Adult
Sunday School Lesson Plan
MORNINGSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
Lesson Date: September 11, 2011
Focal Scripture Passage: Acts 15:36 – 16:40
AIM: To lead adults to discover some spiritual principles about God’s sovereignty in salvation and circumstances, and to decide on a way to apply at least one of those principles to their lives.
INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Before class: Write the following scripture references on index cards or small slips of paper: Proverbs 3:6; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11; John 6:44; Romans 8:28; and Romans 8:31. Give them to some of your class members who are willing to read aloud. Ask them to look up the verses and to be prepared to read them when you call for them. Get enough copies of the Study Guide on Acts 16 (along with pens or pencils) for your anticipated attendance. Become familiar with the locations named in this lesson so you can quickly point them out on the map. Additional idea: Collect or print numerous pictures of doors that are either open or closed. Post these pictures around the classroom.
When class begins: Close the door to your classroom. Direct the class’ attention to the closed door and ask them if it is possible for anyone to enter the class through that door while it is closed (no, it is not). Next, open the door and ask if it is possible for anyone to enter through that door while it is open (yes, it is). Ask: “What makes the difference?” (whether the door is open or closed). If you posted pictures of open and closed doors around the classroom direct the class’ attention to those pictures. Tell the class that today’s lesson is about open doors and closed doors. They will learn what happens when a door is closed and what happens when a door is opened.
HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):
1. Review.
a. Briefly remind the class that Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch from their First Missionary Journey (described in Acts 13 – 14).
b. In last week’s lesson we learned that the early church faced and settled the question of whether works are necessary for salvation. The decision then (and the truth still today) is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
2. Parting of the Ways and a New Missionary.
a. Read Acts 15:36-41.
b. Using information on page 18 of the Sunday School Teacher Book and page 13 of the Sunday School Member Quarterly, explain why Paul and Barnabas parted company.
c. Direct the class’ attention to the map and show that Barnabas and John Mark went back to Cyprus, while Paul and Silas went back through Turkey. Both pairs of missionaries went to check on and encourage the new churches they had planted on their First Missionary Journey.
d. Read Acts 16:1-5.
e. Point out the cities of Derbe and Lystra on the map.
f. Ask: “Who was Timothy?” (a believer whose mother was Jewish but his father was Greek).
g. Explain that Paul circumcised Timothy so he would not be offensive to the Jews. Timothy’s salvation was not in question, but circumcision allowed him to go with Paul into the synagogues.
3. Closed Doors.
a. Give everyone a copy of the Study Guide on Acts 16. Explain to the class that they are to match the scripture references to the appropriate spiritual principles.
b. Read Acts 16:6-8.
c. Ask: “Why didn’t Paul and his companions go into the regions of Asia and Bithynia?” (the Holy Spirit of God did not allow them to).
d. They went all the way across Turkey, stopping at Troas (locate Asia, Bithynia, and Troas on the map).
e. God closed the door for Paul to go to Asia or Bithynia.
f. Ask the class to look through the six principles listed on the Study Guide and decide which principle can be learned from these verses (the third one: “God sometimes prevents…”). Ask them to write the proper verse reference beside that principle.
g. Ask the person prepared to read Isaiah 55:8-9 to read those verses.
h. Application: Tell the class that we need to be flexible enough to obey God, even when He says, “No.”
4. An Open Door to Macedonia.
a. Ask a volunteer to read Acts 16:9-10.
b. Locate Macedonia on the map.
c. God opened the door for Paul to carry the gospel into Europe.
d. Explain what happened in those verses, and then ask the class what principle is taught in those verses (the fifth one: “God will direct…”).
e. After they write the reference beside that principle, call for the reading of Proverbs 3:6.
f. Application: Tell the class we must obey God immediately when we understand His leading.
5. The Lord Opened a Heart.
a. Read Acts 16:11-15.
b. Locate the island of Samothrace and the cities of Neapolis and Philippi on the map.
c. Explain why Paul met the Jewish women at the riverside.
d. Call for the reading of John 6:44, and ask the class to identify the principle taught in verses 14-15 (the first one: “God must open…”).
e. God opened the door of Lydia’s heart.
f. Application: Tell the class that we should take the gospel everywhere we can, but we must remember that God is the one who saves, not us. Our cleverness (or lack of it), our eloquence (or lack of it), and our Bible knowledge (or lack of it) won’t make someone be saved. God must open their heart, and then our witness will be received.
6. Closed Prison Doors.
a. Read Acts 16:16-24.
b. God allowed Paul and Silas to be locked behind closed prison doors.
c. Ask the class to identify the principle taught here (the fourth one: “God will sometimes use…”).
d. Ask for the previously enlisted volunteer to read Romans 8:28.
e. Application: Tell the class we must not be surprised by “bad” circumstances and we must not think God has abandoned us.
f. After all, when Paul and Silas were in prison they were exactly where God wanted them!
7. God Miraculously Opened the Prison Doors.
a. Ask a volunteer to read Acts 16:25-26.
b. God miraculously opened the prison doors!
c. Ask the class to identify the principle (the sixth one: “No human doors…”).
d. Call for the reading of Romans 8:31.
e. Application: Tell the class if we are submissive to God He will do His will in and through us, regardless of any barriers men may erect to block our way.
8. God Opened More Hearts.
a. Tell the class there is one more principle to be found in this passage.
b. Ask a volunteer to read Acts 16:27-34 (Acts 16:31 is a great verse to memorize).
c. Tell the class that God opened the hearts of the jailer and his family.
d. These verses teach the second principle on the Study Guide (“God sometimes uses startling…”).
e. Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Jeremiah 29:11.
f. Application: Tell the class that when our lost friends go through startling and bad circumstances we should be ready to share the gospel when they ask spiritual questions. As a matter of fact, most people don’t even think about spiritual things until they run into bad circumstances.
9. Paul and Silas were Freed.
a. Ask a volunteer to read Acts 16:35-40.
b. Explain why Paul refused to be quietly and inconspicuously released from prison (see the notes on these verses on page 15 of the Sunday School Member Quarterly).
PERSONAL APPLICATION: Ask everyone to look at his or her completed study guide. Read each of the principles aloud to the class. Tell the class that after each principle was identified you told them how that principle applies to our lives. Ask: “What principle most stands out to you as one that needs to be applied to your life?” Allow time for as many responses as possible, being sure the application of the principle is clear to the class.
Tell the class that they have discovered six spiritual principles and discussed the application of each one. Tell them you have done your job as a teacher. The rest is up to them. Ask: “Will you apply at least one of these principles to your life? If so, tell God about that right now. Confess any sin related to that principle, tell God you believe the principle, and commit to applying it to your life today.” Lead a closing prayer.
CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize John 6:44. Tell the class that you will be glad to help them if they have further questions about applying these principles to their lives. Ask everyone to read Acts 17 this week, and to pray that God will open the hearts of their unsaved friends.
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