Christ-Consumed

GETTING STARTED

I once knew a guy named Jose who was the most passionately evangelistic guy I had ever seen. The Lord had dramatically saved him, and he could not help but tell others about what Jesus had done for him. I recall one time hearing about him ordering a sandwich at Subway and asking the girl if the sub in her hand could feed 5,000 people. She said, “Um, no.” Jose responded, “Then you don’t know my God,” and he proceeded to tell her about the power of Jesus, who once turned a kid’s lunch into a meal for thousands.

  • Do you have any friends who are that consumed with Christ? If so, what stands out to you about them?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 19:8-10 (ESV)

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What was the main content of Paul’s teaching and preaching?
  2. Why did Paul and the disciples leave the synagogue?
  3. What drove Paul and the disciples to have daily discussions about the word of the Lord?
  4. Why do you think Christianity was known as “the Way” (vs. 9 and Acts 9:2)?
  5. Do you speak boldly, argue persuasively, and reason daily about the gospel message? Why or why not?

RESPOND TO GOD

The early church is so inspiring and convicting! Their boldness is contagious. We read again and again in Acts that the Lord “added to their number,” but we see here and elsewhere that the Lord added through the persuasion of the early church. They went everywhere as ambassadors of Christ. Would that we shared their passion and were as consumed with Christ as them!

  • Ask God to increase your passion for him.
  • Pray that God would show you your “synagogue” and your “Hall of Tyrannus.”