ACTS 18:1-111 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted ...
ACTS 18:1-11
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshipper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because i have many people in this city." 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
FROM THE LESSON:
What happens in Corinth, stays in Corinth: Corinth was well-known for its immorality. It was the Las Vegas of its day. From the 5th century BC on, "to corinthianize" meant to be sexually immoral.
Discouraged in Corinth: Paul arrives to Corinth greatly discouraged. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:3, "When I first came to you, it was in weakness and fear and much trembling."
The Four Horsemen of Discouragement:
- Fatigue - worn out by the activities
- Frustration - weighed down by the challenges
- Fear - worked up by the unknowns
- Failure - wounded within from the setbacks
Encouraged in Corinth: Paul finds encouragement in Corinth in three specific ways.
- He experiences the presence of God through His people (v 2-3, 5)
- He witnesses the power of God through the transformation of the Holy Spirit (v 6-8)
- He hears the promises of God through sharing of His word (v 9-10)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Ice Breaker - when you are feeling discouraged, how do you typically try to manage those feelings? Is there an activity you do or a friend you call? What is your "go-to" form of encouragement when you are feeling discouraged?
2. Can you think of a specific time when you recently felt discouraged? What was the cause of the discouragement? Of the "Four Horsemen of Discouragement" which one tends to be the root cause of your discouragement more than another one?
3. Paul found encouragement in Corinth. The first way he found encouragement was through experiencing the presence of God through His people. How have you recently been encouraged in this way? Share an example with the group.
4 Paul found encouragement in Corinth. The second way he found encouragement was through witnessing the power of God through the transformation of the Holy Spirit. How have you recently been encouraged in this way? Share an example with the group.
5. Paul found encouragement in Corinth. The third way he found encouragement was through hearing the promises of God through the sharing of His Word. How have you recently been encouraged in this way? Share an example with the group.
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