6/30 – 7/6

Acts 13 and 14 is the account of Paul’s first missionary journey. The genesis of the journey was a calling from God that was revealed through the Holy Spirit during a time of worshiping and fasting (Acts 13:2). God instructed the Christians in Antioch to set apart “Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2 NRSV). Do you expect to be called by God when you worship and fast? Barnabas and Saul/Paul weren’t the only two Jesus followers to be sent to do God’s work. Acts 1 reveals that at the end of their time interacting with the resurrected Jesus, right before he ascended to God the Father, Christ told his apostles “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NRSV). Jesus’ commission in Acts 1 is similar to the Great Commission from Christ in Matthew 28 when he told his disciples, “Go…make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20 NRSV). A “disciple” during the first century, when Jesus commissioned his followers, was a student/learner who made a commitment to be with their master/teacher, become like them, and do what they did. Another English word that could be used for “disciple” is “apprentice.” According to Matthew’s gospel account Jesus commissioned his disciples to go throughout the world to make more apprentices. Because of their obedience to Jesus’ commission Christianity spread throughout the known world. What if their commission is also our commission from Christ? Luke’s account of Jesus’ commission in Acts 1 reveals that we are to be witnesses for Jesus Christ sharing what we’ve heard, seen, learned, and experienced, including the ways the Lord has worked in our lives. Like Paul and Barnabas, what if the Holy Spirit is sending us on behalf of Jesus as missionaries and messengers into mission fields?

As we continue through the Blinding Light: Lessons from the Life of the Apostle Paul sermon series, this week the Living Faith Devotional will guide us to read and study Paul’s first missionary journey as recorded in Acts 13 and 14. The format of this plan is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the daily use of this devotional:

Each Day

• Read the Daily Reminder
• Spend a few minutes in silence as you wait in the presence of the Lord
• Read the Bible verses for the day
• Answer the question(s) using a journal or notebook, talking to someone else about them, or simply think about your responses
• Listen to and/or sing a worship song or hymn
• Pray
• Live guided by the Spirit of the Lord

DAILY REMINDER:

READ Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 to begin your time set apart to be with, encounter, and worship the living God.

SILENCE & SOLITUDE:

You are encouraged to spend a few minutes quietly alone with God (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) after reading the verses. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, lay down, or walk as the message rolls around in your heart and mind.

DAILY BIBLE VERSES TO READ:

Sunday – Luke 10:25-28 (love God & your neighbor)

Monday – Acts 13:1-12 (Barnabas and Saul sent on a missionary journey)

Tuesday – Acts 13:13-52 (Paul & Barnabas in Antioch Pisidia)

Wednesday – Acts 14:1-7 (Paul & Barnabas in Iconium)

Thursday – Acts 14:8-20 (Paul & Barnabas in Lystra & Derbe)

Friday – Acts 14:21-28 (the end of the missionary journey)

Saturday – Romans 12:1-2 (The Sabbath theme is “worship & delight.”)

VIDEO TO WATCH:

To learn more about Saul/Paul’s conversion, the earliest years of Christianity, and Paul’s missionary journeys you are encouraged to watch the videos using the links provided:

The Apostle Paul: Acts 8-12 by The Bible Project

bibleproject.com/explore/video/gospel-acts-2/

Paul’s Missionary Journeys Acts 13-20 by The Bible Project

bibleproject.com/explore/video/gospel-acts-3/

DAILY QUESTIONS:

You may find it helpful to read the verses a second time as you ask yourself these questions while pondering about God’s message within the verses. You may find it helpful to write your responses to the questions, or talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group, or to simply think about them:

What is the biblical author revealing in these verses? You are encouraged to read the study notes from a Study Bible. If you don’t have a study Bible, you can borrow one from the AUMC library or find one online through www.BibleGateway.com or the Bible Gateway App.

What do the verses reveal about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?

What do the verses reveal about Paul’s first missionary journey?

What do these verses reveal about people who were part of Jesus’ Church, as well as those who were not?

What is God’s message for me from what I read? Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal it as you prayerfully re-read the text.

How should I respond to the Lord’s message?

How will I prepare to observe a full or partial Sabbath day?

LISTEN to and/or SING a worship song or hymn to help you respond to God. You may find it helpful to use the same song each day, or a different one on some, or all, of the days because of what the Bible verses bring to mind.

PRAY:

You are encouraged to let the Bible verses you read guide your prayer. You may find it helpful to use the daily suggestions as well:

Sunday – Invite the Holy Spirit to help the people of Jesus’ Church locally and globally to love God and love our neighbors.

Monday – Pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to clearly reveal your calling, as well as the calling God has for every Christian.

Tuesday – Pray through your day, including for the people you have been with, or will be with.

Wednesday – Invite the Holy Spirit to intercede for the needs of the world, our nation, this community, your family, and you.

Thursday – Throughout the day offer thanks to God for the many blessings you have been given and continue to receive from the Lord.

Friday – Ask the Holy Spirit to stir a passion in the hearts of all Christian throughout the world to reach our family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors with the love of Christ and the good news of God’s kingdom. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide churches throughout the world to effectively train apprentices of Jesus so that we all continue to mature and become fruitful disciple makers.

Saturday – Let the verses from Romans 12 guide you.

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App or Bible Gateway App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.Bible.com or www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.