Gateway Church of Visalia

Introduction:

Acts 16:16-32 NASB
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

“the way” – a way

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, 21 and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” 22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

From annoyed to imprisoned.

25 But about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

Worship in the dark.

26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” When the parents get saved the house follows) 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

Worship is a witness to the skeptic.

Made To Worship.
GateWay Church of Visalia
Pastor Lance Ainsworth, Acts 16:16-32
June 12th & June 15th, 2025

Prayer Requests:

Group Discussion: Why do you think music has such an influence on culture?

Read Aloud: Acts 16:16-32

1. What motivated Paul to cast the spirit out of the slave girl, and what does this reveal about his priorities in ministry?

2. Why were Paul and Silas severely punished for helping someone, and what does this suggest about the societal and economic powers at play?

3. How did Paul and Silas respond to their suffering in prison, and what can we learn from their example about worship and trust in hardship?

4. What is the significance of the earthquake and the open prison doors, and why didn’t Paul and Silas immediately escape?

5. How does God use our worship to reach skeptic?