The Call Leader Guide: The Life and Message of the Apostle Paul - Softcover

Hamilton, Adam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1630882658 ISBN 13: 9781630882655

Publisher: Abingdon Press, 2015

Synopsis

With Adam Hamilton, we have traced the life of Jesus from his birth The Journey, through his ministry The Way, to his death and resurrection 24 Hours That Changed the World. What happened next?

Follow the journeys of Paul, beginning with his dramatic conversion, as he spread the Gospel through modern-day Greece and Turkey. Travel to the early church sites and explore Paul’s conversations with the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. In this six-week study, you are invited to experience faith through Christ’s greatest teacher and missionary.

This 96-page Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through The Call Bible study program. Includes session plans and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options. This guide centers around the book, the videos, and Scripture.

About this title

About the Author

Adam Hamilton is senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. The Church Report named Hamilton’s congregation the most influential mainline church in America, and he preached at the National Prayer Service as part of the presidential inauguration festivities in 2013.

Hamilton is the best-selling and award-winning author of The Walk, Simon Peter, Creed, Half Truths, The Call, The Journey, The Way, 24 Hours That Changed the World, John, Revival, Not a Silent Night, Enough, When Christians Get It Wrong, and Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White, all published by Abingdon Press.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Call The Life and Message of The Apostle Paul

Leader Guide

By Adam Hamilton, Martha Bettis Gee

Abingdon Press

Copyright © 2015 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-63088-265-5

Contents

To the Leader, 
1. Called to Follow Christ Paul's Background, Conversion, and Early Ministry, 
2. Called to Go Paul's First Missionary Journey, 
3. Called to Suffer Paul's Second Missionary Journey (1), 
4. Called to Love Paul's Second Missionary Journey (2), 
5. Called to Give Paul's Third Missionary Journey, 
6. Called to Be Faithful Paul's Death and Legacy, 

CHAPTER 1

Called to Follow Christ

Paul's Background, Conversion, and Early Ministry

[And Paul said,] "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia ... a citizen of an important city ... circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews ... brought up in [Jerusalem] at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law being zealous for God ... I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age ... I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison."

—Acts 22:3a, 21:39b, Philippians 3:5, Acts 22:3b, Galatians 1:14a, Acts 22:4

1.

Called to Follow Christ

Paul's Background, Conversion, and Early Ministry

Planning the Session

Session Goals

As a result of conversations and activities connected with this session, group members should:

• begin to form a picture of the man Paul;

• explore how the early experiences and influences in Paul's life were formational;

• begin to make connections between the life and message of Paul and our own life and faith.

Biblical Foundation

[And Paul said,] "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia ... a citizen of an important city ... circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews ... brought up in [Jerusalem] at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God ... I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age. ... I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison."

—Acts 22:3a, 21:39b, Philippians 3:5, Acts 22:3b, Galatians 1:14a, Acts 22:4

Special Preparation

• Read the entire study book to get a sense of its scope. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be present in and through your preparation and as you lead the first session.

• If possible in advance of the first session, ask those planning to engage in the study to bring either a paper notebook or an electronic means of journaling such as a tablet. Provide writing paper and pens for those who may need them. Also have Bibles for those who do not bring one.

• On a large sheet of paper, print and post the following open-ended prompt:

• When I think of the apostle Paul, what comes to mind is. ...

• On another large sheet of paper, print and post the following statements from the introduction:

It could reasonably be argued that no other human, apart from Jesus himself, has had a greater impact on the world than Paul of Tarsus.

Yet Paul is not without his critics.

• It would be helpful to have available a large map of the area of Paul's missionary journeys to accompany the maps included in the study book.

• From the Internet, download a puzzle template and print off copies of the assembled puzzle for participants. Also have available scissors, envelopes, and glue for participants.

• Gather crayons and colored markers. (Optional) Download and print a variety of photographs of nature or other beautiful subject matter.

• This session may include more activities than your group can do in the time you have. Choose from among the activities based on time allotted and the interests and needs of your particular group.

Getting Started

Opening Activity

As participants arrive, welcome them to the study. If group members are not familiar with one another, make nametags available. Provide Bibles for those who did not bring one. Invite the group to respond to the posted open-ended prompt. Jot their responses down on the sheet.

When most participants have arrived, gather together. If they have not already done so, invite group members to read silently the introduction to the study. Call attention to the two posted statements from the Introduction. Invite volunteers to cite some of the evidence the author uses to support his argument about Paul's importance. Then ask the group to name some of Paul's critics and the reasons for their criticism.

Point out that the author is writing out of his own deep appreciation for Paul. Discuss:

• How does the author describe how he views Paul?

• What does he hope will be the result of the book?

