VERSES: Acts 16:1-8
MEMORY VERSE: Acts 16:5 "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: 1 Thessalonians. Write "1 Thessalonians" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class, so they may memorize one more New Testament book.
PRAYER: Thank the Lord for all that He gives us, both our physical blessings and our spiritual blessings. Thank Him for the ones who love us and are teaching us the Bible.
SPECIAL SONG: Acts 8:4 (see June 2015 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #7 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: Bible map; Activity (see below)
LESSON POINTS:
- As Paul and Silas were strengthening the congregations on their second missionary journey, Barnabas and John Mark had sailed to Cyprus to check on the congregations there. When Paul came to Derbe and another nearby city named Lystra, there was a young disciple there and his name was Timothy.
- We know that Timothy's mother had been a Jewess or a lady Jew, as was his grandmother, but his father was a Greek. It was his mother, Lois, and his grandmother, Eunice, who taught Timothy the scriptures and a love of God (2 Timothy 1:5). Even though Timothy's father was not a Christian, still Timothy was taught God's Word. Timothy was well reported of and highly spoken about in the congregations of Lystra and Iconium.
- Timothy became dear to Paul just like a son (2 Timothy 1:2). Paul taught Timothy much about the Lord and Timothy was included on Paul's second missionary journey. As the men went from town to town, they gave the congregations decrees or orders that were written by the inspired apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So, as the congregations of the Lord's church were established and grounded in the faith, the number of Christians increased every day. The people were taught, they believed, and they obeyed. The church grew.
- The Holy Spirit was still with Paul and the disciples on Paul's second missionary journey, teaching them what the Lord wanted them to do. When they had traveled through the whole regions of Phrygia and Galatia (see map), they were told by the Holy Spirit not to go into Asia or to Bithynia, even though they wanted to go. They traveled many hard miles from Mysia and on to Troas.
- The Lord was directing this second missionary journey just like He was in charge on the first missionary journey. Paul and the men were guided by the Holy Spirit. We remember that the Holy Spirit comforted the disciples (John 14:16, 17) and taught them many things (John 14:26).
- Later, the apostle Paul wrote two letters to Timothy and we have what Paul said to him in our Bibles today. They are the books of 1 and 2 Timothy. Paul wrote instructions to Timothy on how to live a godly life. We read, listen to, and obey Paul's words as well, knowing they come from God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
Materials needed: 9" x 12" yellow construction paper, crayons.
- Hand out yellow paper.
- Fold paper, so that outside edges meet in the middle.
- With paper still folded, write "Who did Paul treat as a son?" in the middle of both papers.
- Unfold paper.
- In middle section, draw a picture of Timothy.
- Color.
- On the left section, write "His mother, Lois, and his grandmother, Eunice, taught him about God." and "His father was a Greek." and "Spoken highly of in Lystra and Iconium."
- On the right section, write "Dear to Paul." and "Was included in Paul's second missionary journey." and "Later, he received two letters written by Paul. They are in our Bibles."
- Fold back up again and the students take the papers home.
