Section 6: "Extended Trips" [16:6]

Maps of Paul’s missionary journeys
- In his first missionary journeys, Paul didn’t go that far from Tarsus, his birthplace.
- Now the Spirit is pushing him out of his comfort zone, into a very different part of the Roman Empire
Paul and decision-making
- [16:6-7] What do you think this looked like?
- How could it be God preventing them from preaching the Gospel?
- Is the “Spirit of Jesus” different from the Holy Spirit?
  - See 1 Peter 1:10-11
- Did Paul wait for direction about where in Macedonia to go?

[16:14] What does it mean that God “opened Lydia’s heart” ?
- Did he violate her will?
[16:16] Could the demons in this slave-girl really tell the future?
- Do demons know the future?
- Do they have any more knowledge than us [e.g. v.17]
- Why did they “advertise” Paul—surely it would have been better for them to have kept quiet?
What did you think of when you saw the video of Paul being flogged?
[16:37-39] Why did Paul not tell them to start with about being a Roman?
- Think of the example this would have set for the new Christians!
- Why make them come and get him out?
  - How would this have affected the new Christians?
[16:40] Not true that Paul has a “down” on women—he recognized Lydia as a key person
- (Also he greets lots of women in his letters, and strongly recommends Phoebe)
Another parallel with Peter—miraculous release from prison. (Is there a pattern?)
- What exactly do you think made the jailor want to become a Christian?

Why was it always the Jews who were their biggest ememies?
- Do similar things ever happen today (i.e. opposition from the “religious” leaders?)

[17:16] His preaching different at Athens
- Did he make a mistake?
- Why did he not even mention the cross?
- It was for a good reason—almost identical message to his other message to pagans at Lystra
- Paul preaching to pagan Gentiles—compare the two

[19:10] Why did he need to spend 2 years teaching?
- all in Asia?
[19:11-12] Wow!
- signs of an apostle! 2 Cor 11:23-30, 12:10-12
- Could this happen today?
- Should we collect the clothing of godly men & women?

Would you like the kind of joy in Christ that would make you sing in prison after being “severely beaten” ?
Paul had an amazing persistence—he just kept going and brought in an extraordinary harvest
Would you like the Holy Spirit to take you out of your comfort zone?
- before you pray this, ask yourself if you really do mean it!!!
So,
- pray to be so filled with the joy of Christ that unbelievers will say “what must I do to have what you have”
- pray that we do not become “weary in well-doing”, but rise up on eagle’s wings
- pray that the Spirit will move you out of your comfort zone, and give him permission to do whatever he wants to with you

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