Send the Light

In one paragraph

On Sunday morning, Pastor Mark walked First Baptist Jackson through Acts 16, the second half of Paul and Silas's arrival in Philippi. The passage gave the congregation three connected stories about God saving and changing lives, and it raised the question of what it looks like to be sensitive, humble, and obedient to the Spirit's direction. The message opened with a map. Paul and Silas had already...

Read together

1. Acts 16 the primary passage being preached, covering the second missionary journey from Lystra through Philippi including Lydia, the slave girl, and the Philippian jailer
2. 2 Corinthians 11 Paul lists being beaten with rods among his sufferings

Talk about it

1. Paul and his companions were blocked from going into Asia and Bithynia, but they trusted that God was redirecting them. Have you ever experienced what felt like a closed door that later made sense? How did you know when to keep pushing and when to stop?
2. Luke writes that the group 'concluded' God was calling them to Macedonia. They didn't have absolute certainty, just a vision and a sense of the Spirit's leading. How do you personally navigate decisions when you don't have complete certainty about what God wants?
3. The sermon pointed out that the work in Philippi began with women gathered at a riverside prayer meeting, not a synagogue. Lydia heard the gospel, believed, was baptized, and immediately showed generosity by opening her home. What do you think the connection is between genuine belief and that kind of immediate, practical response?
4. Paul waited many days before commanding the spirit to leave the slave girl, apparently not wanting to cause a stir, and then later refused to sneak quietly out of town after he and Silas had been beaten publicly. What do those two decisions together tell you about how Paul thought through when to act and when to hold back?
5. The Philippian jailer asked 'What must I do to be saved?' after an earthquake, open doors, and prisoners who chose to stay. Paul and Silas answered him and then immediately spoke the word of God to his whole household. What does this account suggest about the relationship between dramatic circumstances and the plain proclamation of the gospel?