The Bible Course Muestra

Philippi, Lydia, and a Jailer – church planting in Greece 

Reflect  

Have you traveled much in your life? People love to travel for the sights and the stories, and some even travel to find themselves. Paul traveled a lot, not to find himself but because he lived his life in step with the Spirit. And out of that Paul had PLENTY of stories to tell! His life is an example that shows there really is no life like the one that says yes to God!  

In what ways did God use Paul in Philippi?  

Speaking through the man from Macedonia, God made it clear he wanted Paul in Philippi. Why? Because he had lives to transform there.  

First, we see Paul meeting Lydia, a wealthy and devout woman. God opened her heart to respond to the good news (verse 14). God is still in the business of doing this today. From the wealthy to the poor, from the respectable to the downtrodden, God is working in hidden ways in people's hearts.  

Lydia then invited Paul and Silas to her home (verse 15). When the gospel opens your heart, it opens your home. Hospitality and generosity are products of salvation. It may look different in our new normal, but the gospel still causes us to fling wide the doors of our lives to love and serve others.  

Secondly, he encountered a slave girl whose impure spirit was a money-making machine for her master. As Paul commanded the spirit to leave her, so did her commercial value. Her old life was behind her, a new life was ahead!  

Thirdly, the jailer went from nearly taking his own life to finding new life (verse 31).  

What do we learn about the power of the gospel in these conversion stories? 

We learn the gospel is unstoppable. No evil spirit, no human authority, no physical chains can stop it. Through the wealthy Lydia and a suicidal jailer, God plants the church in Philippi. It’s a strange start, but later we learn through Paul’s letter to the Philippians that this church is famous for its love for God and others. Generosity becomes its hallmark because Jesus is its model.   

We should not be discouraged today if we look at ourselves and our church community and think, ‘How could God use this?’ The gospel remains unstoppable. All we need to do is say yes to God. 

Respond 

In what ways can you say yes to God today?