Pastor Blaik J. Westhoff,
Scripture: Acts 7:54-8:8
Sermon Questions:
1. Was the stoning of Stephen and the scattering of the early church part of God’s plan?
2. What happens when God wants us to be doing new things in new places with new people?
3. How might God be using an experience in your/our life to move you/us to where He wants you/us? Where might that new place be?
Further Study:
Acts 16:6-15 (NIV)
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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.
1. In v1 it tells us Paul was “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” Why might the Holy Spirit prevent the “preaching of the Word”?
2. In v10 Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Is God still able to provide such a vision for his disciples?
3. Paul got ready “at once” to leave for Macedonia. What prevents us from reacting “at once” to God’s vision?
4. In v14 the scripture tells us that “The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message”. How did Lydia respond to the message? How should we respond to the messages God brings to us?