Today’s passage: Acts 16:16-40
Helpful thoughts:
- This demon possessed woman could have helped Paul draw a crowd, but he wasn’t interested in gaining more popularity through worldly or even demonic methods.
- Paul and Silas were not persecuted in Philippi for preaching the gospel, but for causing a few people to lose their means of income.
- The salvation of the jailer was more important than freedom from prison.
- Paul and Silas were in prison, but the jailer was the one who was freed from his bondage that night.
- Hymns were being sung before the chains fell off…
Questions to consider:
- Would the devil and demons be willing to share a little truth in order to confuse people and turn them away from Christ? How smart are the devil and the fallen angels? How would you know if you were being confused by the enemy? What has the Spirit given to us as a guide and truth?
- What did Paul and Silas know that allowed them to have joy in prison, to have a sound mind when the prison doors swung open, to value the salvation of others more than escape? Can these same truths give you confidence and joy in sharing the gospel with others even if they might reject you for it?
- Why did Paul and Silas leave the city? Are there situations we could obey government authorities even if we disagree with what they are asking because we have a larger purpose and mission? What kinds of things are dominating the news today? Do those things impact the Great Commission? What “hills” should we (or shouldn’t we) “die on?”