Opening Prayer

Holy God, we come together this day eager to make connections between the life and message of Paul and our own life and faith. Guide us as together we seek answers to how Paul's story speaks to our own story, that we may better understand how and to what God is calling us. In the name of Jesus Christ, whom Paul first persecuted and later sought to follow. Amen.

Learning Together

Video Study and Discussion

Briefly introduce Adam Hamilton, the book author and video presenter. Adam Hamilton is senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, where he preaches to more than eight thousand per week. Hamilton states his aim is "not simply to teach about Paul, but to help modern-day Christians deepen their own faith and answer God's call upon their lives by studying Paul's life, story, and call." If participants have smartphones, they can learn more about Hamilton and other books he has authored at his website, adamhamilton.org.

Adam Hamilton takes us to key places where the Apostle Paul lived out his ministry. We travel to Tarsus to see where Paul grew up and to Damascus, where as a persecutor of early Christians he met the risen Christ and became a believer. Fourteen years later, Barnabas took Paul to the church at Syrian Antioch, and Paul's missionary ministry began.

• Paul, in his early training, had "one foot in two worlds" (Greek and Jewish). How do you think this may have affected his life and ministry?

• Paul stood by and may even have approved the stoning of the early church martyr Stephen. How could Paul, as an observant Jew, condone and participate in such actions?

• Paul, blinded physically and spiritually on the road to Damascus, was "right where God needs him to be." What do you think is meant by this?

• How would you have felt if you were Ananias, told by the Holy Spirit to help Paul, the persecutor of Christians? What would you have done?

Bible and Book Study Discussion

Paul's Home and Early Life

Ask a volunteer to read aloud the biblical foundation verses. Invite participants to locate Tarsus on the map in the study book, as well as in the photographs included in the book. If you have a wall map, ask a volunteer to point out Tarsus on that map.

Form two groups. Ask one group to imagine they are writing the copy for a travel agency describing the city of Tarsus—its location, significance (in Paul's time), and any other relevant information from the study book. Invite the other group to create the beginnings of a resumé or curriculum vitae for Paul, focusing on what we know or postulate about Paul's early life. Allow time to work, then ask each group to report. Discuss:

• How do you imagine the location and circumstances of Paul's early life influenced the man he became?

Puzzle Pieces of Life

Ask participants to read silently from the study book under the heading "How God Uses the Puzzle Pieces of Our Lives." Distribute copies of the assembled puzzle template. As the author suggests, invite adults to consider their own background and the question of how God might use the influences and experiences of their growing years. Suggest that they jot these down in their journals, then choose what they consider to be the most significant influences. Invite them to consider the following:

• The author observes that in his experience, the most difficult or painful parts of his past are often the very events that have made good things possible in his adulthood. Would you agree? What are some of the difficult things that have shaped you?

Ask adults to take up the assembled puzzle template and print on each puzzle piece a word or phrase describing a significant event or experience from their early lives. If you downloaded and printed images, encourage adults to choose one image and glue it securely to the reverse side of the assembled puzzle. Alternatively, invite them to use markers or crayons to draw their own images of beauty. If you glued on images, set aside until glue is dry.

Group members will be using their puzzles again at the end of the session.

From Persecutor to Advocate

If they have not already done so, ask the group to read quickly over the information from the heading "Saul the Persecutor" through "The Importance of Ananias." Ask volunteers to read aloud the Scripture references in the study book that sketch out the story of this time period in Paul's life (Acts 7:58-60; 8:1, 3; 9:1-2, 11, 13, 17-18; 26:12-15). Discuss some of the following:

• The author observes that it was Paul's personal ambition, coupled with his unwavering religious conviction, that motivated his persecution of the followers of the Way and specifically his volunteering to oversee Stephen's execution. He suggests that these two motivating factors can be a dangerous combination. Do you agree? Why or why not?

• In what ways or in what circumstances do you struggle with ambition?

• What is a goad? Have you experienced God goading you through the gentle nudgings of someone else? How did you respond?

• Has someone served as your Ananias? Looking back, can you identify a time when you believe God was using you as an Ananias for someone else?

The In-Between Time

Ask the group to scan the study book beginning with the information under the heading "Beginning to Preach" through "Paul's Sojourn in Arabia and Back in Damascus." Invite volunteers to read the passages in the study book about this time in Paul's life (Acts 9:19b-22; 23; Galatians 1:11-17). Discuss:

• Which other biblical figures spent time in the wilderness? How was their time spent there?

• While we cannot be sure about Paul's sojourn, the author speculates that Paul may have spent the three years working out his theology. What do you think?

• The author suggests that we all need times for silence and solitude for study, prayer, reflection, and listening for God's voice. How and where in your life do you make time for these spiritual practices?

Ask someone to summarize what the study book has to say about the term "the Jews." Encourage group members to keep this information in mind as they continue the study.

