Sunday School

GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL

Lesson: Paul Evangelizes in Rome

Focal Verses: Acts 28:23-31 (CEB) 

23 On the day scheduled for this purpose, many people came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, he explained and testified concerning God’s kingdom and tried to convince them about Jesus through appealing to the Law from Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others refused to believe. 25 They disagreed with each other and were starting to leave when Paul made one more statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke correctly when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, 26 Go to this people and say:
You will hear, to be sure, but never understand; and you will certainly see but never recognize what you are seeing. 27 This people’s senses have become calloused, and they’ve become hard of hearing, and they’ve shut their eyes so that they won’t see with their eyes or hear with their ears or understand with their minds and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them. 28 “Therefore, be certain of this: God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen!” 30 Paul lived in his own rented quarters for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to see him. 31 Unhindered and with complete confidence, he continued to preach God’s kingdom and to teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Summary: 

In this week’s lesson, Paul has been allowed to live in his own quarters under house arrest or with a light chain. The Jewish people were allowed to re-enter the city, and Paul took this as an opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ amongst the Jewish leaders. However, while they began with a listening ear, later many of them rejected Paul’s message. It was at this point, that Paul began to spread the message of Christ to the Gentiles. It was in the Gentiles that Paul found his most faithful audience.  

Key Takeaway: 

Ministry in all its forms its quite difficult. And one of the most difficult parts is that, like a host of a dinner party, we prepare a wonderful feast, yet no one shows up. I imagine when the Jewish crowd rejected Paul’s message, he had the same disappointment. However, like Paul we cannot stop doing what God has directed us to do. Paul understood it’s the work that matters, not the crowd. And if we continue to be faithful in whatever ministry we are in, like the Gentiles showed up for Paul, God will bring the people we need, or rather the people that need us.

Grace and Peace.