In Service of the Gospel

Snapshot:

Pastor Greg Stansel Acts 16:1-10 July 10, 2022

Because Jesus gave Himself as a servant to bring salvation to the world, then we are able to do the same thing by His Spirit.

I. The Gospel removes all stumbling blocks (16:1–3)

II. The Gospel encourages believers (16:4, 5)

III. The Holy Spirit guides the Gospel (16:6–10)

Connect

Why would we need to adapt our approach in sharing the gospel with different people and cultures?

Study

Point 1: The Gospel removes all stumbling blocks (16:1–3)

READ 1 Corinthians 9:19–27

1) Contrast what Paul is saying in this passage with what the council in Jerusalem decided in Acts 15:28, 29. What is Paul’s main focus in this passage? How can we be all things to all people without compromising

the gospel?

2) What are some things in your life that could cause someone to not hear the gospel you are wanting to share with them? What does self-control (as Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 9) have to do with sharing the gospel with different cultures and peoples? What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 9:27? Could someone preach the gospel and miss the message? Explain why or why not.

Point 2: The Gospel encourages believers (16:4, 5)

READ 1 John 2:1–6

3) In what way does John ensure the believers understand the good news of salvation before calling them to obedience? What kind of person does strict obedience alone create? What kind of person does grace alone create? Why is it so important to hold 1 John 2:1, 2 in tension with 1 John 2:3–6? Why does John write “so that you may not sin” if Jesus has already paid for sin?

4) What does it practically look like for you to a) know you have an advocate with the Father who has paid for your sins (i.e., Jesus Christ the righteous) and b) striving to live an obedient life following Jesus? What do you do when you strive to follow Jesus and obey His commands, but fail? How does 1 John 2:1, 2 cause you to rejoice?

Point 3: The Holy Spirit guides the Gospel (16:6–10)

READ John 16:7–15

5) Discuss what Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit. How does this reveal the Spirit’s guidance of the Gospel? What confidence does this give you in proclaiming the Gospel? How do we “hear” the Spirit guide us?

6) What is the danger of saying “The Holy Spirit led me to do this or that”? What are some ways we can test to see if the Holy Spirit is leading us in one way or another?

Practical Applications

1. Take time thinking about who you live and work around. Is there anything you need to remove that is a hindrance to your sharing the gospel with them? Write down how and when you are going to remove that hindrance.

2. Take time writing out how you would share the gospel in different contexts.

3. Spend time developing a plan as to how you are daily led by the Spirit.

Pray the passage

Jesus, we praise you as the highest King and Savior of the world. In our praise of you, we also remember and rejoice that you put on flesh and became like a servant so that you could proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Forgive us for the times we have not been like you in serving others so that they could hear the Gospel. Forgive us for being the stumbling block before others at times instead of pushing them to you, the only one they should stumble over.

Create in us a desire to proclaim the Good News, to encourage one another as believers with the Good News, and to be sensitive to your Spirit as you lead us to share. Give us a desire to listen to your Spirit and not our desires. In Jesus name, Amen.

Memorize & Meditate

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (1 Cor. 9:19).

Preparing for next week

Read: Acts 16:11-40.

Ask: questions of the text.

Pray: through text, for pastor as he prepares, for your heart to hear, for the congregation to hear, for all of us to be obedient.