Summary

In Acts 18, Paul arrives in Corinth in weakness, fear, and much trembling. Yet God provides exactly what

Paul needs through people like Aquila and Priscilla, Silas and Timothy, and the believers in Macedonia.

Even when Paul faces rejection and opposition, God reminds him, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking

and don’t be silent. For I am with you.”

Paul’s experience reminds us that God often works through biblical community to accomplish His mission. It

also reminds us that our calling is faithfulness, not controlling the results. We are responsible to faithfully

love, serve, speak, and point people to Jesus while trusting God with how others respond. And when

suffering comes, God’s promise is not always that He will remove it, but that He will be with us and give us

the strength to walk through it.

Key Passages

Acts 18:1–17

Philippians 4:10–13

2 Corinthians 11:9

Questions

1. Paul arrived in Corinth “in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling,” yet God continued to use him. Have

you ever felt like you were too weak, afraid, or inadequate to be used by God? How does this passage

challenge the idea that we have to be strong before God can use us?

2. God provided for Paul through Aquila and Priscilla, Silas and Timothy, and other believers. What does this

teach us about the way God uses biblical community to accomplish His mission? Who has God used to

encourage, strengthen, provide for, or help you follow Jesus?

3. Paul faithfully proclaimed Jesus even when some people rejected his message. Why is it easy for us to

measure faithfulness by results? What would it look like to focus more on being faithful to God than on

controlling how people respond?

4. Paul told the Jews, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent.” What does Paul’s response teach

us about our responsibility when we share the gospel? How can we care deeply about people's response

without taking responsibility for something only God can change?

5. In verse 9, Jesus tells Paul, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. For I am with you.”

What difference does the promise of God’s presence make when you are facing rejection, uncertainty,

opposition, or suffering?

6. Pastor L.J. reminded us that following Jesus does not always mean God will remove our suffering.

Sometimes He delivers us from it, and sometimes He carries us through it. Is there a situation in your life

where you need to trust not necessarily that God will change the circumstance, but that He will be with you

in it?7. The sermon challenged us to consider how God might use our response to suffering as a witness to

others. When people see the way you respond to disappointment, rejection, difficulty, or suffering, what

might they learn about where your hope is found? What is one way you can keep speaking, loving, serving,

or following Jesus this week even if your circumstances do not change?

Life Application

This week, identify one area where you are tempted to rely on your own strength, control the outcome, or

withdraw because of difficulty or rejection. Bring that situation honestly before the Lord and remember His

promise to Paul: “I am with you.”

●If you feel inadequate, ask God to help you trust His strength rather than your own.

●If you are discouraged by someone's response to the gospel, remember that your calling is faithfulness,

not control of the results.

●If you are facing suffering or difficulty, ask God to help you recognize His presence and trust Him to carry

you through.

●Look for one person God may be inviting you to encourage, serve, pray for, or support this week.

●Consider how your response to difficulty could point someone else toward the hope you have in Jesus.

As a church family, may we faithfully proclaim Jesus, faithfully love one another, and faithfully trust that

Christ is with us wherever He sends us.

Key Takeaways

God often provides for His people through biblical community.

Our calling is faithfulness, not results.

Rejection does not mean God is not working.

We can continue proclaiming Jesus because God is with us.

Following Jesus does not guarantee freedom from suffering, but we never face suffering without Him.

God can use our response to suffering as a witness to others.

Christ gives us the strength to remain faithful in abundance, in need, in acceptance, and in rejection.

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are with us. Thank You that You do not ask us to follow You in our own

strength, but that You provide what we need through Your presence and through Your people. Help us to be

faithful even when we do not see the results we hope for. Give us courage to speak about Jesus, humility to

receive help from others, and strength to continue when following You becomes difficult. When we face

suffering, remind us that we are never alone. Use our lives, our faithfulness, and even our difficulties to help

others see the hope we have in You. Make us a people who keep speaking, keep loving, keep serving, and

keep trusting because Christ is with us. Amen