11/11/2013保羅二度旅行佈道

經文:使徒行傳16－18章

中心思想:使徒行傳16章

提要

        保羅第二次宣教旅行開始的時候只有一個新夥伴－－西拉，不過這個福音隊很快就擴展了一倍，提摩太在路司得加入，路加則於特羅亞加入。到了腓立比，保羅和西拉起先受到熱烈的接待，但不久因為斷了別人以說預言牟利的財路，遭到棍打甚至鋃鐺入獄，上帝卻利用這機會帶領獄卒和他的家人得蒙救恩。

每日與主同行

        你認識一位提摩太嗎？也就是說，你認識一位剛剛接觸基督徒信仰的人嗎？你可以鼓勵他、教導他、幫助他、訓練他成為一個門徒。
        保羅有一個提摩太－－一個屬靈的接棒人，一個信心的兒子，保羅深知只有把人領到基督面前是不夠的，他們需要得到餧養和幫助，靈命才會成長。
        請讀使徒行傳十五章三十六節；十六章四、五節；和提摩太後書二章二節，這些經文顯示出保羅再三強調，訓練初信的基督徒，在基督的信仰中的建立他們是何等的重要，這樣，在保羅離去之前，他們還能繼續傳揚福音。
        如果早期的信徒停止傳福音和門徒訓練的話，你今天會在哪裡？你要怎樣負起薪傳的責任？用幾分鐘想一想兩個你所認識的人－－非基督徒或初信的人，他們都需要成熟的信心指導，把這兩個名字寫在空白處：開始每天為他們禱告，定期與他們約談，慢慢就會發現你們都在信心裏成長了。

默想

保羅與西拉－－練習他們的講道吧！
        如果有人有理由抱怨所處的環境，保羅和西拉應該名列榜首！他們無故遭棍打，被扔到監獄裏，雖然身為羅馬公民，卻給剝奪了「公民權」，儘管受盡虐待，你卻找不到他們對捉拿他們的人憤怒的痕跡！不但沒有怒氣填膺，反而利用時間高唱詩歌！

金言

門徒訓練不只是學到老師所教的，而是效法他的作為。

Paul's Second journey

Scriptures:Acts 16-18

Heart of the Passage:Acts 16

Overview

        Paul's second missionary journey begins with a new companion—Silas. But the team soon doubles in size as Timothy is added at Lystra and Luke at Troas. Initially given a warm reception in Philippi, Paul and Silas soon experience flogging and imprisonment for disrupting the profitable soothsaying business. But God uses even this to bring a jailer and his family to salvation.

Your Daily Walk

        Do you have a Timothy? Is there someone you know who is relatively new in the Christian faith— someone you can encourage, instruct, assist—someone you can disciple?
        Paul had a Timothy—a spiritual understudy, a son in the faith. Paul knew it is not enough merely to lead men and women to a saving knowledge of Christ. They need to be nurtured and assisted in their spiritual growth.
        Read Acts 15:36; 16:4-5; and 2 Timothy 2:2. These verses reflect Paul's emphasis on discipling new Christians and establishing them in the Christian faith. In this way they could continue and expand the Gospel's impact long after Paul had stepped off the scene.
        If the chain of witness and discipleship had stopped with those early believers, where would you he today? What are you doing to forge new links in that chain? Take a few minutes to think of two people you know—non-Christians or young believers who need mature guidance in the faith. Write their names in the margin or on a card to slip in your Bible; begin to pray for them daily; and make an appointment to meet with them on a regular basis. You'll find you'll all grow in the faith!

Insight

Paul and Silas —Practicing What They Preached — 
        If anyone ever had reason to complain about their circumstances, certainly Paul and Silas would rank near the top of the list! They were flogged and thrown into prison unjustly. Though Roman citizens, they were denied their "civil rights." Yet in spite of abusive treatment you find no hint of anger in their attitude toward their captors. Rather than seething, they spent their time singing hymns!

Adage

Discipleship is more than getting to know what the teacher knows; it's getting to be what he is.