Queen's Road Cell

 5. From what you know about the people of Ephesus (see 19:17-20), can you think of a reason why God worked healings and exorcisms through Paul (see 19:11-12)? If so, explain.  They lived in a world filled with magic and the occult. They therefore needed to see the power of God in Paul's ministry. God’s power was the supreme spiritual power.     6. Why couldn’t Jesus’ name be invoked to magically cast out demons (see 19:13-16)? What else is necessary for the name to be effective? Being acknowledged by demonic powers as one associated with Jesus. There must be true power - that power is found in our connection with Jesus  Praying as if Jesus were praying Praying only through Jesus as our mediator Praying as if on behalf of Jesus, as one knowing, belonging to and acting for Him For Thought and Discussion: How might a Christian use “in Jesus’ name” in his prayers with a wrong attitude that approaches magical invocation? How should Acts 19:13-16 help us interpr...

13. What order of priorities does this prayer reveal? (11:2-4) The first concern we have must always be God - His honour and glory. A person's name summed up the person's whole character. We are to have a right attitude to all God has revealed of himself. To 'hallow' His name is to regard it as holy, to fear the reality behind the name. This effort always begins with us. Jesus may have taught this prayer more than once, to different sets of people (cf. Matt 6:9-13, the Sermon on the Mount). Jesus' reply to the disciple's request. "When you pray, say", shows that he intended the prayer to be used just as it stands. In Matthew it is introduced with, ‘Pray then like this’, which makes it a model on which we can base other prayers.(Morris). It is a corporate prayer ('us') and is to be prayed with an awareness of our place in the family of God.  "Thy kingdom come" is a request that God's will be done fully in all places at all times, s...

 4. a. What do the disciples learn about Jesus in 8:22-25? In Mark the disciples rebuke the Lord "Do you not care if we perish?" Mk 4:38) and in Matthew they call out to Jesus to save them (Mt 8:25). Jesus rebuked the wind as God rebuked the Red Sea (Ps 106:9) and ruled over the waters (Ps 89:9) The point Luke wants his readers to note is "Who then is this?" (v.25). Mastery over the forces of nature is authority of a higher order than authority over illness. In the presence of Jesus' power the disciples are again 'afraid' (Gk. phobeo ) cf. Mt 8:25 b. What do they learn about themselves?   "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" are also Jesus' questions to us. The disciples had shown fear (Gk deilos ) rather than faith. They knew Jesus could help but did not see that His mere presence with them already assured their safety although he was asleep in the boat. They learned that they did not know Jesus well enough.  What did the...