Acts (22)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

The video for lesson 22 concludes our series. You can view it by clicking here (scroll down to Lesson 22).

Read and meditate on Acts 28.1-10.
Certainly everyone knows Paul is the hero of this story. They would have understood if he’d have let himself be tended to and cared for by others. But that’s not how Paul worked his Personal Mission Field.

For reflection
1.  Instead, Paul went to work gathering sticks for the fire – still on duty, trying to help where he could, no task too menial. How does his example counsel you with respect to your Personal Mission Field?

2.  The incident with the serpent is a bit of comic relief (we need some!). Paul had escaped assassination attempts (were those guys still fasting?), shipwreck, execution, and more. No little snake – poisonous or not – was going to keep him from getting to Rome. Paul didn’t do this for showy reasons. He just trusted the Lord and pressed on in his work. What can we learn from his example about dealing with untoward circumstances or people?

3.  We note how the local people changed their view of Paul in order to try to make sense of the circumstances they observed. Pagan religion is built on all kinds of shifting sand. Paul did not despise them for their fickleness or their folly. He just kept on being Paul. In what ways can you see that the religion of secularism – materialism, narcissism, licentiousness, and relativism – doesn’t really make sense? How can we help those who hold this worldview to see the folly of it?

4.  Paul showed himself to be a servant to all, beginning with the father of their generous host. Always on duty, always ready to serve, Paul’s example is an excellent one for us. How might you become more like Paul in your Personal Mission Field?

5.  Lesson 5: Keep working until the task is completed. Don’t despise the small tasks, but do whatever comes before you to improve the wellbeing of all. Take every opportunity to expand your outreach. Live to serve, not to be served.What opportunities will you be presented with today to serve others? Are you ready for them?

Summary
The storm is over, the wreck is in the past. No sense dwelling on these or being traumatized by them. We don’t wallow in our problems, and we can’t let setbacks and trials keep us from our Kingdom-and-glory calling in the Lord. Paul certainly didn’t. He dragged himself up on that shore, and the first question on his mind was, “What can I do to help?” The Lord honors such an attitude, as we see in these verses. How can you make sure that’s your attitude every day?

Closing Prayer
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Psalm 121

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. This is the work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. Read more about the implications of this work in our new book, The Kingdom Turn (click here).

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