Paul…
The First Missionary Journey
This week, while you meet with your Faith Formation Group you may want to reflect on our Scripture passage by reading Acts 13:1-4 (printed below) and discuss the questions as a way to begin a conversation.
Acts 13:1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
Acts 13:4 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.
Questions for Consideration:
- Take time to identify the common theme underlining God’s call of Barnabas and Saul (Paul) into the special work of becoming missionaries?
- How does worship, prayer and fasting form a basis for hearing from God. How does worship, prayer and fasting play into your spiritual walk?
- It is significant that this passage begins with a group of jewish leaders in prayer. In fact up until this point in the story of the early church almost all that was happening in the church was part of the inherited Jewish church. It is at this crucial point that God calls Paul and Barnabas into a mission to reach out to people outside of the inherited church. How is God calling you to be both part of the inherited church of our day and to reach out into the world around us?
- What does this call to an outward movement of love to people outside of the church mean for us today?
As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following Wesley Challenge question: Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward, or disregard?
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