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Name: Sabrina Miller
BIBLE STUDY ROJECT PPLICATION EMPLATE P : A T
Passage: Acts 19:11-22
What points of application can be made using the “Four Questions for Application?” State and
explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of these
points should be 1 paragraph (200-300 words) in length, clearly connected to a part of this
passage (by way of a verse quotation and/or citation), specific to this passage, and relevant.
1. The Question of Duty
Firstly, we observe Paul's sense of duty in obeying the calling placed upon him by God. He
didn't hesitate to follow the leadership of the Spirit, even though it involved traveling and facing
various challenges. This teaches us the importance of placing our trust in God and being obedient
to His call, regardless of the foreseen difficulties or inconveniences. Moreover, this passage
highlights the duty of genuine faith and its power over pretense and deception. The sons of Sceva
attempted to use Jesus' name without a relationship with Jesus, resulting in their exposure and
humiliation. It is our duty as believers to cultivate authentic faith through a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ, so that our actions reflect His power and authority. The application here is to
constantly examine our hearts for any hypocrisy or shallow faith, while seeking a deeper
connection with Jesus through prayer, reading scripture, and fellowship with other believers. We
can also identify our duty as believers to expose false teachings or practices that may deceive
others. In this case, many who were practicing sorcery recognized their errors and repented by
burning their incantation books. As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to uphold truth
and challenge false ideologies that may cause harm or confusion. In conclusion, this passage
offers several applications on the subject of duty - primarily focusing on obedience to God's
calling, authenticity in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and upholding truth among those
whom we interact with daily. Each believer has a unique role in advancing God's Kingdom, and
diligently carrying out these duties allows us to contribute to the fulfillment of duty in the name
of the Lord.
2. The Question of Character
In this passage, we can draw significant insights regarding the importance and application of
character. One key application of character demonstrated here is the necessity of authenticity and
a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. The seven sons of Sceva attempt to mimic Paul's actions
by using the name of Jesus in their incantations without having a true connection to Him.
However, their lack of authenticity and relationship with Jesus renders their efforts futile and
even dangerous. Another aspect of character that can be drawn from this passage is the
importance of humility and submission. The Jews who practiced sorcery humbly acknowledged
their previous sinful ways and turned away from them, burning their valuable incantation books.
By submitting themselves to the teachings of Jesus, they chose to live a transformed life based
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on godly values instead. This passage serves as a reminder for us to continually evaluate our own
lives and actions, ensuring that they align with Christ's teachings. By humbling ourselves and
submitting to God's direction, we cultivate strong character traits founded upon integrity,
authenticity, and humility – traits which enable us to have a positive impact on those around us
as Paul did. Ultimately, two applications of character from this passage include cultivating an
authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and embodying a spirit of humility and submission in all
aspects of our lives. Possessing these traits not only strengthen our individual characters but also
empower us as believers to carry out God’s work more effectively.
3. The Question of Goals
In this passage, we can find several points of application regarding the subject of goals. One
key application of goals from this text is the importance of having a clear purpose and alignment
with God's will in our actions. The seven sons of Sceva attempted to cast out evil spirits in the
name of Jesus, whom Paul preached. However, they did not have an authentic relationship or
proper understanding of Jesus' power. Their goal may have been to demonstrate their authority
over evil spirits and gain recognition, but they were unsuccessful because their intentions were
not aligned with God's will. On the other hand, Paul was able to perform miracles through God's
power because his goal was to spread the message of Christ and serve others genuinely. He had
both a clear purpose and a strong relationship with Jesus. This allowed him to travel from town
to town and have an impact on not only those he directly encountered but also on countless
others who heard about his ministry. Furthermore, we can observe that Paul had strategic goals
for his missionary journeys. He felt compelled by the Spirit to go to Macedonia, Achaia,
Jerusalem, and Rome. Paul understood that the ultimate goal was not merely to perform miracles
but also to advance the message of Christ throughout these regions. So, the significant takeaway
concerning goals from this passage is that it's crucial we align our intentions and actions with
God's will and have a clear purpose in mind when pursuing our goals. When our aims are in line
with the Lord's plan, it leads to a much greater impact than when we strive solely for personal
achievement or recognition.
4. The Question of Discernment
In this passage, discernment plays a crucial role in our understanding of the events that took
place. One key application of discernment that we can draw from this passage is the importance
of recognizing and acknowledging the source of spiritual power. The seven sons of Sceva tried to
cast out evil spirits by invoking the name of Jesus whom Paul preached. However, their lack of
real connection and relationship with Jesus resulted in their subsequent failure and humiliation.
This demonstrates that genuine spiritual authority comes from a personal relationship with Jesus,
not just knowing or speaking His name. Another application of discernment from this passage is
for believers to identify and let go of any sinful practices and worldly attachments in their lives.
The people who came to faith in Ephesus did so by recognizing the fruitlessness and danger of
their sorcery and subsequently destroyed their incantation books. By doing so, they demonstrated
discernment in recognizing what was hindering their spiritual growth and made a conscious
decision to let go. Overall, these two applications drawn from the passage exemplify cultivating
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discernment in our spiritual lives: firstly, by ensuring that our actions, even in ministry, are
rooted in a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, and secondly, by examining our lives for
anything that may be hindering our walk with Him and surrendering it fully.
