This lesson is about Paul’s trial before Felix. He is falsely accused but Paul knows he has a clear conscience before God and man. This lesson teaches students that believers should always strive to keep a clear conscience. This is only a guide for the lesson. Adapt to your individual classroom needs.

Memory Verse: Acts 24:16 “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”

Bible Lesson: Paul’s Trial before Felix

Introduction: Keeping a clear conscience.

Imagine a stop light, this explains how our consciences are like stop lights. When we are about to do something that we shouldn’t our conscience is warning us to stop. If we stop we avoid danger. If we ignore that warning over and over again our conscience is no longer sensitive to doing what is right. If you are a believer the Holy Spirit is like a traffic light. He will warn you if you are about to go somewhere or do something you shouldn’t. If you obey His warning, you will have a clear conscience. If you ignore Him you will have a guilty conscience. To learn more, click here.

WEEK 2

TOPIC: PAUL BEFORE FESTUS

Introduction

Paul had been falsely accused of starting riots and defiling the temple. Although innocent of these accusations Paul was kept in prison in Caesarea where he appeared before a succession of governors and leaders including Felix, Festus and even the Jewish King Agrippa. At each court appearance Paul spoke freely about his Christian faith. His accusers could never prove him guilty and Paul eventually used his right as a Roman citizen to ask to be sent to Rome to appear before Caesar’s court.

Acts 25:1-6 – The trial of Paul before Festus.

Before Festus meets with Paul, he makes a trip to Jerusalem, where the chief priest and other leading men bring charges against Paul. They want Paul brought to Jerusalem. Festus refuses this request, but does allow certain of the leaders to accompany him back to Caesarea for a hearing. Paul is ordered to be brought forth. This time charges are added to charges.

Vs7: “After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove.” To learn more, click here.

WEEK 3

TOPIC: PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA

After Paul defended himself with intelligent speech and an appeal to Caesar, Festus told him “You appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you will go”. Therefore, because of Paul’s appeal, Governor Festus sent him to be tried in Rome instead of Jerusalem.

But before Paul was taken to Rome, the King of the Jews, King Agrippa, and his wife, Bernice, came to Caesarea Maritima to pay their respects to the new governor. King Agrippa was the Jewish leader approved by Rome so, again, Festus needed to impress him. Festus told them all about the prisoner (Paul) and how the former governor, Felix, had left him with this dilemma. Agrippa found this very interesting and wanted to meet Paul. Felix planned a large and ostentatious gathering with Agrippa, high-ranking officials and the important men of the city. During the gathering Paul was brought before the group. Paul did not waste this opportunity to share his testimony with all of these important people. He told about his formal education, strict adherence to Jewish law and his fanatical campaign against Christians before he eventually encountered Jesus. He described, in detail, what Jesus had told him to do. Agrippa and the others were impressed with what Paul had to say.

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ,Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ To learn more, click here.

WEEK 4

TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TODAY

The Mission of the Church

Below are the missions of the church:

1. To proclaim the gospel throughout the world and make disciple of all nations. Before ascension Jesus commissioned His disciples saying: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you even to the end of time.”

2. To serve as community of worship and fellowship. Jesus said where two or three are gathered in His name there He is. Matthew 18:20.

3. To mature believers and prepare them to perform works of ministry. ReadEphesians 4:11-12.

4. To train believers with different gifts to work for the ministry of Jesus Christ.

5. To strengthen the body of believers.

6. To encourage believers. To learn more, click here.