

Second is flexibility [bending but not breaking]— 1 CORINTHIANS 9:22-23

Also worthy to note that numerical growth comes after personal and corporate spiritual growth— let me put these in sentences that we can all easily remember…

TOOK

LET US KEEP RECRUITING MISSIONARY THROUGHOUT OUR JOURNEY

FLEXIBILITY IS NECESSARY IN THE MINISTRY

SING

Agape Tent Makers — Sing You All Alone