welcome
Ask people what they have been learning from their church over the last week or so.
worship
Last week we looked at Hannah and saw how she sang a song of worship and praise when God answered her prayer. How has God answered your prayers recently? Use her song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 for your worship this week.
word
read
A seller of purple dye, she lives as a businesswoman in Philippi but is a native of Thyatira in Asia Minor (Turkey). Knowledge of dye making was probably traditional in Lydia’s family. Tradition says that when her husband died she moved to Europe.
Her conversion to Christianity occurred somewhere between 50 and 60 AD. In fact, she was the first to be converted in Europe, the first to be baptised and the first to open her house at Philippi (v.40). In Lydia’s house was cradled the church of Philippi, whose members were later referred to by Paul as his "joy and crown" (Philippians 4:1).
When Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi they found a group of women who had established a prayer meeting by a river outside the city. The women were open to the message of the risen Lord – Lydia in particular. She was baptised and extended hospitality to them. Lydia was almost surely a highly successful, cultivated, professional woman with prestige and power in the city of Philippi. None of this ceased when she became a devoted disciple of Christ. She used her house, she served him where she was, and she lived Christ in Philippi.
Use these questions to discuss Lydia’s life. It may be an idea to have an extra copy of them and split into two groups (or more) to facilitate easier sharing.
questions
- Do you have a consistent prayer life?
- Is your heart in the condition of being open to God (v.14) where he can reveal his truth to you?
- Are you willing for everything God has given you to be available for his use?
- What might some of those things be?
With Lydia, it was her leadership qualities, her home, her standing in the city.
- Have you moved from a private commitment of faith to a public declaration?
- News of Lydia’s baptism would have spread rapidly through the city. Do people at your university know of your faith?
Scripture commands us to “practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13). If we love God, we will joyfully obey his commands.
Brainstorm some ways that you can practice hospitality over the coming days and weeks and look at putting some of those ideas into practice.
application
Characters in the Bible often inspire us in our walk with God. What particularly in Lydia’s life inspires you and where would you like to follow her example?
witness
In the light of Lydia’s example, pray for one another, that we might be bold in our public witness. Is there anyone particularly who would like prayer for this?
