God's Word for Me Today
Saturday, October 13, 2001
Focus: Change the World!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
Our Vision: The Next Part—“Changing the World!”
Today we move our attention to the next part of our Vision: New Life Christian Ministries is committed to equipping Christians in western Pennsylvania to change the world through irresistible lifestyles and influential works of service. Irresistible lifestyles include being: Passionately committed to Jesus Christ, Biblically defined, Morally pure, Evangelistically bold, and Socially responsible. This will be accomplished through an integrated system of discipleship that incorporates worship, nurture, training, equipping, mentoring and living the teachings and actions of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ into our lives as individuals and as a faith community.
Changing the world is an overwhelming task, unless one serves the God of the universe! Then it’s simply a matter of being obedient one day at a time with one person or group of people at a time. Knowing our purpose and goal is a major portion of accomplishing it. Knowing that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit as we seek to accomplish that purpose and goal gives us the power to accomplish them. This week we’ll focus on how the first Christians accomplished that purpose and goal, and gain wisdom and encouragement for fulfilling them in our generation!
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, in the New Testament Church Your followers changed the world. They brought the truth of Your Word, the love of Jesus, and the power of Your Holy Spirit to everyone they met! Let Your Holy Spirit fall on me and believers everywhere that we may change Your world again. May the two billion people on the planet who claim Jesus as Savior and Lord, bear witness to the two thirds of the people who haven’t yet responded to Your Good News. May I lead the charge to change in my own life, in my family, in my church and in my work place or school—today. Thank You for loving us enough to use us to bring Your transformation to the world! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Acts 17:1-9
1 Now Paul and Silas traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he interpreted the Scriptures to the people. 3 He was explaining and proving the prophecies about the sufferings of the Messiah and his rising from the dead. He said, "This Jesus I'm telling you about is the Messiah." 4 Some who listened were persuaded and became converts, including a large number of godly Greek men and also many important women of the city. 5 But the Jewish leaders were jealous, so they gathered some worthless fellows from the streets to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. "Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they are here disturbing our city," they shouted. 7 "And Jason has let them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, Jesus." 8 The people of the city, as well as the city officials, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9 But the officials released Jason and the other believers after they had posted bail.
Questions for Reflection
Every person has some measure of influence. Who does your “circle of influence” include?
What has been the most world-changing event you have experienced in your life time? What has been the result of the change?
If you could offer one change to the world in which we live, what would it be?
Questions for Exploration
What was the content of Paul’s message to the people in Thessalonica? (17:1-3)
What was the result of Paul’s teaching? (17:4-9)
What accusation did the people who didn’t believe Paul’s teaching make against Paul and Silas? (17:6b) KEY VERSE
Questions for Understanding
What was it that was so compelling about Pual and Silas’ message?
Why did the folks think that Paul and Silas had “turned the world upside down”?
Questions for Application
Paul and Silas were known as “world changers.” The folks who used the term weren’t necessarily giving a complement. In what way will you “change the world”-- or at least the part of the world that you influence—today? Be specific.
Who do you know who needs to have his or her world changed? Offer the person or people up to the Lord in prayer, for God to work that change in them, and for a door to be opened for you to be used by God as a “world changer” in their lives.
One Person at a Time!
Changing the world doesn’t happen six billion people at a time, but ONE person at a time. Aside from world-changing events such as the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in September, our daily lives are impacted by one person or a small group of folks at a time. It is in this same way that we change the world! Paul and Silas were “world changers.” They accomplished that goal and received that title by going to one city at a time and telling one group of people or sometimes one person at a time. Our task is the same, and the outcome is assured, because Jesus has change the world by who He is and what He has done and continues to do through us!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.