A Church to Die For

Shaky Foundations

Apollos

Priscilla and Aquila

Disciples

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey GALATIA (Turkey) GREECE Antioch Ephesus Iconium Lystra Derbe Corinth Antioch Bible Reading Acts 19:8 – 20:1 CYPRUS Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Caesarea Jerusalem

Spiritual Confusion

What’s going on here? Extraordinary Growth Signs and Wonders Significant Opposition and a man called Alexander

1. Extraordinary Growth Teaching The Way – a Jewish sect

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey GALATIA (Turkey) GREECE Antioch Ephesus Iconium Lystra Derbe Corinth Antioch CYPRUS Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Caesarea Jerusalem

2. Signs and Wonders Hankies & Aprons Would you want to be a Paul? To be more like Jesus ... Faith essential

What is our message? Acts JESUS Kingdom? Love? Forgiveness? Salvation? Grace? Repentance? Acts love – agape (Greek) isn’t mentioned once

3. Significant Opposition Spiritual confusion Craftsmen, silversmiths

Temple of Artemis (Diana) One of the seven wonders of the world

3. Significant Opposition Spiritual confusion Craftsmen, silversmiths Gentiles Jews (Dispersion – Diaspora) Christians – people of The Way Paul & friends and a man called Alexander

Alexander? Apollos – a Jew from Alexandria Priscilla & Aquila – Jews from Pontus who had come from Italy Lydia - a dealer in purple Timothy – a disciple from Lystra Dionysius – a member of the Areopagus Titius Justus – a worshipper of God Crispus – the synagogue ruler

Alexander Mediator? Jew Craftsman?

14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. 2 Timothy 4:14-15 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. NIV

1 Timothy 1:18-20 18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. God did not protect Paul from the harm of this dangerous man. He allowed him to suffer at his hands.

24 "No-one can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 24 "No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon. (money, possessions or whatever else you trust in) NIV