The Church’s Missing Link

Notes

Acts

Paul’s Life – Galatians 1:12 – No one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

Missions Era – Paul & the Church – The Missions Era is described in the bulk of Acts and in the letters of Paul, Peter, John, and Jude, along with the letter to the Hebrews. The Missions Era, like the Church Era, continues today, as those in the church fulfill the Great Commission through the implementation and use of Spiritual Gifts.

Philip takes the gospel to Samaria and Ethiopia; Peter and Paul take the gospel to the Gentiles.

The events in Acts span roughly thirty years, beginning after Jesus’ resurrection in AD 30/33 and ending with Paul in Rome in AD 59. Most of Paul’s letters were also written during this time.

Acts 9: 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” 21 All who heard him were amazed.

Acts 9:22 – Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.

Acts 9:26 – When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him.

Acts 9:28 – So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers* heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.

Acts 11:25-26 – 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers* were first called Christians.)

Acts 12:25 – Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned,* taking John Mark with them.

First Missionary Journey

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Acts 13:4-6 – So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.

(Note: When you know your spiritual gifts and when you use them in the context of the church and community, you are being sent by the Holy Spirit, just like Paul.)

They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. 5 There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant. Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos,

9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Acts 13:13 – 13 Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.

Acts 13:32 – As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week.

Acts 13:43 Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.

Acts 13:47-49 – 47 For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth. 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

Acts 14:1 – The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.

Acts 14:3 – the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs wonders.

Acts 14:6- When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. 7 And there they preached the Good News.

Acts 14:8 – While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet.

Acts 14:19-22  – Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

Acts 14:26 – Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25 They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. 26 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun.

Acts 14:28 – And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.

–It is believed that Paul wrote Galatians at this time.

Galations 1:11-12 – 11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:1-4 – While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers*: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders.

Acts 15:35 – Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

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Acts 15:36-41 – After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

Acts 16:1 – 1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy.

Acts 16:6 –  Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia,

Acts 16:7 – Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,*

Acts 16:8 – they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

Acts 16:10 – So we* decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

Acts: 16:11 – We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

Acts 16:22-23 – A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison.

Acts 16:40 – When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.

Acts 17:1 – Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

Acts 17:10 – That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea.

Acts 17:14 – The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. 15 Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens;

Acts 17:16-17 – While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

Acts 18:1 – 1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

It is believed Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians here. Not so doctrinal as encouraging.

1 Thessalonians 3:1 – 1 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you.

Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians from Corinth a few months after his first letter. Church may have misunderstood the return of Christ, so that event is cleared up here.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 – 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.

Acts 18:11 – So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.

Acts 18:18 – Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters* and went to nearby Cenchrea…Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.

Acts 18:19-23 – They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. 21 As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later,* God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem* and then went back to Antioch. 23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

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Acts 19:2 – Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast,

Acts 19:5 – when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues* and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

Acts 19:8-10 – Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

Acts 19:11 – God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.

Acts 19:17-20 – The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.* 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians toward the end of his stay in Ephesus, about AD 53.

The 1st Corinthian letter
outlines issues and doctrines in today’s church.

(Before reading 1 Corinthians, we must understand  Paul’s message to the Church at Corinth and all dedicated followers of Christ.

Paul spent 2 years in Ephesus and there he wrote to the Corinthians after being there in his beginning missionary journey. He starts his letter mentioning gifts twice.

2 Corinthians 10: 14 – We were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. (The first church Paul sets up) 1841 miles approximately

Corinthians 1:4 – he mentions God’s gifts given by God to the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:7 – you do not lack any spiritual gift

1 Corinthians 1:10 – I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters,* by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:13 – Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

Divisions – following Apollos, Peter or Paul and who was baptized by whom.

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 – So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

1. Sexual sins – 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 –  I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.* 2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.
2. Greed/Idols/abusive/drunkenness/cheating – 1 Corinthians 5:11 – I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer* yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
3. Lawsuits – 1 Corinthians 6:7 – Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?
4. Sexual sin/worship idols/commit adultery/male prostitutes/practice homosexuality/ thieves/ greedy/drunkards/abusive/cheat people – 1 Corinthians 6:12 – You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

5. Proper sex within marriage – 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 – Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations. But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
6. Married to unbeliever – 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 – If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage.
7. Divorce – 1 Corinthians 7:15 – if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife* is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you* to live in peace.
8. eating food sacrificed to idols/
9. avoid causing others to stumble/
10. not being an obstacle to others/
11. temptations/
12. resurrection of the dead/
13. stop sinning/ – wrong!

– Follow Christ! Find common ground with others. Be concerned about the good of others! Do all for the Glory of God!! Operate an orderly church. Paul taught the entire process of dying and rising from the dead!

1 Corinthians 1-7

1 Corinthians 1:2 – I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, (nowhere near the power in his first 3 letters to Galatia and Thessalonica) to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus,* just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

1 Corinth 2:5 – I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:4 – I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:7-8 – Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

2:10 – God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

1 Corinthians 2:12 – And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 2:13-15 – we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

1 Corinthians 2:16b – But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

3:10 – Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16 – Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in* you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:22b-23 – Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 4:1 – So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.

1 Corinthians 4:7 – What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

1 Corinthians 4:15-16 – I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So I urge you to imitate me.

1 Corinthians 4:20 – the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

6:15 – Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ?! THIS IS BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6:14-15

1 Corinthians 7:7 – Each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.

7:31 – Do not attach yourself to the things of the world.

1 Corinthians 7:40 – I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.

1 Corinthians 12,13,14

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