Grab Your Passport | 02 | Paul’s Second Journey

“Paul’s Second Journey” from the lesson series Grab Your Passport, April 2021

our Scripture

 Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they are (Acts 15:36 ESV).

Acts 15:36-41 ESV
Acts 15:36-41 NASB	Acts 15:36-41 NIV	Acts 15:36-41 NLT	Acts 15:36-41 MESSAGE

 

Other Scriptural References:

Acts 16:1-40

Acts 17:1-34

Acts 18:1-22

our Lesson

The mission of Paul’s second journey fits with a question many churches face today. How many of the new Christians in your congregation this year will persist until next year? Several organizations have conducted limited and local polls among new converts, but the results have been varied and inconsistent. Some surveys have found a persistence

[su_pullquote align=”right”]Charles E. Hackett, former national director for missions for the Assemblies of God in the U.S. said, “A soul at the altar does not generate much excitement in some circles because we realize approximately ninety-five out of every hundred will not become integrated into the church. In fact, most of them will not return for a second visit.”[/su_pullquote]

rate as high as 85%, while others cite stats that do not get out of single digits. The surveys rarely follow a structured method for data collection, and are not part of a scientific study. Many of the numbers appear to be based on anecdotal evidence. Given the myriad of divisions within the Church, and even disagreement about the definition of “falling away,” it is not feasible to ascertain conclusive answers or results.

How Do Christians Persist?

The Pew Research Center gives a more accurate view of the religious landscape in America. According to their research, Americans who describe themselves as Christians stands at about 65% in 2019. The number is down 12 percentage points from a decade ago. Both Protestants and Catholics are experiencing losses of the population share. Meanwhile, the number who identify as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular continues to grow at 26%.

Ed Stetzer, editor for Christianity Today and expert on church growth, writes about things mature believers can do to help keep people from falling away. “First, we can seek to understand why such people fall away. Second, we can discern and devise ways we can strengthen our discipleship environments to allow the full spectrum of seekers and strugglers have safe environments to belong, become and believe (and keep on believing).”

Paul’s Second Journey

When Paul wanted to return to visit believers from his first journey, his concern was for the persistence of the new converts to Christianity. Honestly, it is surprising that any Gentile church in the first century was able to endure. The resources upon which they were able to build were faulty and limited. New Christians were surrounded by a culture that was pagan and immoral. Few understood the teachings of this Rabbi from Nazareth. It was a time when Christianity was simply seen as a dissenting sect of the Jewish religion. These believers were subject to persecution from zealots of the Jewish faith to militants of the Roman Empire. Inside families, individuals were ostracized because they had abandoned the family faith.

Paul’s second journey found the Apostle returning to cities he had visited to see how the church and the people were surviving in such a hostile environment. Paul’s visit had an impact on the churches. Three phrases in three passages from Paul’s second journey provide threads of understanding of the Apostle’s methods and heart.

They Increased in Numbers Daily

When Paul and his companions traveled to the churches, they spent time with people and they proclaimed God’s Word as seen through the life of His Son. Luke connects this proclamation of the Word with “the churches were strengthened in the faith” (Acts 16:5). As a result, the church increased in numbers daily. The short phrase carries several implications. The growth happened outside and apart from a church building. There were no official church buildings until three hundred years later. The growth happened beyond the reach of the “professional” staff – the apostles and other church leadership. People shared their understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ to their friends, and their friends responded immediately.

God Had Called us to Preach the Gospel to Them

Luke includes vital details of the ministry of the Apostle  (Acts 16:6-10 NIV) that affirm an important principle. God is at work in achieving His purposes in the spread of the Gospel. Paul and his companions were sensitive and open to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit in their decisions and their journey. As they traveled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, they had been kept from entering Asia by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6). When they tried to enter Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them (Acts 16:7). They immediately departed for Macedonia after Paul had seen a vision (Acts 16:9-10). God wants to guide us; do we want to listen?

I See That in Every Way You Are Very Religious

When Paul would enter a new city or area, he would first connect with the people who had a religious or spiritual culture, even if the culture disagreed with the message of Christ. He would first go to the city’s synagogue and begin talking to the Jews who understood the longing for a Messiah. In his famous speech to the men of Athens (Acts 17:22-23), Paul commended them for being religious. He pointed them to their own altar offering reverence to “the unknown god.” Paul began speaking about the unknown God who could be known through His Son, Jesus the Messiah. He wanted the people listening to feel welcomed and connected, rather than antagonize them by ostracizing them.

Highlights of Paul’s Second Journey

Paul’s second journey featured some incredible highlights. A few of them include:

• Paul befriended a young man named Timothy at one of the first stops. His mother and grandmothers were Jewish believers, but from what can be determined, his father was Greek. Timothy had a good reputation among the believers so Paul invited him to join them on the journey. Timothy would receive at least two letters written by Paul which are now a part of the New Testament. The young man would one day be left in Ephesus to lead the believers there. How important are mentors in understanding the doctrines of faith – and in living the faith out each day?
• As Paul was traveling through the edge of the region of Mysia, near the town of Troas, Paul had a dream that a man from Macedonia (north of Greece) called to him to come to Macedonia and help them. Paul took this as a sign from the Holy Spirit to alter their plans. Immediately the left for Macedonia. Do you look for signs of God’s leading in your life? How do you know God is directing you?
• On the way to Macedonia, they traveled to Philippi where they met a slave girl who had an evil spirit. Through the power of the spirit, she was able to foresee the future. The girl followed Paul around until finally he cast the demon out of her. The girl’s owners were not happy because their means of making money was gone. They incited a riot against Paul and Silas and had them thrown in prison. Can demons be active today? What are their purposes? How do we see their effects?
• As Paul journeyed, he spent about a year and a half of this tour in the city of Corinth. To support himself and his companions, Paul used his skills as a tent-maker. What does this say about the importance of our faith in the workplace? How does faith affect what we do at work?

As we travel from city to city, we will learn lessons that will help us share the Gospel with an “unchurched” culture.