He explains, For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more (1 Corinthians 9:19). 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. So, what are the theological points Luke is trying to make? Read the Bible Acts 2:21. Each of these stories is different and particular in the same way that each of our stories with God are different and particular. he asks. The book of Acts emphasizes the power and abilities of the leaders of the Jesus movement. The conversion of the Jailor and his family reminds us that no matter what, Gospel must be preached. and the prisoners were listening to them (v. 25b). It is similar to Peters salvation formula at Pentecost, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (2:38). Every morning and every evening the head of a Jewish household would pray, giving thanks that God had not created him a Gentile, a woman or a slave. It hardly seems coincidental that the first three conversions which take place at Philippi, come from those three despised categories. Baptist. . and commanded them to be beaten with rods (v. 22b). George Herbert Folks, May 7th, in the year of our Lord 2044, will surely be a momentous day in my life. Because of the we passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Pauls party. Very often, fear of humiliation is a significant factor in suicide. It's kind of In todays sermon, I am going to present to you four principles that make Christian ministry effective as seen in Acts 16:16-34. He had the knife in his hand, and he was about to kill himself. When the jailer relays that information to Paul and Silas, Paul says, They have beaten us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! read more, Scripture: Last time, we saw that Paul heard God and because of his obedience, the gospel entered Europe. Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection. soothsaying. It's kind of In this kind of situation, the magistrates should arrest the accused and schedule a trial to hear the accusations and to weigh the evidence. I have wise friends in the recovery community who tell me that they only experienced real freedom when they admitted their powerlessness, and turned their lives over to a higher power. They have told me that the chains that held them and the doors they were locked behind were often of their own making. They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be Beginning of the Book of Acts in Coptic; circa 4th or 5th Century. It is written in the scriptures that no one can please God without faith. He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas (v. 29). Besides, if that bee stings you, his stinger will . **FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD A. To listen to an audio podcast of this sermon go to: https://anchor.fm/sunday-on-the-commons/episodes/Open-DoorsBroken-ChainsGuest-Preacher-the-RevDrRichard-LFloydJune-22019-e48v6m, Your email address will not be published. read more, Scripture: The Noble Brethren Of Berea -Acts 17: 10-14. Barclay, William, Daily Study Bible: Acts, (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1976), Bock, Darrell L., Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Acts (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), Bruce, F. F., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Book of Acts (Revised)(Grand Rapids: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), Chance, J. Bradley, The Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: Acts (Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., 2007), Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holliday, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, C (Valley Forge: Trinity Press, 1994), Farris, Lawrence W., in Van Harn, Roger (ed. They told the judges that Paul and Silas had brought a lot of trouble to the city. Jump to: New Testament. The best example of the topsy-turvy values of the Gospel in our story is the contrast between the Roman jailer and Paul and Silas. Distracted by Many Things A Sermon on Luke 10:38-42, God Gives the Growth: A Retirement Sermon, When the Spirit comes A Sermon for Pentecost, Pity the Nation A Poem for our Time by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, The God Who Still Speaks A Sermon on John 16:12-15, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace A Devotion on Psalm 23:4, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace, Your Sons and Your Daughters Shall Prophesy, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Lutheran. Blessings. The owners accuse Paul and Silas of disturbing the peace and being Jews, a bit of Roman anti-Semitism, and the crowd riots, and beat them within an inch of their lives. John Calvin This is very much like Jesus command to the demon, Be silent, and come out of him! (Luke 4:35). These stories are intended to show that even powerful men, using their utmost to stifle the Gospel, cannot defeat the people whom God has sent to proclaim the Gospel. This is the same verb used earlier in Acts 4:2 to describe the feeling of the Sanhedrin over the preaching of the apostles (ie., that Jesus was raised from the dead), and it is the word found in LXX Gen 6:6 for God's grief over the sin of the world prior to the flood. Acts 16:17 Demonic Witness. read more, Scripture: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DOING GOOD AND THE DEVIL JUMP ON YOU? Beating prisoners with rigid rods is an alternative to whipping them with flexible whips. As Greeks, they would be inclined to equate Most High God with Zeus. The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. So things are not looking too good for our heroes. Meanwhile, Roman readers may have approved of Paul's censure . Chapel 3 from Acts 16:25-34 [Image: Marnie Pix] 1. C. V. 23b The Sentence - These men were cast into the prison. This strikes fear in the heart of the magistrates, because they do not have the authority to beat and jail Roman citizens without due process of law. This us represents the last we passage in Acts until 10:6, leaving us to wonder if Luke drops out at this point. