Grace Church
FRIENDS for the Journey #5 - Lydia: Acts 16:1-15
Locations & Times
Grace Community Church
8950 M-79, Nashville, MI 49073, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Our Spring series is dealing with the theme of friendship.
We are looking at the lives of Bible characters who teach and model for us some great qualities that we should possess and seek in those who would be friends on our life journey.
An overriding principle we've learned is the importance of choosing wisely those who would be closest to us.
We are looking at the lives of Bible characters who teach and model for us some great qualities that we should possess and seek in those who would be friends on our life journey.
An overriding principle we've learned is the importance of choosing wisely those who would be closest to us.
Today we celebrate Mother's Day by looking at the life of a woman in the book of Acts. This message looks at her life and identifies broad principles that any woman or man, regardless of age or status, can apply to their lives if they desire to honor God and help others.
Have you ever had a chance encounter with someone or something that turned into something bigger and better? Who are some of the life changers you have encountered during your journey so far?
The woman we are looking at today is found in Acts 16:11-15 and her name is Lydia.
Let's look at the background to this story (beginning in Acts 16:1)...
- at the beginning of Acts 16 the Apostle Paul has begun his 2nd missionary journey through Asia Minor (now known as Turkey).
- in verses 1-5 Paul encounters a young man named Timothy. Paul brings him to faith and enlists him to join the missionary trip that he is on.
- In verses 6-10 Paul and his companions travel northwesterly through Asia Minor, with the intent of speaking on the northern coast. On one night, the Lord directs Paul in a vision to change direction and go westerly and cross over to an area of Greece (Macedonia).
- In verses 11-12 we see that they traveled to Philipi which was a leading city and very Roman. Its religious life followed the imperial cult and was a region with a variety of gods and religions.
Let's look at the background to this story (beginning in Acts 16:1)...
- at the beginning of Acts 16 the Apostle Paul has begun his 2nd missionary journey through Asia Minor (now known as Turkey).
- in verses 1-5 Paul encounters a young man named Timothy. Paul brings him to faith and enlists him to join the missionary trip that he is on.
- In verses 6-10 Paul and his companions travel northwesterly through Asia Minor, with the intent of speaking on the northern coast. On one night, the Lord directs Paul in a vision to change direction and go westerly and cross over to an area of Greece (Macedonia).
- In verses 11-12 we see that they traveled to Philipi which was a leading city and very Roman. Its religious life followed the imperial cult and was a region with a variety of gods and religions.
In verses 13-15 we learn about this lady named Lydia.
There are a number of character qualities we can learn from this passage and corresponding lessons, which can be applied to our lives in the area of friendships and growing in our Christian faith.
There are a number of character qualities we can learn from this passage and corresponding lessons, which can be applied to our lives in the area of friendships and growing in our Christian faith.
1. Lydia was AVAILABLE and APPROACHABLE.
v. 13
v. 13
2. Lydia was TEACHABLE.
v. 14a
v. 14a
3. Lydia shared SIMILAR VALUES AND INTERESTS with Paul.
v. 14b
v. 14b
Purple in the Bible
https://thinkaboutsuchthings.com/purple-in-the-bible/4. Lydia had an interest in SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
v. 14c
v. 14c
5. Lydia was WILLING TO CHANGE HER LIFE for something better.
v. 14d, 15a
v. 14d, 15a
6. Lydia was RELATIONAL and HOSPITABLE.
v. 15b
v. 15b
7. Lydia was TRANSPARENT.
v. 15c
v. 15c
8. Lydia was PERSUASIVE.
v. 15c
v. 15c
1. Importance of seeking out those who don't know Christ.
2. Generosity and hospitality are defining characteristics of a maturing believer.
3. Role of women in both business and ministry.
2. Generosity and hospitality are defining characteristics of a maturing believer.
3. Role of women in both business and ministry.
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/GraceChurchMIGiving Link
https://gc3.org/giving/Grace Church Website
https://gc3.org/CJ's Coffee Shop Pre-Order Link
https://cjs-gracegc3.square.site/H.O.M.E. Groups
Do you have a Home Group? Visit the website to learn about which groups are meeting; you can sign-up for a group there as well. You can also contact the church office; we'd love to help you with this (grace@gc3.org).
https://gc3.org/home-groups/Mentoring at Grace
There are several men and women at Grace Church who have completed the mentoring program here at Grace and are looking to invest in and share what they've learned with someone else. Have you thought about growing in your faith through the Grace Church mentoring program?
