
4. Restructuring to Reach the Gentiles (Acts 12:25-16:5)
1) Leaders emerge from serving faithfully in their local churches and are selected for gospel expansion work. (13:1-4)
2) Straight teaching of the Word breaks opens hearts despite opposition. (13:4-12)
3) Preaching connected the audience to a response to Jesus and His work, especially His resurrection (13:13-42)
4) Those that responded to be disciples of Christ by grace were entrusted to continue in grace (13:43; Galatians)
5) Through Israel’s rejection, Gentiles were responding with joy as part of the plan of God (13:48)
6) The gospel advances in spite of opposition as the church is filled with the Holy Spirit and joy. (13:52)
7) The Lord validates the Gospel witness with signs of the Spirit. (14:3)
8) Persecution causes the Gospel to be spread in other communities. (14:6-7)
9) Persecution is used as a tangible teaching moment to strengthen the disciples by reminding them that it is the path to the kingdom. (14:23)
10) Converts are committed to God by being formed into communities, strengthened, and s\appointed shepherds to continue the work after prayer and fasting. (14:23)
11) It is God’s grace that carries this movement and completes the first phrase that the missionaries rehearse to their sending church as an extension of Antioch. (14:26-28)
12) Attacks from within on the Gospel are dealt with immediately in a discussion manner of wise dealing in light of the biblical theology of the plan of redemption for the nations. (15)
13) A wise decision is reached that instructs freedom in Christ but without using the freedom as a cloak of maliciousness and it enhances the mission of the church. (15:19-21)
14) Communication and proper relational delivery enhanced the church. (15:30-33)
15) Even disagreement between good men served as a tool of the Spirit to expand the mission of the church. (15:36-41)
16) Testing, training, and affirming emerging leaders to serve in a ministry team setting proves to be a crucial part in the expansion (16:1-5)
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.