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Dont harm yourself, for we are all here (v. 28). Acts 16:16-18, Denomination: read more, Scripture: A Very Real Enemy Frederick Buechner Acts 16:11-40, I Believe At midnight, the darkness would be all-encompassing. The Greek word for "nations is 'ethnos' and means a race, tribe, or a people group in every area of the Earth. Search. Acts 16:16-24. It is midnight, literally and figuratively, the darkest hour, and you might expect that Paul and Silas would be down in the dumps, but no, they are singing hymns about Jesus, so that the other prisoners can hear. 11 You crown the year with Your goodness, "Yep," the mutt replies. Quite simply, it means even if something appears to be free, there's always some kind of catch. read more. 1. All was lost. Instead, just as Jesus accusers did, they concoct misleading charges to make it easier to get a guilty verdict. Follow Desiring God on Facebook . Invitations, Part 6 This chapter records Pauls encounter with Lydia, the successful businesswoman (16:11-15) and his encounter with a slave-girl (16:16-18) women from opposite ends of the social and economic scale. (Acts 16:16-40) and Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41), and against Jewish rioters on two occasions (Acts 17:1-17; Acts 18:12-17). G.F. Handel Luke has already told us about the baptism of Cornelius and all those who were with him (10:44-48) and of Lydia and her household (16:15). read more, Scripture: For Jews Salvation meant deliverance from sin. Go to www.ccontario.com for an en. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. Here are some reflections from a sermon I preached in 2010. Paul was well aware of this, (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7). ( Ac 16:17, AT) "Most High" might imply pantheon, not necessarily orthodox beliefs (Keener, Lecture). Luke, the author of Acts, believed in the power of Jesus and his Gospel not only to transform lives, but to make extraordinary things happen and we have several of them in our story. Lyle Lovett Last time, we saw that Paul heard God and because of his obedience, the gospel entered Europe. The Gospel is addressed to all sorts and conditions of people, to women and men, to Jews like Paul, to Gentiles like Lydia, to rich people like Lydia, to poor people like the slave girl with the demon, to powerful people like the Roman jailer and to powerless people, like slaves. Sunday School Lesson December 25 Lesson 4 (KJV) Mary Rejoices Devotional Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 Background Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. - It is important that you and I understand the power of an invitation God uses people who make themselves available to Him to do in and through them what He chooses to do. The prisoners must have all ran Acts 16:16-26. Staying faithful through difficult circumstances. Children's Sermon (Acts 16:16-34) Paul and Silas in Prison. Middle Fish Pond Wright They never did get to bed that night. Arnold Kenseth Now, what are we to make of this strange story. No matter what your need is William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie ACTS 16:25-30 And at midnight Paul and Silas For Philippians Most High God meant a Phoenician deity, for Jews it was the Lord our God and for Greeks it meant Zeus, B. Introduction Download the teaching notes, gather your object . If this content was helpful to you, please consider leaving your feedback in the comments section at the bottom, and sharing it with friends and family via email and social media, or both. I have used these for our church, as I spend my days caring for my dying father. Her owners dictate her every action and confiscate any money that her efforts produce. As we pass through this life, we can expect our share of difficulty and trouble, John 16:33; Job 14:1. The slave girl would follow Paul and cry out, These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.. He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. He had the knife in his hand, and he was about to kill himself. Miss, it means to wait for another. Sermon: Faithfulness is the Key to God's Blessings, Sermon Notes: The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Sermon Notes: Healing a Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, Sermon: The 3 kinds of prayer: Ask-Seek-Knock, New Year Sermon: An old Challenge for a New Year, Fathers Day Sermon: Qualities of a Godly Father. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose. Paul and Silas in Prison. Surfing requires a surfable wave. The jailer, on the other hand, is not free. Denomination: Church Of God read more, Scripture: * This morning, as we gather for worship, delegates from the United Methodist Church around the world are gathered in St. Louis for the Special Session of General Conference. Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. These men, being Jews, are agitating our city (v. 20b). Acts 21. Acts 16:29-34, Denomination: read more, Scripture: Like Lydia earlier (v. 15), these new converts extend genuine hospitality to Paul and Silas. - - - - -. This girls witness is true, but subject to misinterpretation by people who know nothing of Paul or the God whom he represents. Where did the journey westward from Iconium take Paul and his companions? Proposition: Luke shares with us the story of the young Pythoness - 1. He is on the lookout for people who will be obedient to Him and step out by faith and follow. Brevard Childs And I can assure you having power and money doesnt make you free, much less happy or secure. Real personal freedom is something else. This story from Acts is a troubling one in many ways. 8:28-34; Luke 8: . Gabriel Fackre Katherine Sonderegger, Adam Desnoyers How were the travelers hindered from entering Bithynia? In fact it is certain to be a day like absolutely no other that has gone before. And we stayed there several days. a. Feb 12, 1989. TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the old adage, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," reportedly coined by Robert Heinlein. John Piper Nov 11, 2007. Reinhold Niebuhr Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. Flannery O'Connor Acts 16:25-30, Denomination: Paul and Silas use the jailers question as an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to him. Psalm 65:11, Acts 16:26, Denomination: And the jailer cleaned their wounds. Because of the "we" passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Paul's party. 