Feeding the Flock

"The Test for Faith"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation  (1:1-2)
Prologue: “For Your Comfort”  (1:3-11)
  I.  EXPLANATION: The Account of Paul the Minister[i]  (1:12-6:10)
 II.  EXHORTATION: The Appeal of Paul the Father (6:11-9:15)
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
Epilogue: “For Your Upbuilding”  (12:19-13:10)
Greetings & Benediction  (13:11-14)
[i] Major headings are from Explore the Book by J. Sidlow Baxter
 
***
Epilogue: “For Your Upbuilding”  (12:19-13:10)
Paul’s Humiliation: Finding Unrepented Sins(12:19-21)
Paul’s Return: Christ Mighty in You(13:1-4)
Paul’s Approval: “You be made Complete”(13:5-10)

"The Power of God"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation  (1:1-2)
Prologue: “For Your Comfort”  (1:3-11)
  I.  EXPLANATION: The Account of Paul the Minister[i]  (1:12-6:10)
 II.  EXHORTATION: The Appeal of Paul the Father (6:11-9:15)
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
Epilogue: “For Your Upbuilding”  (12:19-13:10)
Greetings & Benediction  (13:11-14)
 
[i] Major headings are from Explore the Book by J. Sidlow Baxter
***
Epilogue: “For Your Upbuilding”  (12:19-13:10)
Paul’s Humiliation: Finding Unrepented Sins(12:19-21)
Paul’s Return: Christ Mighty in You(13:1-4)
Paul’s Approval: “You be made Complete”(13:5-10)

"The Sins of the Unrepentant"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation  (1:1-2)
Prologue: “For Your Comfort”  (1:3-11)
  I.  EXPLANATION: The Account of Paul the Minister[i]  (1:12-6:10)
 II.  EXHORTATION: The Appeal of Paul the Father (6:11-9:15)
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
Epilogue: “For Your Upbuilding”  (12:19-13:10)
Greetings & Benediction  (13:11-14)
[i] Major headings are from Explore the Book by J. Sidlow Baxter
***
Epilogue: “For Your Upbuilding”  (12:19-13:10)
Paul’s Humiliation: Finding Unrepented Sins(12:19-21)
Paul’s Return: Christ Mighty in You(13:1-4)
Paul’s Approval: “You be made Complete”(13:5-10)

"The Love of a Father"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS(12:1-18)
***
D.  HIS CREDENTIALS(12:1-18)
Revelations  (12:1-10)
Signs (12:11-18)
***
2.  Signs (12:11-18)
Of a True Apostle  (12:11-13)
Of Unselfish Love  (12:14-18)
Sought: Not Yours but You (12:14)
Spent: Not Deceit but Love (12:15-16)
Sent: Not Conspiracy but Consistency (12:17-18)

"The Signs of a True Apostle"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS(12:1-18)
***
D.  HIS CREDENTIALS(12:1-18)
Revelations  (12:1-10)
Signs (12:11-18)
***
2.  Signs (12:11-18)
Of a True Apostle  (12:11-13)
Of Unselfish Love  (12:14-18)
***
a.  Of a True Apostle  (12:11-13)
Commended: Not Inferior (12:11)
Performed: Not Easy (12:12)
Treated: Not a Burden (12:13)

"The Thorn Not Removed"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS(12:1-18)
***
A.  HIS CREDENTIALS(12:1-18)
Revelations  (12:1-10)
Signs (12:11-18)
***
1.  Revelations  (12:1-10)
Of Heaven  (12:1-6)
Of Humility  (12:7-10)
***
b.  Of Humility  (12:7-10)
Messenger: Thorn (12:7)
Prayer: Triplicate (12:8)
Answer: Grace (12:9)
Difficulties: Strength (12:10)

"The Words Not Repeatable"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
***
D.  HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
Revelations  (12:1-10)
Signs (12:11-18)
***
1.  Revelations  (12:1-10)
Of Heaven  (12:1-6)
Of Humility  (12:7-10)
***
a.  Of Heaven  (12:1-6)
Necessary: Unprofitable (12:1)
Paradise: Inexpressible (12:2-4)
Truth: Restraint (12:5-6)
***
Note: There are six “visions” given to Paul that are recorded in the book of Acts;
The Vision of Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-12; 22:6-11; 26:12-18)
The Macedonian giving the Invitation (Acts 16:9-10)
The Lord at Corinth giving Assurance to stay in Corinth (Acts 18:9-10)
The Lord at Jerusalem giving Instructions to leave immediately (Acts 22:17-21)
The Lord at Caesarea giving Promise to reach Rome (Acts 23:11)
The Angel on the Ship predicting safety and arrival in Caesar’s Court (Acts 27:23-24)

