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Southside Church of Christ, Lexington, KY
Episodes
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Describe a moment when you realized you are not in control.
Did that moment of realization draw you closer to God?
Did that moment of realization drive you away from God?
Describe a moment when you realized you are not in control.
Did that moment of realization draw you closer to God?
Did that moment of realization drive you away from God?
How do you see the issue of control come into play throughout the interaction between Jesus and Pilate in John 18-19?
"You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:11)
What do you learn about control in your context based on Jesus' statement to Pilate?
"You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:11)
What do you learn about control in your context based on Jesus' statement to Pilate?
Describe a time when you tried to get control.
Describe a time when you tried to keep control.
Describe a time when you were glad to give up control.
Describe a time when you tried to keep control.
Describe a time when you were glad to give up control.
What encouragement do you get from Paul's clear teaching in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 that God is the one in control of outcomes?
For this coming week, share one area of your life which you will practice giving up control.
For this coming week, share one area of your life which you will practice giving up control.
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Job 42:1-6
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
FROM THE LESSON
Job’s Friends: Job’s friends utilize the standard wisdom of the ancient world, leading them to the conclusion that, because Job’s suffering is so immense, he must have committed evil acts.
Job’s Friends: Job’s friends utilize the standard wisdom of the ancient world, leading them to the conclusion that, because Job’s suffering is so immense, he must have committed evil acts.
Their debate with Job, who maintains his innocence, takes place across three cycles, wherein Job states his case, and his friends respond (chapters 13-14, chapters 15-21, and chapters 22-28).
The arguments they present take the basic following forms:
The Big Assumption: Both Job and his friends are operating on the assumption that God works in the following way:
Transactional Relationships: a transactional relationship operates with the assumption that when you provide someone else with something favorable, they are obligated to respond in kind. When we view our relationships with people as transactional, we are looking for ways to control them.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Ice breaker: what are some funny questions you’ve run into. What are some hard questions you’ve pondered?
1. Ice breaker: what are some funny questions you’ve run into. What are some hard questions you’ve pondered?
2. How did you feel about the story of the father and his 9-year-old daughter? Which parts of the story did you relate to or connect with?
3. When have you found yourself viewing others through a transactional lens? What does it look like when we view God this way?
4. How can hard or challenging questions draw us nearer to God rather than distance us from him? Are there certain approaches we can take to questions that can impact that?
5. Job, although he doesn’t get the answer to his question, does get a glimpse of how vast creation is, and how amazing it is that the God who made it all would come and speak with him. What are some things that remind you that you are significant and precious to God?
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Acts 16:35-40
35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." 36 The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace. 37 But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out." 38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.
FROM THE LESSON
"Civis Romanus Sum" - I am a Roman citizen. In the Roman Empire, these three Latin words carried with them the weight of all the legal rights and social privileges of a Roman citizen. All anyone had to do was declare this statement and safety was said to be guaranteed to you.
But we are citizens of heaven - "Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your life after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." (Philippians 3:17-20 NLT)
Rights and privileges - as citizens of heaven, we too have been given rights and privileges. We have been given the right to become children of God and we have been given the privilege of trusting in Christ, even in our suffering.
"Civis Romanus Sum" - I am a Roman citizen. In the Roman Empire, these three Latin words carried with them the weight of all the legal rights and social privileges of a Roman citizen. All anyone had to do was declare this statement and safety was said to be guaranteed to you.
But we are citizens of heaven - "Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your life after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." (Philippians 3:17-20 NLT)
Rights and privileges - as citizens of heaven, we too have been given rights and privileges. We have been given the right to become children of God and we have been given the privilege of trusting in Christ, even in our suffering.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Ice breaker: can you think of an example from your life when you have tried to live as a citizen of two worlds so to speak? I shared a personal example of being a fan of both Georgia football AND Kentucky basketball.