16 And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Dont harm yourself, for we are all here! 29He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, 30and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31They said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. Acts 16:1-31, What you're going through is a praise, prayer and song away from turning around, In the New York Times there was an article stipulating the population of the prison system, this article asserts that the United States of America constitutes 5 percent of the worlds population, but it houses 25 percent of the prison population. Three weeks ago Rebecca preached about Tabitha, the faithful disciple, whom Peter raised from death to life. Using an earthquake for his purposes, God opens the prison doors and unfastens the prisoners chains so that Paul and Silas are free to escape. and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosened (v. 26b). Michael Connelly Anyone who thinks that slavery ended with the American Civil War is sadly mistaken. Paul and Silas are singing in the stocks. It might seem odd that this jailer did not examine the cells carefully before deciding to kill himself, but people under great stress often panicand this jailer is certainly panicked. Philippi is in a seismically active area, so it would not be unusual to experience an earthquake therealthough an earthquake this violent would be unusual. Now they identify themselves as Romansa status that they enjoy as citizens of Philippi, a Roman colony. June 29, 2014 The quest for fame is a great distraction, (not to mention lusting after riches and women). Gracie Simmonds, Mar 7, 2022. In fact it is certain to be a day like absolutely no other that has gone before. He is powerful. John Donne The duumvirs would be two men appointed by Rome to administer the civil affairs of the city. Acts 16:16-34 Songs in the Night . It was the court case that paved the way for the desegregation of our school systems. Fyodor Dostoyevsky Did you ever notice something and it seems so suddenly new, but then you discover that it's always been there. Richard Bauckham Acts 16:16-24. being Jews (v. 20b). The note about ordering the jailer to keep them safely helps to set up the later scene where an earthquake sets them free. But that is not the only thing . Acts 24. This is Pauls Second Missionary Journey (49-52 A.D.) as recorded in Acts 15:30 18:21. Staying faithful through difficult circumstances. I have only listed the points and a couple of comments under each point of each sermon to give the preacher a remembrance which the Holy Spirit can lead on and speak through the man of God. An Invitation Requires Truth Oscar Peterson It is difficult to imagine a more terrible place. This verse probably summarizes a longer proclamation. read more, Scripture: Folks, May 7th, in the year of our Lord 2044, will surely be a momentous day in my life. In his Epistle to the Romans, he introduces himself as Paul, a servant (Greek: doulos) of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1). Acts 16:16-34, Denomination: The sermons that I have listed are 30 to 40 minute sermons. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow. JESUS WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES AND HE STOPS AND SAYS X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Walaskay, Paul W., Westminster Bible Companion: Acts (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998), Williams, David J., New International Biblical Commentary: Acts (Paternoster Press, 1995), Willimon, William H., Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Acts (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1988), Copyright 2009, 2010, Richard Niell Donovan, All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt just sitting there. "Giving thanks always for all things to God" (Eph 5:20) b. Paul said, "abound with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:7) c. It is God's will that we be thankful - "in everything give thanks" (1 The. www.holytextures.com. We cant invent them either. Likewise he who was called being free is Christs bondservant (1 Corinthians 7:22). A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." In today's sermon, I am going to present to you four principles that make Christian ministry effective as seen in Acts 16:16-34. The ex-fortune teller, the jailer, and his family became the first members of the new church, C. Paul and Silas even in their seemingly despairing situation did not lose morale because they were aware that God has a bigger plan. (16:6) 642. Who directed the missionaries away from Asia? N.T. To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to COME TO HIM. Baptist. How did God guide the missionaries in their travels? In the first instance, Peter and other disciples were healing large numbers of people in the temple when the high priest had the disciples arrested and put in public prison. If we aren't willing to tell them about Jesus, how can we ever invite them to experience all that He has for them? 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. The book of Acts is the report of early Christians who had faith to do these greater things that Jesus promised. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out (v. 37). One Small Change Will Energize Tomorrow's Sermon, Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. So, when . Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). Christoph Schwbel (v. 27). -- Everything we do starts with an invitation to be a part of Psalm 65:11, Acts 16:26, Denomination: read more, Scripture: He calls out to reassure the jailer that all the prisoners are still present. Karl Barth Inviting others means that we must be willing to tell them the truth. read more, Scripture: Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. **HELPING A LITTLE GIRL We looked at Lydia, the first person to be saved because she was searching. -- Everything we do starts with an invitation to be a part of 34He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. Two weeks ago we looked at the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer charging the Philistines. First, the girls owners have enslaved her for the purpose of enriching themselves. We looked at Lydia, the first person to be saved because she was searching. The spirit of Python will squeeze the joy out of your worship & praise.find out how to to get victory over this subtle destroyer. We live in a time when American citizenship and patriotism are too often wedded to Christian discipleship, or at least confused with discipleship. verses 16 - 18) Lutheran. The last 3 years have seemed like one long Lent to me, as we have suffered from loss, tra. A chapter by chapter and verse by verse study of Acts taught by Pastor Paul LeBoutillier of Calvary Chapel Ontario, Oregon. 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, Life is full of uncertainties but God's commitment to you is unwavering! When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely (v. 23). Joni Mitchell If they can make a general charge like this stick, then they will find it unnecessary to defend more specific accusations. read more, Scripture: Look up John 3:16; 1:12 (where to "believe" = to "receive"), and compare Acts 16:14 and Revelation 3:20. In a world where Christian ministry has become a profession, most ministers cant help but succumb to these distractions. Today we have another story about lives changed. Your email address will not be published. Her Deliverance and salvation Following Paul and us (v. 17a). Hes got the keys. Acts 10:34-43. IN OTHER WORDS, CHOICES, THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHOICE The best way to preach this text is to simply tell the story highlighting the centrality of salvation. Mozart It has been a blessing as well as a great help. Acts 16:25-34 Because Luke is the author of the book of Acts, many scholars have concluded that Luke has joined Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) at this point. Hemer, C.J. A Story With a Happy Ending Acts 16: 23-34. Follow Desiring God on Facebook . Theme: Paul and the Pythoness Luke does not tell us whether this is a sabbath. read more, Scripture: Acts 16:16-34 (35-40) - Updated. Beaten backs would be subject to infection. read more, Luke shares with us the story of the salvation of the Pythoness - 1. Sermon 2/24/19 Acts 15:1-31 A Way Forward: Which Way? Sermon. And this is where it gets really interesting. Her Deliverance and salvation, Scripture: Acts 16:16-34 (cf. (16:6) 643. Catherine Mowry LaCugna Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (v. 30). Acts 2 Commentary; DON ROBINSON Sermons on Acts Acts 2:1-2 Hindering the Work of God; Acts 2,8,9,10 & 19 A Closer Look at Experience The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norn 2023 The Virtual Preacher. 16:34-36: Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving: 2 Chronicles: 26:5-21: The Down Side of Worship: Preparation: Ezra: . Weekly Theme: Now What? When she confronts Paul and . Acts 16:29-34, Denomination: Finally, Luke sees the Gospel as shaking foundations, disrupting conventions, and overturning proscriptions. So, this story invites us to consider our own freedom and power. The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. After the people beat Paul and Silas, they were thrown in prison. He calls us to present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification (Romans 6:19). He answered simply, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household." Since then, that simple answer has generated debate about its meaning. The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Martin Luther John Piper Feb 12, 1989. Marva Dawn Jesus had cast demons from men into pigs nearby (Matt. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. --Tee Jackson Contents Letter of E There is another reason, too, why the jailer would contemplate suicide. The surfer cant make the wave, however. Nancy Griffith Flogged and jailed (16:22-24) The magistrates order Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods and thrown into the local jail (16:23). Sermon Acts 16:16-34 A Faith That Liberates. He says, For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lords free man. In Acts 16:16, Paul continues his search for a "place of prayer," but again is sidetracked, but this time by a woman of a very different sort. The Key teachings of Jesus Christ are focused on Faith and Love. Bonnie Raitt 16 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. Some of these prisoners have probably spent many days in this terrible place, and this would surely be the first time that they have heard anyone praying and singing hymns. Seize the opportunity. Acts 19. When Luke says that this girl has a pneuma pythonaa python spirithe means that people believe that she can tap into divine powers for wisdom and guidancethat she is, in essence, a human intermediary for divine powers. Miroslav Volf However, even though Peter was bound with chains and sleeping between two soldiers, an angel freed him (12:6-11). But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! It came out that very hour(v. 18). One of the persistent features of the New Testament is the ability of various spirits and demons to recognize Jesus, even when others (especially the disciples) are clueless. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace (agoran) before the rulers (archontas) (v. 19). "Pardon and Justification" in Sermons of Rev. Our daughter, in the seventh grade at the time, had had a terrible day with some friends at school. Penal Statistics Data reports that Lesson 20 - Luke 21:1-38 . Scott Hubbard Dec 3, 2021. The Disabled in the Life of the Church - Catholic Outlook. -- Whether its an invitation to a ballgame, to a BBQ, or even to church
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