"The Boasting about Weakness"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
***
C.  HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
PRESENT FOOLISHNESS  (11:16-21a)
PAST DANGERS  (11:21b-27)
DAILY PRESSURE  (11:28-33)
***
2.  PAST DANGERS  (11:21b-27)
Personal Status: Ethnicity  (11:21b-22)
Experiential Service: Adversity  (11:23-27)
***
3.  DAILY PRESSURE  (11:28-33)
The Concern for the Churches: Ministry  (11:28-29)
The Basket in Damascus: Missionary  (11:30-33)
***
Appendix: The Voyages of Paul
Caesarea to Tarsus (Acts 9:30; Gal 1:21) 
Tarsus to Antioch (Acts11:25-26)
Seleucia to Salamis of Cyprus (Acts 13:4)
Paphos to Perga (Acts13:13)
Attalia to Antioch (Acts 14:25-26)
Troas to Neapolis (Acts 16:11)
Berea to Athens (Acts 17:14-15)
Corinth to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19)
Ephesus to Caesarea (Acts 18:21-22)
Ephesus to Macedonia (Acts 20:1-2)
Philippi to Troas (Acts 20:6)
Troas to Assos (Acts 20:13)
Assos to Mitylene (Acts 20:14)
Mitylene to Chios (Acts 20:15a)
Samos to Miletus (Acts 20:15c-16)
Miletus to Cos (Acts 21:1a)
Cos to Rhodes (Acts 21:1b)
Rhodes to Patara (Acts 21:1c)
Patara to Tyre (Acts 21:2-3)
Tyre to Ptolemais (Acts 21:6-7)
Ptolemais to Caesarea (Acts 21:8)
Caesarea to Sidon (Acts 27:2-3)
Sidon to Myra in Lycia (Acts 27:4-5)
Myra to Cnidus (Acts 27:6-7a)
Cnidus to Fair Havens (Acts 27:7b-8)
Fair Havens to Malta (Acts 27:12-28:1)
Malta to Syracuse (Acts 28:11-12)
Syracuse to Rhegium (Acts 28:13a)
Rhegium to Puteoli (Acts 28:13b)

"The Foolishness of Boasting"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
***
C.  HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
PRESENT FOOLISHNESS  (11:16-21a)
PAST DANGERS  (11:21b-27)
DAILY PRESSURE  (11:28-33)
***
1.  PRESENT FOOLISHNESS  (11:16-21a)
The Rhetorical Device: Sarcasm  (11:16-17)
The Boasting Platform: Foolishness  (11:18-19)
The Toleration Factor: Abuse  (11:20-21a)

"The Apostles of Counterfeit"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
***
B.  HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
Clear of Impurity  (11:1-6)
Free from Imposition  (11:7-11)
Exposing Impostors  (11:12-15)
***
3.  Exposing Impostors  (11:12-15)
The Consistency: Opportunity Cut Off  (11:12)
The Pseudo-Apostles: Deceitful Workers  (11:13)
The Masquerade: Satan’s Servants   (11:14-15)

"The Gospel with No Charge"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
***
B.  HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
Clear of Impurity  (11:1-6)
Free from Imposition  (11:7-11)
Exposing Impostors  (11:12-15)
***
2.  Free from Imposition  (11:7-11)
The Support from Other Churches  (11:7-8)
The Principle of No-Burden  (11:9)
The Truth and the Love  (11:10-11)

"The Simplicity of the Devotion"
 
The Outline: 
III.  VINDICATION: The Answer of Paul the Apostle  (10:1-12:18)
HIS CHARACTER  (10:1-18)
HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
HIS CONFLICTS  (11:16-33)
HIS CREDENTIALS  (12:1-18)
***
B.  HIS CONDUCT  (11:1-15)
Clear of Impurity  (11:1-6)
Free from Imposition  (11:7-11)
Exposing Impostors  (11:12-15)
***
1.  Clear of Impurity  (11:1-6)
The Jealousy for Simple Loyalty  (11:1-3)
The Preaching of ‘Another Jesus’  (11:4)
The Equal to the ‘Hyper-Apostles’  (11:5-6)