2. Prior to the lesson today, how have you thought about both being a citizen of earth AND a citizen of heaven?
3. Read again Philippians 3:17-20. What insight does Paul give in these verses about being a citizen of heaven?
4 Philippi was a Roman colony. The desire of a Roman citizen in a place like Philippi was to bring Rome to Philippi. The task was to establish a Roman community there in Philippi. How does knowing this context help shape your understanding of what it means to be a citizen of heaven?
5 We have been given the right to become children of God and we have been given the privilege of trusting in Christ? What does it mean to you to have been given these rights and privileges as a citizen of heaven?
6 Practically speaking, what does it mean for us as a church to live as citizens of heaven in this place?
1. Ice breaker: can you think of an example from your life when you have tried to live as a citizen of two worlds so to speak? I shared a personal example of being a fan of both Georgia football AND Kentucky basketball.
2. Prior to the lesson today, how have you thought about both being a citizen of earth AND a citizen of heaven?
3. Read again Philippians 3:17-20. What insight does Paul give in these verses about being a citizen of heaven?
4 Philippi was a Roman colony. The desire of a Roman citizen in a place like Philippi was to bring Rome to Philippi. The task was to establish a Roman community there in Philippi. How does knowing this context help shape your understanding of what it means to be a citizen of heaven?
5 We have been given the right to become children of God and we have been given the privilege of trusting in Christ? What does it mean to you to have been given these rights and privileges as a citizen of heaven?
6 Practically speaking, what does it mean for us as a church to live as citizens of heaven in this place?
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Describe a time when you experienced a pivotal moment regarding truth - a truth you'd been ignoring or a truth you never knew.
1. Describe a time when you experienced a pivotal moment regarding truth - a truth you'd been ignoring or a truth you never knew.
2. When have you tried to trick or trap or bribe or manipulate God? When have you sidelined God's sovereignty?
3. What stands out to you in this Matthew 22:15-46?
4. When have you had difficulty accepting God's timing or his perceived lack of action in a situation you were deeply connected to?
5. Talk about your desire, maybe even your need, to be in control. Where does God's sovereignty fit into your pursuit of control?
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
1 Samuel 9:3-14
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young
men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of
Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through
the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did
not find them.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back,
lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him,
“Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes
true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his
servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no
present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I
have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9
(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for
today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us
go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to
them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come
just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you
enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till
he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you
will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw
Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have there been times in your own life when you have seen God's providence in the way quite ordinary things have come together into a wonderful providential pattern?
- Why is it disrespectful to expect God always to explain his ways to us when we do not understand them? What should we be doing instead?
- "There is a time to mourn and a time to dance." Samuel was stuck in mourning because of the failure of Saul's opportunity to be king. But God was ready for him to dance because he had found a king "after God's own heart." How can this example help you navigate the emotional challenges of life?
- How can you apply the principle of "God looks at the heart" in your relationships and assessments of others?
- How does God's choice of David encourage you in your current stage of life (or career)?
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Mark 10:17-22
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
(NIV)
FROM THE LESSON
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A QUESTION TO CONSIDER: Have I drawn "a line in the sand" in my heart?
A PHRASE TO REMEMBER: "God loves you, and so do I."
A WAY TO LIVE: Surrender
A PHRASE TO REMEMBER: "God loves you, and so do I."
A WAY TO LIVE: Surrender
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are some examples of people fighting for unworthy things? Have you ever discovered yourself in that position?
- Why might we be tempted to "dig in" and fight God rather than surrendering to him?
- The Bible describes the devil as a lion that wants to devour us. How do you tend to view sin? Do you think of it more as a personal struggle, or something with wider-reaching effects?
- What does surrender to Jesus look like?
- How do you tend to respond when someone shares a struggle with you? How can we make our community a place where people feel able to share struggles?
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Acts 16:25-34
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole family. (NIV 84)
FROM THE LESSON
In verse 26, the Greek words translated as "violent earthquake" are seismos megas. You don't have to be a Greek scholar to understand these words. It was a seismic occurrence of mega proportions.
In 2 Corinthians 11:25-28, Paul gave the details of his sufferings, he wrote, "I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger of bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressures of my concern for all the churches."
