By The Rev. Rachel Brown
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sermon Text: Acts 16:13-15
Sermon Theme
Lydia was a woman who knew she had a duty and calling to tell others about Jesus and she did not let her gender, social position or any other obstacle get in her way in sharing Christ and starting the church in Phillipi. The LORD has created each of us to be unique and to serve HIM no matter what gender, age, nationality etc. We are all one in Christ Jesus. Even as we feel we fall short through our never ending worry, shortcomings and cycle of sin in our lives the LORD can and does still use us for HIS good purpose of being HIS representative. Allow the Grace of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to be your strength in moving forward in your faith.
Sermon Outline
The Promise: The LORD has created each of us to be unique and to serve HIM no matter what gender, age, nationality etc. We are all one in Christ Jesus.
"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." ~ Galatians 3:26-28
"Just as a body, though one has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
The Hope: That even as we feel we fall short through our never ending worry, shortcomings and cycle of sin in our lives the LORD can and does still use us for HIS good purpose of being HIS representative. We are imperfect people trying to do the perfect work of the LORD. We must put our hope and trust in HIM that HE will do HIS work and will, despite how we feel or our shortcomings.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ~ Romans 8:28
Putting it all into practice: Allow the Grace of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to be your strength in moving forward in your faith. Serve the LORD by worshiping him daily through prayer, Bible reading, talking to others about your life in Christ, the ups and down. Put into practice what you have been taught not only by doing the things you are comfortable with in your faith but pushing yourself to try new things. If you have never prayed out loud, practice by yourself in your home, then with one other person, then in a group. If you have never taught a Sunday school class start by assisting a teacher and then if you are led, move to leading the class. If you have never gone on a service project sign up for one this year. The Lord will call you to do things that you do not want to do, but you should do them, because HE will turn our fears, worries and feelings of inadequacy into strength, hope and confidence to do HIS work and will.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." ~ James 1:22–25
Final Thoughts on Lydia: She was a woman who knew she had a duty and calling to tell others about Jesus and she did not let her gender, social position or any other obstacle get in her way in sharing Christ and starting the church in Phillipi. Remember, Lydia had no previous Bible study, training, or format for how to go about sharing Jesus and starting a church. Lydia trusted the truth that Paul shared with her and allowed Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to lead her.
"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
