In this passage, Luke catches his breath and hits rewind on the story to take us back to the death of Stephen and the results it had on the church scattering away from Jerusalem and Judea. Luke gives us four scenes with four people(s) that capture a stunning picture of the Gospel in action and the Church serving as a witness to the end of the earth.
Discipleship Questions:
The first characters we are introduced to in our story are the “unnamed” men who preach the Gospel to Gentiles. Have you ever shared the gospel with someone you didn’t have much in common with? What were some of the challenges and how did you find common ground? (think about the common realities of all humans: brokenness, sin, struggle, etc)
The second character is Barnabas who the text describes as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” who saw the grace of God in the belief and salvation of the Gentiles. Have you ever been “upset” because Jesus saved someone; maybe someone who hurt you, treated you poorly, etc? Has your negative opinion or feelings about someone hindered you from sharing your faith with them? How might we pray for God to make us more like Barnabas, full of the Spirit and of faith?
Saul was in Tarsus for almost ten years before Barnabas found him and his ministry as we know it began. To say that Saul was just twirling his thumbs and waiting in Tarsus would be a mistake. He was learning, growing, maturing, and witnessing there in his hometown. How are we using the years when we might think no one is watching or when we should be preparing for what God has in store?
The church in Antioch (which is only a year or two old) hears about the need for the churches in Judea/Jerusalem and begins to save and send relief. Where do you struggle, in the sending/serving or in the receiving? How can we grow in both areas over the next few months, especially with Christmas coming up?