February 19 & 23, 2020
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. —1 Peter 3:15 NIV
Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world and tell the Good News to everyone.” —Mark 16:15 NCV
Stephen Neill said… Nothing is more notable than the anonymity of the spread of the early Christian movement!
Conversation #1: Lydia
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. —Acts 16:13-15 NIV
SHARE: Because GOD OPENS HEARTS!!!
Conversation #2: Slave Girl
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. —Acts 16:16-18 NIV
SHARE: Because different makes a difference.
Conversation #3: Jailer
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. —Acts 16:19,22-24About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” —Acts 16:25-28 NIV
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. —Acts 16:32-34 NIV
SHARE: Because God has a plan (ALREADY in motion).
FILL OUT THIS WEEK’S CONNECTION CARD HERE
- Today, I accept Jesus in my life for the first time.
- I will look for 3 opportunities this week to share my story.
- I have been frustrated because I have tried to do in people what only God can do.
- I will be intentional learning/practicing the 9 arts of spiritual conversations.