CHILDREN STS LESSON 48: PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY
Text: Acts 13:1-52; 14:1-28
A missionary is someone who is commissioned or appointed to carry out a mission. The mission here is the preaching of the gospel. The messenger who spreads the gospel from one location to another is a missionary. While Jesus was on earth, He chose some disciples whom He sent out to preach the gospel to sinners. Shortly before He went back to heaven, He gave the great commission to His disciples and those that would become His friends through their evangelistic outreach. The disciples were faithful to this great call as they went everywhere preaching the Word. Though persecution arose, they were not discouraged. The more they suffered, the more they continued.
Miraculously, one of their greatest persecutors came face to face with the power of God on his way to Damascus. His name was Saul. He had a life-transforming encounter with Jesus and became a real Christian and follower of Jesus, whom he once persecuted. This singular encounter changed the course of his life. He became a preacher of the Word, minister of the gospel, servant of the Lord and the greatest missionary that ever lived.
Our Bible passage tells the story of the beginning of his missionary work. This is commonly referred to as Paul’s First Missionary Journey. It was the Holy Ghost that specifically called Paul and Barnabas. They responded promptly and went to many cities to preach the gospel and established churches. The call of God today to all Christian boys and girls is still “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). What is expected of us is obedience. As you go out to preach, God will back you up and sinners will be saved.
- THE CALL OF PAUL: Acts 13:1-3; 9:1-20
Paul, who was once called Saul before he became converted, troubled and persecuted believers in the early Church. He was a member of a religious group called The Pharisees. He was also a lawyer and a member of the Jewish supreme court known as the Sanhedrin. This gave him the power and authority to arrest Christians and put them in prison. He was the commander-in-chief of the persecutors because he was the one at whose feet the clothes of the people that killed Stephen were kept while he was being stoned to death.
Unknown to Saul, Jesus’ plan for him was to save souls and not kill them. Saul was a sinner, therefore Jesus did not just commission him to go and preach the gospel without first of all calling him out of sin. He was on his way to Damascus to continue his evil work of persecuting friends of Jesus. Suddenly, a dazzling light from heaven, very bright, shone around him. He heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecute thou me?” (Acts 13:2). Paul and Barnabas obeyed God’s call. They prayed and fasted with other believers and then departed to fulfil God’s commission. They went from place to place preaching the word of God. Many things happened during their journeys but God was with them.
If your life and name has not changed from a sinner to a saint then you cannot preach the gospel. Therefore, sinful boys and girls must repent and ask for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus. After this, you will then pray to possess other Christian experiences like sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism.
- THE COMMISSION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS: Acts 13:1-15; 9:26,27; 11:25-30; 12:25
To commission means to choose or appoint someone to perform a special task. Our study today is on how God called and sent Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey. They were working partners in the business of taking the gospel to every creature.
From the moment Paul surrendered his life to Jesus, he became a true Christian – praying, preaching to others and obeying God’s word. These good attributes in Paul, Barnabas and others made God to call both of them in Acts 13 into His special service. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2). Paul and Barnabas obeyed God’s call. They prayed and fasted with other believers and then departed to fulfil God’s commission. They went from place to place preaching the word of God. Many things happened during their journeys but God was with them.
If you are obedient to the great commission, God will always stand by you. Nobody will be able to harm you or stop the work of God.
- COMMITMENT AND CONSECRATION OF THE MISSIONARIES: Acts 13:1-52; 14:1-28
“And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3). Having received the command to release Paul and Barnabas for God’s work, the church promptly sent them on their mission to take the gospel to many cities of the world. In this first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas with their company travelled round the world of that time. Some of the cities are Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos, Perga in Pamphylia, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Their main objective was to preach the gospel, bringing men, women and children into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, delivering the oppressed from Satan’s power, establishing them in the church, healing the sick and performing signs and wonders.
Apostle Paul and his companions were so committed to achieving this objective that they went all round without looking back. Many of the people who heard their message believed and became friends of Jesus. However, there were some who did not believe and went ahead to raise opposition against them. There were misunderstandings and persecution of the apostles, yet they were not discouraged. God was with them in all their journeys, and they experienced great progress.
What God expects from His servants is obedience and total consecration to the work of winning souls to Christ. The call of Jesus Christ to all His friends to preach the gospel to sinners is called The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). As God commissioned Paul and Barnabas, so has He also commissioned you. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
You can preach the love of Jesus to sinners through:
(a) person to person evangelism
(b) sharing of tracts, and Christian literature
(c) continuous prayer for sinners to be saved
(d) visitation and follow up
(e) support for mission work through prayers and material contribution amongst many others.
If you are not yet born again, you cannot be involved in the great commission. If you want God to use you for His service, give your heart to Jesus today. Repent and turn away from all the bad things in your life and start following Jesus. Many great rewards are waiting for all those who obey God’s call and serve Him. Will you be one of them?
QUESTIONS:
- What does it mean to commission somebody?
- a) Explain the life that Paul lived before he gave his life to Jesus.
b) What change took place in Paul’s life after he met with Jesus Christ? - What assignment did God give to Paul and Barnabas?
- What assignment has God given to all friends of Jesus Christ today?
- What must you do to take part in this great assignment?
MEMORY VERSE:
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2).
LESSON:
God has called all friends of Jesus to preach the gospel to sinners.
THOUGHT:
I will preach the love of Jesus to sinners.
ACTIVITY:
Read Acts 13:51,52 and Acts 14:1-28 – Then write out all the cities where Paul and Barnabas carried out their first missionary work.
HOMEWORK:
Teachers should give the children tracts to be used for evangelism during the week. They can be paired two by two. Pray for mission work and missionaries every day of the week.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG:
109 – TO THE WORK
CHORUSES:
(1) I want everybody to know.
(2) Go and tell them.
(3) Untold millions are still untold.
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:
- Persecution
- Commission
- Encounter
- Missionary
- Commitment
