The Life and Teaching of Paul

God’s Providence in Ephesus

Acts 19:23-41

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

I. Setting the Stage

· Starting the 3rd Missionary Journey – in Ephesus 

o 12 Disciples

o The School of Tyrannus

o Demonic Opposition & Blessing

o 3 Productive Years

o Teaching and Working 

· The Offering (v. 21-22) (Romans 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8 & 9)

· Blessing and Opposition (1 Corinthians 16: 8-9) 

· Background on Artemis / Diana 

o In the Roman Empire 

o In Ephesus

o Nature / Fertility gods 

o Israel 

II. The Providence of God in Ephesus 

A. The Cause of the Riot (v.23-27)

· Demetrius 

· Christians 

B. Characteristics of the Riot (v. 28-34)

· Anger

· Confusion

· Close-minded

C. Calming of the Riot (v. 35-41)

· The Town Clerk 

· Paul 

D. Reflections on the Riot 

· A note on Paul’s Reflections on the Riot (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

· A note on the Providence of God

III. Application

The Life and Teaching of Paul

Discipleship Personified

Acts 19:1-20

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

  I. Background

· Away from Corinth (18:18)

· Ephesus (18:19-21)

o Commercial

o Cultural

o Religious 

o New Testament Significance

· Back home (18:22)

· Meanwhile back at Ephesus (18:24-28)

o Apollos 

o Priscilla & Aquilla 

II. Discipleship Personified (The Start of the 3rd Missionary Journey)

A. His old church plants. (19:1)

B. Paul’s 12 Disciples (19:2-7)

· Paul’s Questions: 

1)

2)

· A Note on Baptism 

· A Note on Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying 

C. To the Jew First

D. The School of Tyrannus 

· Teaching 

· Preaching 

E. Confirmation (19:11-12)

F. Demonic Opposition (19:13-16)

G. Blessing (19:17-20)

III. Application 

Thessalonians (Part6): Living while Waiting

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:18

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

  I. Review of 1 & 2 Thessalonians  

· Leadership Lessons from Paul (1 Thess. 1 & 2)

· Stress & Priority Lessons from Paul (1 Thess.3 & 4)

· Regarding the Rapture (1 Thess. 4: 16-18) 

· Regarding the “Day of the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:1-11)

o Regarding the Tribulation (1 Thess. 5)

Ø The Church Will Escape the “Tribulation of God.” (2 Thess. 1:6-12)

o The Signs of the Lawless One (2 Thess. 2)

Ø Removal of the Restrainer (v. 6a)

Ø Revelation of the Antichrist (v. 3b-12)

o Return of the Lord (v. 8)

· Living while Waiting

II. Perspectives While Waiting 

· Perspective #1: God Loves You (v.13a)

John 3:16; Romans 5:8

· Perspective #2: God Chose You (v.13b)

John 15:6

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Ephesians 1:4

John 6:44

· Perspective #3: God Saved You (v.13c)

1 Thessalonians 5:23

· Perspective #4: God Called You to Serve & Sacrifice (v. 14)

Romans 8:28-30

III. Practices While Waiting (2 Thessalonians 2)

· Action #1: Stand Firm (v.15a)

Ephesians 6: 11 & 13

· Action #2: Hold Tight (to His Word) (v.15b)

1 Corinthians 11:2

· Action #3: Be Encouraged &Strengthened (v.16-17)

1 Peter 5:7-10

IV. Promises (to remember) While Waiting (2 Thessalonians 3)

· Promise #1: God is Faithful in Prospering His Word (v.1-2)

The Life & Teaching of Paul

2 Thessalonians 2 (Part 5)

Paul’s Eschatology: The Coming of the Lawless One

2 Thessalonians 3:1-12

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

I. Review of Pauline Prophecy & Eschatology

 Regarding the Ignorance of the Church at Thessalonica

 Regarding the Rapture (1 Thess. 4: 16-18)

 Regarding the “Day of the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:1-11)

o Old Testament Prophecy:

o New Testament Prophecy

 The Bema Seat Judgement (1 Corinthians 3: 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:12)

 Regarding the Tribulation (1 Thess. 5)

o The Secrecy (of the Time) (5:1-2a)

o The Suddenness (of His Return) (5:2b-3)

o The Safety (for the Believer) (5:4-7)

o The Seriousness (for All) (5:7-11)

o The Church Will Escape the “Tribulation of God.” (2 Thess. 1:6-12)

 The Reason for the Tribulation (v.6)

