"Consequences" Acts 16: 6-24

As it turns out, I do not think the title of the sermon will have anything to do with the content of the sermon. not sure what I was thinking at newsletter deadline.

The text includes the story of two women and their encounter with Paul in Philippi. We recall that these stories occur after Paul has been instructed in a dream to not go into Asia, but move into Macedonia. As he evangelizes in this new territory, Paul shifts from dealing primarily with potential Jewish converts to Christianity to potential Gentile converts to Christianity.

The first two people Paul encounters are Lydia and an unnamed slave woman. these two women are on opposite ends of the social spectrum. Lydia is a business owner and trader in the purple cloth market, which indicates she is dealing with the wealthy people in the community. She has already developed some faith in God and apparently goes down near the river to pray. Paul finds her there, she listens to Paul proclaim the gospel, and then she invites Paul into her home and whole household was baptized. She becomes an important leader in the early church.

The unnamed slave girl had the spirit of divination, which allowed her owners to make money by having her work as a fortune-teller. She has pestered Paul by following him and announcing that he and the others were slaves of the Most High God. Paul responds by ordering the demon out of her. Although that may sound great to the reader, it does not work out so well for Paul. The salve girl's owners get very angry that she can no longer be a fortune-teller because the demon has been removed. Consequently, Paul is brought before the authorities and thrown into prison.

I am struck by the difference in these two women's situations. Lydia, whose name we know, makes her own choices about her faith. The slave girl, who goes unnamed, seems to have not choices. Paul chooses to exorcise the demon; the slave owners respond; notably absent are any choices for her.

Not sure where to go with this sermon. What sticks out to you? I find myself gravitating to this theme of getting, or not getting, to make choices about one's faith.

Peace,

Richard