Acts 16:12-40

"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas [when the master incited the city since Paul cast the profit-making demon out of his slave girl], and the..."

"Dear Beloved, Grace can have a strong touch of redemptive irony! As you read in the verses below about Paul and Silas being thrown into jail, notice...."

"[After the massive earthquake that opened the jail doors and released the prisoners' chains in Philippi, Paul assured the jailer that no one had..."

"One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of....."

"The next morning [after the earthquake released Paul and Silas from their chains and stocks in Philippi,] the city officials sent the police to tell...."

Who prays in a jail and then does not leave when the doors come open? There are two very surprising things in the story of the Philippian jailer. And two other things that seem to be expected to happen.

Do we need to go back and re-think the modern conversion experience? Let's see conversion more wholistically -- an experience of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection in baptism that involves repentance, and confession of Jesus as Lord, and acceptance of him as Lord and Christ.

""Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household." Then they spoke the word of..."

"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas [when the master incited the city since Paul cast the profit-making demon out of his slave girl], and the..."

What kind of questions have you been asking lately? Russ Lawson reminds us that the questions we ask need to be the important ones, not the kind that spark endless arguments and speculation.

"[After arriving in Philippi several days before,] on the Sabbath we [Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke] went a little way outside the city to a..."

Inspirational illustration of Acts 16:30-32 -- “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."

"In Lydia's conversion there are many points of interest. It was brought about by providential circumstances. She was a seller of purple, of the city....."

"[After arriving in Philippi several days before,] on the Sabbath we [Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke] went a little way outside the city to a..."

Inspirational illustration of Acts 16:25 -- About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Suicide isn't the answer Even if death seems a better alternative than anything else that lies ahead. You can find life instead. You can find Jesus.

"Dear Follower, I promised My followers that the Holy Spirit would guide them in their witness to the nations (Acts 1:8). Today, I want to talk to you..."

If we listen carefully to God’s unfolding story, there are many strong women of faith who played key roles in the life of God's people! Phil Ware continues his series on the role of women and their importance in the story of God's unfolding grace.

"That night [after the Spirit prevented the mission team from preaching in the province of Asia,] Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern...."

Please pray that God will open the door to effective ministry! Phil Ware reminds us of our need for God's help to open hearts so that we can share Jesus with others.

For us to be 'cruciformed' means that we offer our hearts to be reshaped to be like Jesus' heart. It means we offer ourselves to be used by God to bless and serve others. Phil Ware begins a series on the central section of the Gospel of Mark that focuses on being "cruciformed" as the first step of being a disciple of Jesus.

What are you doing to empower God's word? Prayer empowers God's people and God's message.

If all we have is a once-a-year sentimental baby Jesus, then we don’t have the real Jesus and our souls remain parched and thirsty and our whole being longs for SOMEONE more! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to find Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit the living water to end our soul-drought.