Last week we looked at the story of Lydia. Paul thought he was going to Asia but God redirected him to Europe. Lydia was a gentile woman who believed the God of Israel was indeed God. It seems like she was a well-to-do business owner and, probably, Paul’s first European convert. When Paul spoke the gospel to her God opened her heart to receive it and her whole household was saved. And so now Paul has a base to work from – a geographic base, a core group of people to disciple, and perhaps even financial support. That had to be encouraging. Read the rest of this entry »

Acts 16:13-15 (NIV)
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 worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to (the message spoken by Paul) 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. Read the rest of this entry »

Listen to Craig’s message here

God’s grace is his undeserved, kind, favor/action toward us (159 times in the N.T.). Pictures of God’s grace seem never-ending.

Exodus 34:6 (NIV)
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”

Psalm 145:8 (NIV)
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Read the rest of this entry »