Parent Corner | April 22, 2018
Dear Parents,
Jesus’ followers preached the gospel in Jerusalem, and the good news spread to places like Judea and Samaria. More and more people believed, and new churches began as both Jews and Gentiles began to follow Jesus. Barnabas went to Antioch—a city about 300 miles north of Jerusalem—where he brought Paul to help teach the believers. The church in Antioch grew. It was in Antioch that the disciples first became known as Christians. (See Acts 11:26.
The Holy Spirit told the believers at the church in Antioch to send out Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel. The church obeyed, and Paul and Barnabas traveled to several cities and all over the island of Cyprus, telling both Jews and Gentiles about Jesus.
Consider Paul—once a devoted persecutor of Christians—now a Christian missionary, devoted to obeying God’s call to go and tell others the good news about Jesus. This was Paul’s first missionary journey, and it wasn’t easy. Paul and Barnabas faced rejection in every place that they traveled. Some of the people believed, but some of them were angry. Many people rejected the truth about Jesus. In some places, the Jews made plans to kill Paul.
In no place did Paul and Barnabas soften their message or abandon their mission. In Lystra, Paul healed a man, and when the witnesses to this miracle began to worship Paul and Barnabas, the two men emphatically gave credit to the one true God. When Paul’s enemies attacked him and left him for dead, Paul continued on. Paul and Barnabas shared the gospel in Derbe (DUHR bih), and many people believed.
The Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to tell Jews and Gentiles about Jesus. If Paul had not taken the gospel to the Gentiles, many of us would probably not be believers today. God uses people to tell others about Jesus so that people all over the world can be saved from their sin by trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Paul and Barnabas faced many people who rejected the good news about Jesus. But God had a plan for Paul to share the gospel with Gentiles, no matter what troubles Paul faced. Many believed in Jesus. The church grew and the gospel was shared so that people all over the world could be saved from their sin by trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
God Bless,
David Feiser
Family Ministry Director
The Well Community Church
Family Starting Points
Scripture Memory: Psalm 100:1-3
Psalm 100:1-3 “1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Big Picture Question:
How do people hear about Jesus? God uses Christians to tell others about Jesus.
Bible Story: “Paul’s Conversion and Baptism” Acts 9:1-25
- The Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to tell people about Jesus.
- Paul healed a man who could not walk.
- Some people made Paul and Barnabas leave the city.
- Paul and Barnabas went to another city to share the good news.
Family Discussion Starters:
- Who gave Paul power to heal the man who could not walk?
- Was everyone always happy to hear the good news from Paul?
- When might it be hard for you to share the good news? Who can help you?
Family Activity:
- Watch online videos of athletes in wheelchairs as a family.
- Visit a local hospital. Prayer walk the halls and pray for patients who are open to it.
Next Week:“The Message: ‘Christ Alone’” (Acts 15:1-35)
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