“A 21st-Century Checkup For Ministry” (Part 3)

We close out our week with three final issues that face ministry leaders today:

Is there a place for intimacy in our church? (Acts 16:15). Lydia was a successful businesswoman who worked in this major Macedonian city. She probably had one of the larger homes in the city. Her response to God’s grace was to offer her home to the team to serve as their headquarters. Her home most likely included adequate room and trained servants. I like to think that evenings were spent in discipling the new Christians. In this setting, Paul probably taught the Old Testament and “how to live the Christian life.” Perhaps this was the first small group in Europe. Today every church needs community groups of 8 to10 people who grow together and love one another enough to openly share their heart.

Do we see the bondage of addictions being broken? (Acts 16:16-18). The story took a new turn. One day as the team walked to their prayer meeting, a demon-possessed slave girl began following them and shouting. She was a fortuneteller controlled by Satan. Her owners exploited this poor girl and made money as she told fortunes. After several days, Paul became so troubled that he cast out the demon, rescued the girl, and “closed shop” for the owners! I look upon this release from bondage as symbolic of our #1 social problem today—addictions. We know where the power for deliverance is. Are we willing to help?

Does our vision endure adversity? (Acts 16:19-40). The most familiar part of the Acts 16 story is the conversion of the Philippian jailer. Called troublemakers by the owners of the delivered woman, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. They were falsely accused, wrongfully beaten, and bound by stocks. Yet they were able to sing at midnight, witness to a hardened jailer, and watch the transforming power of the gospel. As a result, a saved jailer and his family were baptized in the local river!

If you are convinced your vision is from God, endure adversity and watch God do the miraculous.