The Gospel Spreads to Asia Minor

OBJECTIVE

In this module, we will take the children through the journey of the Acts of the Apostles. Specifically, we will see how the Word of God spread from Jerusalem to the entire world through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His apostles that "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8. We are studying how the disciples did, in fact, spread the message of Gospel as Jesus said: Week 1- In Jerusalem, Week 2- In Judea and Samaria, Week 3 - to the Gentiles, Week 4- to Asia Minor.

INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes

Display a map like the one below while teaching this lesson.

During the time of the early Church, the cities around the Meditteranean area were centers for trade, work, education, and worship. The cities referred to in Acts are part of 'Asia Minor', which is the modern day country of Turkey. Asia Minor, along with the surrounding cities of modern day Greece, Italy, Syria, and Israel, were all under the rule of the Roman Empire. Because of this, all of these cities were connected by roads for ease of travel between them. People from all over the region lived in each of these cities, so each city was multicultural Also, all of these cities had many temples dedicated to Roman and Greek idol gods, as well as other idol gods from other nations. The Jewish people living in these cities would worship God in their own local synagogues.

Remember from last week's lesson that the Church in Jerusalem was being persecuted after the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the early followers of Christ were scattered to the surrounding cities. Then St. Barnabas and St. Paul went to Antioch, a major metropolitan and multicultural city, to teach and strengthen the Church of Christ.

The growing new Church of Christ gave people a revolutionary way of life. People from all different ethnicities, traditions, and classes were accepted as Christians and treated equally in the Church. Together they worshiped the One True God in agape love and peace.

Hearing about the upcoming famine, St. Paul, along with St. Barnabas and St. Mark, set out to collect relief funds for the churches in Judea, the poorer regions that would be more affected by the famine. As a result, St. Paul continued to spread the Good News of the Gospel to many more cities through the power of the Holy Spirit

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Memory Verse "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." Acts 10:34

Read together the following passages. Have students keep track or list on a board each city as it is mentioned.

(Paul's First Journey) Acts 13:1-6 " Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God."
Acts 13:13-14 "Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down."
Acts 13:42-52 "So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' " 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 14:1-4 "Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there."
(Paul's Second Journey) Acts 16:6-10 "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Acts 17:1-4 "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas."
Acts 17:10-15 "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Acts 18:1-8 "After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes

Repeat the Memory Verse "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" Acts 10:34.

In St. Paul's first missionary journey, he traveled from:

Antioch in Syria to Seleucia
Then sailed to Salamis on the island of Cyprus
Traveled to Paphos
Sailed to Perga in the region of Pamphylia in south-central Asia Minor
Headed north to Pisidian Antioch
Traveled east to Iconium in Galatia
Fled to Lystra
Went east to Derbe
Traveled back to Lystra, Iconium, Psidian Antioch, Perga
Preached in Attalia
Back to Antioch

In St. Paul's second missionary journey, he traveled to:

Derbe
Lystra
Iconium
Psidian Antioch
Troas

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Why do you think the community of early Christians was appealing to outsiders? What did the Church provide for its community? How is this different from what they were seeing around them?

LIFE APPLICATION (Action) - 5 Minutes

Even now, we come across many people who do not follow God or are Christian. We are expected to treat them with love, no matter their beliefs or actions. We should be strong and knowledgeable in our faith, but people will know we are Christians by our love and outward behavior.

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

The story isn't over The Good News is still spreading to the ends of the earth till this day. Our lives are a continuation of the Apostles and the New Testament.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Have students list all the countries they can think of that the Coptic Orthodox Church is located outside of Egypt*.* Wikipedia Article

Using the attached maps below, color and list all the regions names in Acts 13-14

New Testament Books Song

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

In this module, we journeyed through the Acts of the Apostles. Specifically, saw how the Word of God spread from Jerusalem to the entire world through the work of the Holy Spirit. Week 4 covered how the Gospel spread through Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), mostly through St. Paul's travels.