GROUP FELLOWSHIP NOTES:    SUMMER 2006   JUNE 13/15

‘THE SPREADING FLAME- How they brought the good news ....... to Rome’

(10) Acts 19.1-41: FLAMES’.... IN EPHESUS!

INTRODUCTION:  The end of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey and the start of his third are recounted in 18.18-23. From Corinth he returns to Antioch via a short visit to Ephesus (18.19-21).  After time back at his Antioch base, he travels back over old territory (Galatia and Phrygia) strengthening the Christians and churches. He heads for Ephesus.

PAUL’S EPHESIAN MINISTRY:  19.1-41   - A long (three year), incident-packed, effective, fruitful, influential ministry.

• 19.1-10: THE ‘FIRES’ OF GOSPEL PROCLAMATION The gospel fire had already been kindled in Ephesus:
• By Paul’s previous short visit there:  18.18-21 By Aquilla and Priscilla (left there, 18.19)
• By the ministry of Apollos:  18.24-28
• In what three distinct spheres was Paul active in making the gospel known in Ephesus?
• What do you make of the dozen ‘semi-disciples’ there? What was defective about their faith?   Can there be ‘defective Christians’ today?
• How would we recognise them?
• What elements would need to be missing for their faith to be ‘defective’?
• Talk about Paul’s synagogue ministry (8-9)
• Talk about the third ‘arena’ Paul found for proclamation:  19.8-10 When did Paul carry out this 3rd area? (Get your leader to tell you about the time of his  lecturing given in the Western Text of the N.T. And about the significance of that time.)
• What else was Paul doing, besides preaching, while in Ephesus? (see Acts 20.33-35) How hard did Paul work?
• What impresses you about Paul’s life and ministry as seen in Ephesus?  Any lessons for us?
• 19.11-20:  THE ‘FIRE’ OF GOSPEL POWER In what three ways did the power of Jesus and the Gospel manifest itself in Ephesus? Talk about these.  Which impressed you most? Which to you think impressed them most? What do you make of the extraordinary miracles of healing seen in Ephesus? What were the ‘handkerchiefs’ and ‘aprons’?  What was their significance?
• What were Jews doing invoking the name of Jesus?
• What is so significant about the literal fires lit in Ephesus? (18.19) How should we expect gospel power to be manifest today?
• 19.23-41:  THE ‘FIRES’ OF PERSECUTION  (Again!) The Ephesus riot:  What different motives lay at the bottom of this? Why such an uproar?  And how was it quelled? What motivated Demetrius and colleagues?
• What stirred the Ephesian populace?  (19.29,32)
• What motivated the Jews? (19.33-34 Alexander)
• What motivated the city clerk? (19.35-41)
• Trouble yet again! Whose fault was it?  Should we preach the gospel and evangelise if it is going to result in such disturbance and trouble?

FOR YOUR OWN READING:  Acts 20.11-38:  The moving reminder given by Paul himself to the Leaders of Ephesus a short time later, of his 3 years ministry to them in Ephesus.