Invite the group to quickly read over the information under the heading "Paul and Peter: An Uncomfortable Relationship?" Have volunteers read aloud Galatians 1:18-19 and 2:1-11 and Acts 9:26-27; 28-30. Head a large sheet of paper with the words "Paul" and "Peter." Invite the group to describe each man, and write down the descriptors under the appropriate name. Discuss:

• The author suggests reasons why there may have been tension between Paul and Peter. What is your response to these suggestions? In what ways might the differences between the two men have played into their strained relationship?

• How do both the Gospel accounts and Paul's letters contribute to your understanding of the gospel?

Refer the group to the information under the heading "The In-Between Time." The author tells us that Paul returned to his home, Tarsus, and apparently lived there for some years after his conversion before beginning his ministry. Invite the group to consider the question posed here:

• Are you in the in-between years?

Suggest that while this question applies to young adults trying to discern their vocation, it can also apply to adults in their middle years contemplating a vocational change, either forced on them by a job loss or by choice. Or it could apply to adults entering retirement and struggling with how they might live out their discipleship in their later years.

The Role of Barnabas

Invite someone to find Antioch of Syria on the large map (if available), or have participants locate it on the map in the chapter. Also call attention to the photographs. Point out that the author notes there were at least fourteen cities in Asia Minor and Syria at the time with the name Antioch, two of which were significant in Paul's story.

Ask someone to read aloud Acts 4:36-37, where Barnabas enters the story. Invite another volunteer to read aloud Acts 11:19-26. Discuss:

• How did Barnabas exemplify the meaning of his name?

Wrapping Up

Closing Activities

Learning from Paul's Life

Invite the group to consider what they have learned about Paul's early life and the time spent between his conversion and the beginning of his ministry. Ask:

• What particularly struck you about what you learned? What came as a surprise? What would you like to know more about?

Record these observations on a large sheet of paper and set it aside to add to and consider later in the study.

Ways to Deepen Faith

In this chapter, the author offers several suggestions of practices to deepen the life of faith. Encourage participants during the coming week to try some of his suggestions or one or more of the following:

• Reflect on the Puzzle Pieces of Life. Distribute scissors and ask participants to cut apart their puzzles. Give them envelopes in which to store the pieces. Suggest that they reassemble the puzzle at home, reading what they recorded on each piece and reflecting on the following:

* How has each puzzle piece shaped your life of faith?

* How might God use each puzzle piece to make something beautiful?

• Breath Prayer. The author suggests using a line from Psalm 115:1 as a breath prayer as a means of submitting our ambition to God. "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory." Another breath prayer, this one to focus our attention on other parts of our lives, might be from the hymn "Amazing Grace": "I once was lost, but now am found" on the inhale; "Was blind, but now I see" on the exhale.

• Who Is Your Barnabas? Ask adults to reflect on the two questions that end the chapter: Who is your Barnabas? Whose Barnabas will you be? Suggest that they give thanks to God in prayer for their Barnabas, and pray for discernment as to how they might fill that role for another.

Remind the group to read Chapter 2 before the next session.

"Amazing Grace"

Tell the group the story of the hymn. John Newton became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of Donegal in Ireland so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion. Newton wrote the first verse of the hymn to mark that experience.

Sing or recite the first verse of the hymn together.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, we give thanks for the light of your love that illuminates our lives and turns us away from destructive patterns. Grant us insight into how you would have us serve you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

CHAPTER 2

Called To Go

Paul's First Missionary Journey

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went.

—Acts 13:1-4a

2.

Called to Go

Paul's First Missionary Journey

Planning the Session

Session Goals

As a result of conversations and activities connected with this session, group members should:

• chart Paul's first missionary journey;

• examine the journey's successes and the opposition it encountered;

• be introduced to Paul's theology of sin;

• explore how Paul organized to nurture leadership in the early church;

• continue to make connections between the life and message of Paul and their own lives and faith.

Biblical Foundation

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went. ...

—Acts 13:1-4a

Special Preparation

• On a large sheet of paper or a board, print and post the following: What is the difference between mission work to people and partnering with them?

• Recruit a strong reader to read aloud the sermon Paul made at Antioch in Acts 13:16b-41. If you like, ask your reader to use The Message or another version in contemporary language, and provide a copy or refer the reader to an online Bible website such as Bible Gateway.

• For the closing prayer, obtain copies of the hymn "Spirit of the Living God" or choose an online version of the hymn and arrange to project it.

• This session may include more activities than your group can do in the time you have. Choose from among the activities based on time allotted and the interests and needs of your particular group.

Getting Started

Opening Activity

As participants arrive, welcome them.

When most participants have arrived, gather together. Ask volunteers to report on what spiritual practice activities they tried since the last session. What insights surfaced as they reflected and prayed?

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Call The Life and Message of The Apostle Paul by Adam Hamilton, Martha Bettis Gee. Copyright © 2015 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1630882658
• ISBN 13: 9781630882655
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96