Lesson 7—Following Up—Perseverance
LESSON 7
Principle: “They continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news.”—
(Acts 5.42: And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.)
What Paul Did
1. Watch the VIDEO, Or Read Then consider the following questions:
(Acts 19.8-10: Entering the synagogue, for three months he spoke with boldness, giving talks and reasoning persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But when some stubbornly refused to believe, speaking injuriously about The Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples from them, giving talks daily in the school auditorium of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all those living in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.)
a. Rather than giving up when some opposed him, how did Paul persevere in helping those who showed interest?
b. How often did Paul go back to teach these interested ones, and for how long did he do so?
What Do We Learn From Paul?
2. We need to invest time and effort to make effective return visits and to start Bible studies.
Imitate Paul
3. Adapt your schedule to the other person’s. Ask yourself: ‘ When would I be most likely to contact him? When and where would he be most likely to converse with me?’ Be willing to follow up, even if the time is inconvenient for you.
4. Make an appointment. At the end of each conversation, try to confirm a specific time when you can speak with the person again. Be sure to keep the appointment.
5. Remain hopeful. Do not quickly assume that a person who is rarely at home or is often busy is not interested.
(1 Corinthians 13.4: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up,)
(1 Corinthians 13.7: It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.)
Instead, balance perseverance with making wise use of your time.—
(1 Corinthians 9.26: Therefore, the way I am running is not aimlessly; the way I am aiming my blows is so as not to be striking the air;)
FOLLOWING UP
SEE ALSO
(Acts 10.42: Also, he ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness that this is the one decreed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.)
(1 Corinthians 9.22, 23: To the weak I became weak, in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts, so that I might by all possible means save some. But I do all things for the sake of the good news, in order to share it with others.)
(2 Corinthians 4.1: Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy that was shown us, we do not give up.)
(Galatians 6.9: So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due time we will reap if we do not tire out.)