Community Group Leader Guide
Acts Lesson 16
Community Group Leader Guide Paul and Barnabas [Acts 13:1-12] LESSON & DISCUSSION POINTS Primer Question: When you think of your “life’s calling,” what comes to mind?
Tonight, we’ll explore the idea of calling as we see one example of calling in Scripture
Read Acts 13:1-12. Saul and Barnabas have been teaching and instructing the Antioch church now for a year or so. During a worship service, some in the congregation get a message from the Holy Spirit – “Set apart Saul and Barnabas for the work I have called them to.” There are some important lessons we can learn here. First, we see that this calling for Saul and Barnabas comes from the Holy Spirit. What does this teach us about God’s calling for us? What else do we know about a “calling” from Scripture? Does this only apply to vocational ministry, or to any vocation?
Our calling from God is spiritually discerned, about God, and for God Read also 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. What does this tell us? That everyone who follows Christ has a ministry – to appeal to others, “Be reconciled to God.” Read aloud the quote from Os Guiness in Study Notes. Our primary calling is always to follow Christ. Our secondary calling is how that is lived out in our work, family, location, etc.
Next, note that it was in the context of Christian community that this calling for Saul and Barnabas’ ministry was affirmed. Why is that important? What does this teach us about the role our Christian community plays in helping us discern a calling?
Other believers’ words of affirmation are valuable and should be heard carefully Others might see something you don’t see, and that can be God’s way of affirming, directing, or correcting your course. We should always test this against Scripture.
Finally, we see Saul and Barnabas face confrontation early on (vv. 6-12). What does this teach us about the role of the Holy Spirit in our calling?
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Acts Lesson 16
SUMMARY Everyone has a calling. This primary calling is to follow Jesus. A secondary calling can involve work, family, neighborhood, etc, as applied to following Christ. Everyone has a ministry. Everyone is called to make disciples, pleading with others to come to God. Some are set apart to help equip the church in this full-time as their vocation. But you don’t have to be “in ministry” to minister. Everyone has a ministry. Community is essential. Other believers can be a source of valuable wisdom from God about your life’s calling. Listen and discern carefully.
APPLICATION
Called. What do you sense God has gifted you to do vocationally? What ministry do you sense God has called you to? How do the two intersect?
Commissioned. Who do you have speaking Spirit-led wisdom into your life? What role are these brothers and sisters playing in your decision making and obedience to God?
Empowered. How do you see the Holy Spirit empowering your life’s work and ministry today? What does it look like for us to depend on this kind of power from the Holy Spirit in all we do?
PRAYER
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Acts Lesson 16
Study Notes Paul and Barnabas [Acts 13:1-12] QUOTES Os Guinness makes a distinction between our primary and second callings. He says that, “our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him, and for him. First and foremost we are called to Someone, not to something or to somewhere.” But, as Tom Nelson says, “Os also insightfully points out that each one of us has also been given a secondary calling, and an essential aspect of this particular calling is to do a specific work.”1
CONTEXT / BACKGROUND Prophets and teachers (v. 1) “Christian prophets would have conveyed, as did the prophets in Israel’s history, God’s revelation, expressed in terms of exhortation, instruction, critique, encouragement, and at times disclosure about future events. Teachers are mentioned only here in Acts, but the central importance of teaching God’s word – revealed in Israel’s Scriptures, in Jesus’ ministry, and in the apostles’ preaching – is evident in Luke’s frequent references to teaching activity…”2 Antioch (v. 1) the capital Roman province of Syria “the Holy Spirit said…” (v. 2) This word of revelation probably came through a prophetic utterance during a time of worship. This is the only direct command from the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. Seleucia (v. 4) 16 miles from Antioch, Seleucia was a major harbor city for the Roman Empire. Cyprus (v. 4) A large island in the east Mediterranean. This island was the home of Barnabas.
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Acts Lesson 16
Salamis (v. 5) A harbor city on the east coast of Cyprus. John (v. 5) That is, John Mark, who joined them from Jerusalem to Antioch (12:25). Paphos (v. 6) “The capital city of the province since 15 BC, Paphos was a typical 1 Excavations from Paphos on Cyprus Greco-Roman city with the usual infrastructure that included numerous temples, a theater, an amphitheater, a gymnasium, baths, and also a mint. A temple of Aphrodite in Old Paphos, about 10 miles southwest of the city, was famous during the early Roman imperial period.”3 Proconsul (v. 7) “the head of the government in a senatorial province.”4 “Saul, also known as Paul…” (v. 9) Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his Latin name. The change in names here in Luke’s account shows the transition of his ministry towards both Jews and Greeks outside of Palestine.5
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Os Guiness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor Tom Nelson, Work Matters 1
Nelson, Work Matters, 16. Schnabel, Acts, 555. 3 Ibid., 557. 4 BDAG, “anthupatos.” 5 Schnabel, Acts, 548. 2
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Community Group Leader Guide Paul and Barnabas [Acts 13:1-12] LESSON & DISCUSSION POINTS Primer Question: When you think of your “life’s calling,” what comes to mind?
