JOIN THE JOURNEY JR.
Families Abiding in Jesus together
With shorter reading assignments and kid-specific focus areas, Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents disciple their kids and engage with Scripture in the best ways for their age.
This month's memory verse
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
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“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.”
Acts of the Apostles 22
1“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” 2When they heard him speaking in their own language,* the silence was even greater.
3Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.
Have you ever thought about your story of what your life looked like before believing in Jesus? What were the things that you thought were most important? In our story today, we see Paul sharing his story to connect with the Jews. The men he was surrounded by were not Paul’s biggest fans. They were angry with him for the way they thought he had disrespected the temple.
Paul starts his introduction by calling himself a Jew. Why is this important? He does this to relate to them. He wants them to know that he is just like them—a sinner, a regular man, someone who needed Christ. By showing the people he was one of them, Paul hoped they would be more open to listening to what he had to say about Jesus.
How can we relate with sinners? Well, we are also sinners! Sin is anything we think, say, or do that does not honor God. But God, being rich in mercy, had a plan to save his children and bring them back into relationship with him through Jesus. The difference between us is that we have accepted this good news of the gospel! This is exactly what Paul is telling the Jews. That he was a sinner in need of God’s mercy and grace! Paul’s story is used for God’s glory, and ours can be too when we share it.
Read Acts 17: 1-5
As you read, look for the answers to these questions:
Thank you, God that you sent Jesus to suffer for me and rise from the dead 3 days later, defeating sin forever. Thank you for using our brokenness for your glory. Help us and our needy hearts to remind ourselves of the truth of the gospel. Show us that you are the way, the truth and the life. Amen
Every week, pick a day to pray for people around the world who haven’t heard about Jesus yet. The Joshua Project website posts a new unreached people group every day—pull it up at dinner, before bed, or on the way to school and pray for them together.