 The Time of the Tribulation (v.7)

 The Recipients of the Tribulation (v.8)

 The Nature of the Tribulation (v. 9)

 The Results of the Tribulation (v. 9)

II. The Signs of the Lawless One (2 Thessalonians 2)

A. Sign #1: Rapture of the Church (v. 1-2)

 The 2 Returns of Jesus Christ

 False Teachers

B. Sign #2: Rejection of Truth (v.3a)

 “…the falling away…”

 apostasy

C. Sign #3: Removal of the Restrainer (v. 6a)

 The Restrainer

Genesis 6:3

Job 1

John 14:16-17

Acts 2:1-5

1 John 2:24-27

 The Significance of the Rapture

D. Sign #4: Revelation of the Antichrist (v. 3b-12)

 His name: (v.3b)

 His character (v.3b)

 His Nature

o Charismatic leader (v.4a)

Daniel 7:8

Daniel 7:25

Revelation 13:5

o Cultic Leader (v.4b)

Revelation 6:1-2

Daniel 9:26-27

o Clever Leader (v.10a)

Daniel 11:21

o Cruel Leader (v.10b)

Daniel 7:25

Revelation 13

o Counterfeit Leader (v.11-12)

E. Sign #5: Return of the Lord (v. 8)

Matthew 24: 42 & 44

Acts 1:10-11

F. Sign #6: Retribution on Evil (v.12)

Matthew 13:41

2 Peter 2:9

Revelation 19

The Life & Teaching of Paul

1 Thessalonians (Part 4)

Paul’s Eschatology: The Great Tribulation

1 Thessalonians 5 & 2 Thessalonians 1

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

I. Review of Pauline Prophecy & Eschatology

 Regarding our death and afterlife (v. 4:13-15)

 Regarding the Rapture (4: 16-18)

1. The Return (of Christ) (v. 16)

2. The Resurrection (of the bodies of deceased Believers) (v.16b)

3. The Rapture (of living Believers) (v.17a)

4. The Reunion (v.17b)

II. Regarding the “Day of the Lord” (5:1-11)

A. Background:

 In Contrast to the “Day of Christ.” (i.e. the Rapture)

1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6 & 10

 The Rapture brings an end to the Age of _________.

 The Rapture: The Church has not __________ ____.

 Old Testament Prophecy: “The Day of the Lord”

 The Tribulation: The Church does not have to _________ ___.

 New Testament Prophecy

o The Believer’s Big Question:

o The Bema Seat Judgement (1 Corinthians 3: 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:12)

 The Believer’s Judgment: The Church will ________ ___.

B. Secrecy (of the Time) (v. 1-2a)

 “times and seasons”

 “Day of the Lord”

 “like a thief in the night.”

C. Suddenness (of His Return) (v. 2b-3)

1. False Security

2. Fear of Destruction

3. Final Judgment

D. Safety (for the Believer) (v. 4-7)

E. Seriousness (for All) (v. 7-11)

III. The Tribulation of God – part two (2 Thessalonians 1)

A. The Church Could Endure the “Tribulation of Man.” (v. 1:1-5)

B. The Church Would Escape the “Tribulation of God.” (v. 1:6-12)

1. The Reason for the Tribulation (v.6)

2. The Time of the Tribulation (v.7)

3. The Recipients of the Tribulation (v.8)

4. The Nature of the Tribulation (v. 9)

5. The Results of the Tribulation (v. 9)

IV. Application

The Life & Teaching of Paul

1 Thessalonians (Part 3)

Paul’s Eschatology: Looking to the Future

1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

I. Introduction to Pauline Prophecy & Eschatology

 The Expectation of The Day of the Lord

 The Expectation of John 14

 The Misunderstandings of his day

II. Regarding our death and afterlife (v. 13-15)

A. Believer’s Ignorance

B. Believer’s Death: “those who have fallen asleep”

koimao: First Century idiom: John 11:11; Acts 7:60; Acts 13:36; 1 Cor. 15:6; 1

Cor. 15:20

Not “soul sleep”: koimao means “to recline”. Opposite word is “to stand up.”