Tonight, we’ll explore the idea of calling as we see one example of calling in Scripture
Read Acts 13:1-12. Saul and Barnabas have been teaching and instructing the Antioch church now for a year or so. During a worship service, some in the congregation get a message from the Holy Spirit – “Set apart Saul and Barnabas for the work I have called them to.” There are some important lessons we can learn here. First, we see that this calling for Saul and Barnabas comes from the Holy Spirit. What does this teach us about God’s calling for us? What else do we know about a “calling” from Scripture? Does this only apply to vocational ministry, or to any vocation?
Our calling from God is spiritually discerned, about God, and for God Read also 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. What does this tell us? That everyone who follows Christ has a ministry – to appeal to others, “Be reconciled to God.” Read aloud the quote from Os Guiness in Study Notes. Our primary calling is always to follow Christ. Our secondary calling is how that is lived out in our work, family, location, etc.
Next, note that it was in the context of Christian community that this calling for Saul and Barnabas’ ministry was affirmed. Why is that important? What does this teach us about the role our Christian community plays in helping us discern a calling?
Other believers’ words of affirmation are valuable and should be heard carefully Others might see something you don’t see, and that can be God’s way of affirming, directing, or correcting your course. We should always test this against Scripture.
Finally, we see Saul and Barnabas face confrontation early on (vv. 6-12). What does this teach us about the role of the Holy Spirit in our calling?
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Acts Lesson 16
SUMMARY Everyone has a calling. This primary calling is to follow Jesus. A secondary calling can involve work, family, neighborhood, etc, as applied to following Christ. Everyone has a ministry. Everyone is called to make disciples, pleading with others to come to God. Some are set apart to help equip the church in this full-time as their vocation. But you don’t have to be “in ministry” to minister. Everyone has a ministry. Community is essential. Other believers can be a source of valuable wisdom from God about your life’s calling. Listen and discern carefully.
APPLICATION
Called. What do you sense God has gifted you to do vocationally? What ministry do you sense God has called you to? How do the two intersect?
Commissioned. Who do you have speaking Spirit-led wisdom into your life? What role are these brothers and sisters playing in your decision making and obedience to God?
Empowered. How do you see the Holy Spirit empowering your life’s work and ministry today? What does it look like for us to depend on this kind of power from the Holy Spirit in all we do?
PRAYER
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Acts Lesson 16
Study Notes Paul and Barnabas [Acts 13:1-12] QUOTES Os Guinness makes a distinction between our primary and second callings. He says that, “our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him, and for him. First and foremost we are called to Someone, not to something or to somewhere.” But, as Tom Nelson says, “Os also insightfully points out that each one of us has also been given a secondary calling, and an essential aspect of this particular calling is to do a specific work.”1
CONTEXT / BACKGROUND Prophets and teachers (v. 1) “Christian prophets would have conveyed, as did the prophets in Israel’s history, God’s revelation, expressed in terms of exhortation, instruction, critique, encouragement, and at times disclosure about future events. Teachers are mentioned only here in Acts, but the central importance of teaching God’s word – revealed in Israel’s Scriptures, in Jesus’ ministry, and in the apostles’ preaching – is evident in Luke’s frequent references to teaching activity…”2 Antioch (v. 1) the capital Roman province of Syria “the Holy Spirit said…” (v. 2) This word of revelation probably came through a prophetic utterance during a time of worship. This is the only direct command from the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. Seleucia (v. 4) 16 miles from Antioch, Seleucia was a major harbor city for the Roman Empire. Cyprus (v. 4) A large island in the east Mediterranean. This island was the home of Barnabas.
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
Acts Lesson 16
Salamis (v. 5) A harbor city on the east coast of Cyprus. John (v. 5) That is, John Mark, who joined them from Jerusalem to Antioch (12:25). Paphos (v. 6) “The capital city of the province since 15 BC, Paphos was a typical 1 Excavations from Paphos on Cyprus Greco-Roman city with the usual infrastructure that included numerous temples, a theater, an amphitheater, a gymnasium, baths, and also a mint. A temple of Aphrodite in Old Paphos, about 10 miles southwest of the city, was famous during the early Roman imperial period.”3 Proconsul (v. 7) “the head of the government in a senatorial province.”4 “Saul, also known as Paul…” (v. 9) Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his Latin name. The change in names here in Luke’s account shows the transition of his ministry towards both Jews and Greeks outside of Palestine.5
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Os Guiness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor Tom Nelson, Work Matters 1
Nelson, Work Matters, 16. Schnabel, Acts, 555. 3 Ibid., 557. 4 BDAG, “anthupatos.” 5 Schnabel, Acts, 548. 2
www.citychurchgnv.com · ©2015 Ryan Harding and City Church
