NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passages: Acts 18:24-28, 19:1-7
Discussion Questions: How can filling in the blanks of a story get a person in trouble? How can knowing only part of a story lead to confusion?
Food for thought:
We frequently encounter “incomplete pictures.” These pictures may include buildings under construction, stories partially overheard, or the scene of an auto accident. Our brain tries to fill in the picture in an effort to make sense of what we see. We may jump to conclusions based on our incomplete picture. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we don’t.
On Paul’s third missionary journey, Luke introduces us to a believer in Ephesus named Apollos. Though Apollos has been “instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:25), he had an incomplete picture of who Jesus is and what it means to be a follower of Christ. Priscilla and Aquila took him and “explained the way of God to him more accurately” (v.26).
People all around us may have incomplete pictures of who Christ is. To some, He is a good teacher. To others, He is a person who lived a good life and taught people to be moral citizens. To many of us, our picture is even more complete: Jesus is God in the flesh. He is the sinless Savior. It is our privilege and responsibility to help others see the real Jesus, and to have a more accurate picture of His life and ministry. It is our duty to share Christ with them, and to encourage them to consider becoming Christ followers themselves.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores.
