Wednesday, 29 August 2018

Lesson 9 (Aug 25-31), Paul's Second Missionary Journey

Back in Lystra

  1. Once members are converted whose responsibility is it to keep them from backsliding?
  2. Why is Jewish descent through the mother rather than the father?
  3. Was Paul a hypocrite for having Timothy circumcised against his own beliefs?
  4. How can one know whether is it God closing doors or the devil?
Philippi
  1. Is it wrong to spend Sabbath in nature or at home, when there is a church nearby? 
  2. Why did Paul not accept the earthquake and the open doors as a sign that God was rescuing them from jail?
  3. Was Paul manifesting an ego problem when he demanded that the magistrates come personally to escort them out of prison? 
  4. Why didn't Paul reveal his Roman citizenship at the time of beating rather than when he was being released from jail?
Thessalonica and Berea
  1. What is accomplished by beating leaders of religious groups? What effect does it have on the religious group?
  2. Why do prominent women join a religious group? Why could they not arrange for protection of Paul and Silas?
  3. Why did Paul insist on preaching in synagogues when he kept getting beaten for it?
  4. What made the Berean Jews so much more susceptible to the gospel?
Paul in Athens

  1. What are some dangers in adapting the gospel to a local culture? What are the boundaries for contextualization?
  2. Why is an idol called an image? Why is God against being worshipped through representations?
  3. What could the Greeks have meant by the term "unknown god?"
Paul in Corinth
  1. What are the advantages of requiring clergy to earn their own keep through some trade?
  2. Can pastors have a side business?
  3. Should husband-wife team ministry be encouraged?
  4. Should pastors' wives be paid a stipend so they do not have to have a job of their own?