In verses 33-34, all of the acts the jailer performed for Paul and Silas following his conversion - washing their wounds, being baptized, removing the prisoners from the jail and bringing them into his house for a meal - were all acts punishable by death according to Roman law.
In verse 26, the Greek words translated as "violent earthquake" are seismos megas. You don't have to be a Greek scholar to understand these words. It was a seismic occurrence of mega proportions.
In 2 Corinthians 11:25-28, Paul gave the details of his sufferings, he wrote, "I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger of bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressures of my concern for all the churches."
In verses 33-34, all of the acts the jailer performed for Paul and Silas following his conversion - washing their wounds, being baptized, removing the prisoners from the jail and bringing them into his house for a meal - were all acts punishable by death according to Roman law.
WHAT IS BELIEF IN THE LORD JESUS?
- It is not about assurance. Belief does not exempt us from having bad days.
- It is not about an amount. Belief is not subjective, it is objective. It's what you believe, not how much you believe.
- It is all about allegiance. Belief is best described as allegiance to Jesus as King.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What do you think about or how does it make you feel when you read in verse 25 that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God while suffering in prison?
- Belief in the Lord Jesus does not assure you good health and lots of wealth. It's important to understand that belief is not about assurance. Have you ever struggled with this understanding of belief?
- Belief in the Lord Jesus has nothing to do with an amount. It's important to understand that it's what you believe about Jesus, not how much you believe in Him. Have you ever struggled with this understanding of belief?
- Belief in the Lord Jesus is about allegiance to Jesus as the King. It's important to understand that Jesus reigns from the right hand of the Father and is the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. How does this understanding of belief help us to make it through the difficulties of this life?
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Acts 16:16-24
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice. 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (NIV 84)
FROM THE LESSON
Spirit of a Python: in verse 16, Luke literally reports that this slave girl had the "spirit of a python." This is a reference to the young women who served as priestess at the Oracle at Delphi. These women were called Pythia, named after the Python dragon that the Greek god Apollo had defeated.
Ventriloquism: in verse 16, the word translated as "fortune-telling" will also be used to describe the art of ventriloquism. This is how the Greeks would have thought about what was happening with this slave girl. The words she spoke would have been understood as the very words of the gods being spoken through her, just like a ventriloquist and his puppet.
IJM: International Justice Mission is a Christian organization that partners with local authorities all around the world to combat human trafficking and slavery, particularly violence against women and the exploitation of children. You can check out the incredible work they do at www.ijm.org.
Spirit of a Python: in verse 16, Luke literally reports that this slave girl had the "spirit of a python." This is a reference to the young women who served as priestess at the Oracle at Delphi. These women were called Pythia, named after the Python dragon that the Greek god Apollo had defeated.
Ventriloquism: in verse 16, the word translated as "fortune-telling" will also be used to describe the art of ventriloquism. This is how the Greeks would have thought about what was happening with this slave girl. The words she spoke would have been understood as the very words of the gods being spoken through her, just like a ventriloquist and his puppet.
IJM: International Justice Mission is a Christian organization that partners with local authorities all around the world to combat human trafficking and slavery, particularly violence against women and the exploitation of children. You can check out the incredible work they do at www.ijm.org.
WHY SPEAK THE NAME OF JESUS?
- We speak the name of Jesus because we submit our lives to His authority.
- We speak the name of Jesus because we want to live without any ambiguity.
- We speak the name of Jesus because we desire to see His liberating activity.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How many times did you speak the name of Jesus last week? Think about it and try to come up with a number.
- Paul wrote in Philippians 2:9 that "His name is above every name and at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." How can you speak the name of Jesus more in your day to day life as a way of submitting your life to His authority?
- Peter spoke these words in Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Peter was crystal clear with his message. How can you speak the name of Jesus more in your day to day life as a way of living without any ambiguity?
