Not even ‘nearly there’

Read Acts 16:12-36

Lydia invites Paul and his companions to her home. This is another ‘Peter and Cornelius’ moment (see Acts 10) where the apostles are invited into a Gentile-background (that is, not Jewish) woman’s home, and must choose the expression of a faith built on grace, rather than their cultural background.

• What are some of the places that we might hesitate to go when invited by a non-Christian that might communicate God’s acceptance to them? What wisdom calls might we need to make?
• How does accepting the hospitality of the jailer make a difference? Try reading that part of the story but as if they declined his invitation and went back to Lydia’s house.
• What do you think about when you are first invited to someone’s house that might affect whether you accept that invitation?
• Paul and Silas’ public hymn singing and praising God wasn’t what impacted the jailer – it was their kindness and intervention in a moment of panic. How might the various expressions of our faith (worship, service, sharing scripture, testimony etc.) be more or less effective in inviting people to explore a relationship with God?
• Have you had a situation where it seems to be a choice between being kind and sticking up for your rights? How might you resolve these in a way that makes your faith attractive?
• Both Lydia’s household and the jailer’s were baptised immediately after choosing to follow Jesus. What do you think needs to be in place in someone’s life before they decide to be baptised? If you haven’t, is there anything to stop you now?