CHILDREN SEARCH LESSON 50 THE MACEDONIAN CALL
TXT: Acts 16:1-40
INTRODUCTION
The place called Macedonia is one of the areas that was conquered by the Greeks during the time of Paul the Apostle. Paul went from place to place, preaching the gospel in obedience to what God told him.
One night, Paul saw a vision showing a man from the area called Macedonia appealing to him to come and preach the gospel to them. It is this invitation he saw in a vision that is usually referred to as “The Macedonian Call”. Therefore, the Macedonian call is an invitation to come and preach the gospel in Macedonia.
Apostle Paul’s response to this important call was prompt. He left with his evangelism partners and set out for Macedonia. They went everywhere in that region preaching the gospel. Many souls were converted and the church established. Though they were persecuted and jailed, Apostle Paul and his partner were not moved.
God was with them, delivered them from prison and the jailer became converted with his family.
It is important that as friends of Jesus, we obey the great commission. The harvest is still plenty and labourers are few. You must be determined to play your own part and win souls for Christ.
Point 1: THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
Acts 16:1-5; Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:19,20; Luke 24:47
Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded all His friends to go everywhere and preach the gospel to every creature. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) This commandment is called the Great Commission.
In obedience to this commandment, Paul and his friends went from place to-place preaching to men, women and children. Because of their faithfulness and love for this work, God gave them more opportunity. God helped them and many people gave their lives to Jesus Christ. God is willing to help you too, if you are obedient and faithful to the call to preach the gospel.
This is the primary assignment of the church. Jesus, while on the earth went everywhere preaching the good news about the Kingdom. He declared that He had come to seek and save the lost. Before Christ went back to Heaven, He commissioned His friends to carry the work to the utter most parts of the Earth.
Evangelism and winning sinners is still the heartbeat of the church. We are all to be involved because the time is short.
The Macedonian call is still ringing loud and clear, will you heed the call?
Point 2: THE MACEDONIAN CALL
Acts 16:6-15; 10:30-33, 8:29-35
When you obey and serve God, He will be happy with you and give you more work to do for Him. How wonderful it is when the Almighty God who created the heaven and the Earth speaks to you as an individual.
The call of God came to Paul and his friends, that they should come over to Macedonia and help the people by showing them the way out of sin and bondage. Without knowing Jesus, people will perish in their sins (John 8:24).
Immediately Paul and his friends received the vision, they set out to go to Macedonia. They went first to Philippi, which is the central part of Macedonia, (Acts 16:12). As they preached, a woman named Lydia gave her life to Jesus and a girl possessed with an evil spirit was delivered. All these showed that God was happy with them and blessed their work.
The call to preach the gospel to sinful children everywhere has come to you again. Jesus said “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” You do not need to delay, go now and preach the gospel. Your environment, school, neighbourhood is your Macedonia. Obey God’s call and His blessings will come on you.
Point 3: MIRACLES THROUGH PRAYERS AND PRAISES
Acts 16:16-40, Philippians 1:27-30
As Paul and Silas continued their outreach in the Macedonian region, they came across a demon-possessed girl who followed them everywhere they went. As she followed, she declared that Paul and Silas were true servants of God.
What she said about the apostles was true, but she was under the influence of an evil spirit. Paul did not want their teachings about Jesus to be confused with fortune-telling. Therefore, Paul commanded the evil spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus. You must beware of false prophets and teachers who see visions and prophesy falsehood. They are out to lead careless believers astray.
The action of Paul made the masters of the slave girl to be very angry. They gathered the whole city to attack, beat and arrest Paul and Silas. Jesus has told us that, as many as will follow Him must surely suffer persecution. From the time of the early disciples, Christians have suffered persecution and will still continue to pass through a lot of persecutions.
All you have to do is endure it and remain faithful because Jesus is always with us (Matthew 28:20).
Locked up in prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and the other prisoners heard them. This action of the apostles brought a mighty earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations and the prisoners were set free. This was a great miracle but a greater miracle was yet to follow.
Seeing the wonders of God through Paul and Silas, the jailer came to them trembling and asked the most important question, – “What must I do to be saved?” Paul answered him saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”.
Paul and Silas rejoiced even when they suffered in the prison. God allowed them go through that hard time so that the jailer and his family could be saved. This was the greatest miracle that came out from their suffering.
Often, you do not know God’s purpose in allowing you to go through difficult times. You may not understand why He does not always remove the difficult situations. But if you are a friend of Jesus, you will rejoice in the Lord even in hard times.
The Philippian jailer and his family became the founding members of the Philippian church. In later years, Paul wrote a letter to them to encourage them to continue in the faith (Philippians 1:1-6).
God wants to use you as He used Paul and Silas, but you must first surrender to Him now. Repent of your sins and ask Him to wash your heart in the blood of Jesus. Turn from your bad ways and become a friend of Jesus. Take time to pray now.
QUESTIONS
- What is ‘Macedonian call’?
(b) Where is your own Macedonia today? - What is the great commission?
- Why did God call Paul and his friends specifically to preach in Macedonia?
- Mention some of the things that happened in Macedonia as Paul and his friends preached the gospel?
- Mention three blessings that we will receive when we preach the gospel.
MEMORY VERSE
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” (Acts 16:9)
LESSON
The Macedonian call is for all friends of Jesus to go and preach the gospel.
THOUGHT
I will serve God and preach the gospel faithfully.
ACTIVITY
Prayer for souls to be saved and grace to serve God in the area of preaching the gospel.
Home-Work
Write out the great commission in Mark 16:15 in your homework book. It should serve as a remainder for you to preach the gospel.
Congregational Song
GHS 53 “SO SEND I YOU”
Choruses
- Paul and Silas, they prayed
- Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord.
- When He calls me, I will answer.
Bible Word Search
Find the meaning of the following words. You can use your dictionary.
- Commission
- Invitation
- Possess
- Converted
- Gospel