- The angel of the Lord told Joseph in Matthew 1:21, "You are to give him the name Jesus because he will set His people free from sin." How can you speak the name of Jesus more in your day to day life as a way of seeing His liberating activity?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Matthew 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (NIV 84)
24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." (NLT)
24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." (NLT)
FROM THE LESSON
Three Conversions: "There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the mind, the conversion of the heart and the conversion of the wallet." (Martin Luther)
Conquering Greed: "Guilt is conquered by confession, anger is conquered by forgiveness, and greed is conquered by generosity." (Andy Stanley)
The Principle of the Tithe: God is looking for our first and best. That may be 10% or it may be more.
The Principle of Ownership: God owns it all. "To the Lord belongs the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14)
Three Conversions: "There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the mind, the conversion of the heart and the conversion of the wallet." (Martin Luther)
Conquering Greed: "Guilt is conquered by confession, anger is conquered by forgiveness, and greed is conquered by generosity." (Andy Stanley)
The Principle of the Tithe: God is looking for our first and best. That may be 10% or it may be more.
The Principle of Ownership: God owns it all. "To the Lord belongs the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14)
WHY DON'T WE CHOOSE TO BE GENEROUS?
- Procrastination
- Hesitation
- Exception
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How open are you to talk honestly about money? What kinds of feelings arise within you when you read what Jesus says about money? Luke 6:24; 12:15; Matthew 6:19; 19:24
2. What do you think about Jesus positioning money as a rival god in Matthew 6:24? What crazy things have you seen people do to get more money or to cling to what money they have?
3. How do you find yourself resistant to the direction given to you in your Bible to "give it away"? Why do you have so much?
4. The principle of the tithe is "first and best". What does that mean for you in the context of giving? Which of the three ideas have negatively impacted your giving: procrastination, hesitation, exception?
5. "God owns it all." How does this truth make a difference in your giving?
2. What do you think about Jesus positioning money as a rival god in Matthew 6:24? What crazy things have you seen people do to get more money or to cling to what money they have?
3. How do you find yourself resistant to the direction given to you in your Bible to "give it away"? Why do you have so much?
4. The principle of the tithe is "first and best". What does that mean for you in the context of giving? Which of the three ideas have negatively impacted your giving: procrastination, hesitation, exception?
5. "God owns it all." How does this truth make a difference in your giving?
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Acts 16:11-15
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Naeapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of the district 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 named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper 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 house. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (NIV 84)
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVERSION
Humility: Don Meyer was the head men's basketball coach at Lipscomb University for 25 years. When he retired in 2009, he was the winningest coach in college basketball history with a record of 923-324. One of his life principles was: "Always Take Notes."
Hungry: Louie Gigglio is a Christian pastor and founder of the Passion Movement. He wrote this about worship, "Worship is simply about value. Worship is our response to whatever we value the most in our lives."
Hospitality: John Stott, in his commentary on Acts, wrote this about the conversion of Lydia, "For once her heart was opened, her home was opened too."
Hungry: Louie Gigglio is a Christian pastor and founder of the Passion Movement. He wrote this about worship, "Worship is simply about value. Worship is our response to whatever we value the most in our lives."
Hospitality: John Stott, in his commentary on Acts, wrote this about the conversion of Lydia, "For once her heart was opened, her home was opened too."
THE CONCEPTS OF CONVERSION
- Paul gladly shares because conversion is intentional.
- God graciously opens because conversion is spiritual.
- Lydia genuinely responds because conversion is personal.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Take a few moments and share your conversion story with someone. Do you have a favorite conversion story? Share that story with someone.
- There is an important principle established in Scripture (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). The principle is this, "God gives grace to the humble, but He opposes the proud." How have you seen this principle in your life or in the narrative of Scripture?
- The word translated "speak" in verse 13 is not a word used for teaching or preaching, it is a more casual word that means to have a personal conversation. Who shared in this way with you about Jesus? Who is someone in your life that you could share with about Jesus?
- The mystery of conversion is how all three of the concepts of conversion come together as one in a beautiful way. Does knowing all three of these concepts help you to better understand conversion? How?
- When conversion happens in a person's life, fruit is produced. In the conversion of Lydia, the fruit of hospitality is immediately produced. What kind of fruit have you seen produced in your life or in another person's life due to conversion?