Contact the church office with any questions or to get the process started (grace@gc3.org) or you can talk with any of the staff and elders.
Contact the church office with any questions or to get the process started (grace@gc3.org) or you can talk with any of the staff and elders.
Bible Reading Plan
We hope you are taking part in the 2023 Bible Reading Plan. This also includes devotionals from Pastor Josh each week. Visit the website at the link below or find paper copies in CJ's. Let us know if you have any questions!
https://gc3.org/bible/Gracewear Shopping Link
Grace Church has a shopping link for Gracewear through Courtside Screen Printing & Embroidery. Use the link below to take a look. All questions and orders go directly through Courtside. Their contact information can be found at the bottom of the page.
https://grace2022.itemorder.com/shop/sale/Lisa's Blog - Worship Moments
https://gc3.org/worship-moments/The Greenhouse Project
Visit The Greenhouse Project at our church website to find out what classes are being offered. Contact Lisa Sterkenburg if you have questions (lisa@gc3.org).
https://gc3.org/tgp/#togethergc3
#togethergc3
Here's the deal, we want to encourage you to spend time with your Grace family over the next few months as we talk about having FRIENDS FOR THE JOURNEY.
How to participate:
Get together with people from Grace (outside of church on Sunday morning)
Take a picture of yourselves
Post the picture on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. (whatever social media platform you use)
Use the hashtag #togethergc3 in the post
It will be fun to see the church in action and building relationships with one another outside of the church building! Note: if you type the hashtag into the search bar, all the posts that have been done so far using that hashtag will come up.
Need help? Just ask Lisa or Leslie.
Here's the deal, we want to encourage you to spend time with your Grace family over the next few months as we talk about having FRIENDS FOR THE JOURNEY.
How to participate:
Get together with people from Grace (outside of church on Sunday morning)
Take a picture of yourselves
Post the picture on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. (whatever social media platform you use)
Use the hashtag #togethergc3 in the post
It will be fun to see the church in action and building relationships with one another outside of the church building! Note: if you type the hashtag into the search bar, all the posts that have been done so far using that hashtag will come up.
Need help? Just ask Lisa or Leslie.
May/June Grace U Classes
Resolving Conflict - gaining a Biblical perspective on the principles, practices, and problems associated with making peace Youth Ministry - making an eternal difference in the lives of teens Love Works - great for those working in the secular world who want to live life, impact people, and influence those around them the way that Jesus did Foundations 2 - going deeper into the basic doctrines of the Bible (having taken Foundations 1 is helpful but not required) Coming in June: Here's Grace - the basics of what Grace Church is all about. This is a great class for anyone who is newer to the church. Completion of Here's Grace is a requirement for membership at Grace.
https://gc3.org/grace-university/Church Work Days in May
Each Saturday during the month of May you have the opportunity to help out at the church. God has blessed us with 78 acres of property and so each Spring and Fall we spend some time sprucing up and doing maintenance on what He has given us!
Every Saturday in May from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or whatever time you can give. Contact Ryan Hickey (ryan@gc3.org) if you plan to come so he can know to plan for you.
Every Saturday in May from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or whatever time you can give. Contact Ryan Hickey (ryan@gc3.org) if you plan to come so he can know to plan for you.
Check out the wall in CJ's
We want to give everyone an opportunity to brag on their friends during our FRIENDS FOR THE JOURNEY series! Who has God put in your life to help you grow in your faith?
Find a card on the counter in CJ's, tell us a little about your friend(s), and clip it on the board - you can even add a picture of you and your friend as well.
Find a card on the counter in CJ's, tell us a little about your friend(s), and clip it on the board - you can even add a picture of you and your friend as well.
Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!
Sunday, May 14th - Jacki Van De Moortel, Travis Mater, Emmett Scheick
Wednesday, May 17th - Harlynn Kauffman, Jeff & Evelyn Fisher
Friday, May 19th - Tim Braden, Leslie Booher
Sunday, May 14th - Jacki Van De Moortel, Travis Mater, Emmett Scheick
Wednesday, May 17th - Harlynn Kauffman, Jeff & Evelyn Fisher
Friday, May 19th - Tim Braden, Leslie Booher