C. Believer’s Hope: no despair

D. Believer’s Promise (v. 15)

III. Regarding the Rapture (4: 16-18)

A. Different Views

 Pre-tribulation

 Mid-tribulation

 Post-tribulation

B. Chronology

1. The Return (of Christ) (v. 16)

 A note on the Returns of Christ

 A reminder from Acts 1:

 One sound in 3 manifestations

2. The Resurrection (of the bodies of deceased Believers) (v.16b)

 “the dead through (or “in”) Christ”:

o Relationally

o Positionally

3. The Rapture (of living Believers) (v.17a)

a. “caught up”: raptura

1.To carry off by force:

2. To eagerly claim for oneself:

3. To snatch away quickly:

4. To rescue from danger or destruction:

 Tribulation Perspectives

 Historical Biblical perspectives:

See also 1 Corinthians 15:50-55

4. The Reunion (v.17b)

 Bodies to souls

 Living to dead

 All Believers to Christ

C. Comfort in Knowing (v. 18)

IV. Regarding the “Day of the Lord” (5:1-11)

A. Background:

 The Rapture brings an end to the Age of _________.

 Old Testament Prophecy: “The Day of the Lord”

B. Secrecy (of the Time) (v. 1-2a)

 “times and seasons”

 “Day of the Lord”

C. Suddenness (of His Return) (v. 2b-3)

1. False Security

2. Fearful Destruction

3. Final Judgment

D. Safety (for the Believer) (v. 4-7)

E. Seriousness (for All) (v. 7-11)

V. Application

The Life and Teaching Paul

First Letter to the Thessalonians (Part 2):

Life Lessons from Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 3:1 – 4:12

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

I. Stress Lessons from Thessalonica (3: 1-8)

A. Overview on Faith & Suffering

B. The Biblical Perspective on Suffering

1. Trial are to be expected (v.1-4) 

2. Trial are to be evaluated (v.5-6)

3. Trials are to be endured (v.7-8)

C. A Personal Response to Suffering

II. Priority Lessons from Thessalonica (3:9-13) 

Question: What does it mean to really “live”?

· The World’s Perspective:

· “Living” in the 21st Century:

A. Joy (v.9)

B. Prayer (v. 10) 

C. Love (v. 11-12) 

L - Listen

O – Overlook

V – Value 

E – Express 

D. Holiness (v.13) 

III. Sanctification Lessons from Thessalonica (4: 1- 8)

A. In your walk, Excel (v. 1-2) 

  1 Thessalonians Part 1 -Leadership Lessons from Paul 1 Thessalonians 1 & 2

I. Intro

A. Memories of Thessalonica

· The Old City

· The Young Church 

· Timothy & Silas

· On to Corinth

· Another Letter?

B. Leadership Observations

Ø Leadership is ______________ ______________.

Ø Leadership is the ability to ignite a desire in people to do: 1) what they _______ ________ they can do OR 2) what they ________ _______ to do. 

II. Leadership Shown (Chap. 1) 

· Thankful (v. 1-2)

· Remembering (v. 2-3)

· Affirming (v. 6-8)

· Proud of (v. 9-10)

III. Leadership Taught (Chap. 2) 

A. What Good Leaders Avoid:

· Deception (v. 3) 

· Pleasing People (v. 4) 

· Greed (v. 5) 

· Authoritarian tactics (v. 6) 

B. What Good Leaders Demonstrate:

· Sensitivity to needs (v. 7) 

· Affection towards people (v. 8) 

· Transparent and authentic life (v. 8-10) 

· Encouraging (v. 11-12) 

C. The Essence of Effective Leadership (v. 13-20) 

1. Among those being led

ü A willingness to be led (v. 13) 

ü A willingness to struggle together (v. 14) 

2. Within the Leader

ü Discernment (v. 18) 

v Seeing the world as _______ sees it.

ü Joy (v. 19-20) 

v Inner delight in _______ and all things that come from ______. 

IV. Conclusions 

· Look ________.

· Look _________. 

· Look _________.

The First Missionary Journey of Paul  

I. In Iconium (v. 1 – 6a)

· The Place

· No Middle Ground

· Perseverance 

· Threats

II. In Lystra (v. 6b – 22)

· The Place

· A Picture of Us

o The Man

o His Faith

o His Healing

· A Picture of Philosophy

o An Ancient Myth – Zeus & Hermes

o A Sad Reaction

o Paul’s Response to Idolatry 

1. Reacting

2. Challenging

3. Teaching

· Paul’s “Reward”

· Paul’s Follow Up

o Strengthening

o Encouraging

o Teaching

III. Conclusion

The Scarlet Thread

Isaiah 28 – 53

Christopher W. Martin © 2018

Ps. 118:22

1 Peter 2:7-8

John 12:37-41 (quoting from both Isaiah 53:1 & 6:10)