Pastor's Ponderings: Monday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 16:11-15 (May 4, 2026)

May 4, 2026:  Monday Bible Study on Acts 16:11-15

Good morning my dear friends who are studying along with me in the Acts of the Apostles. I hope that you had a good weekend and that your favorite basketball playoff team is still in the running. I've watched a few of the 7th games and they get intense! Please hold Pastor Ron and Becky in your prayers for their travel to Minnesota and home in Eagan. Becky will have some further treatments for a health condition which she has, and then off to her grandson's middle school graduation in Brooklyn, NY, and Pastor Ron has a class reunion for his senior class of 14. Yes, it was a one room schoolhouse, and throughout elementary and Junior High he rode his horse to school. Ah, life in the Dakotas! Please pray for the dog Bubbles who has had to return for more surgery after she had severe bleeding issues. She is back in Mexico today for further work.

Today in our reading from Acts, we find Paul in Macedonia, and in conquered Roman cities there. Today we are considering Christ's first convert in Philippi. This city had a long history of being especially important economically, and its gold mines had played out already. Though conquered by Rome it was on the fringes of the empire. There were Jews there, but they had no synagogue and instead met along the river in the city. Just as a note Philippi got its name from Alexander's the Great's father Philip. So, Paul and Silas headed down to the river to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There they met the first person who would become a convert to Christianity. Her name was Lydia, and she was a dealer in purple goods. (cloth dyed purple) This color was very popular, so Lydia became a person of commerce and wealth in her city. That purple dyed clothing used the few drops that could be gained from a specific shellfish. The value of this clothing was very high. In a comparable cost today, it would sell for well over four hundred dollars of our modern money for a piece of clothing dyed in this way. Due to the desire for clothing of this color and value, it was worn by most of the people in this city, so Lydia was very wealthy. When Paul spoke to Lydia, she received his words and message and was converted to believe in Jesus Christ. I must believe that the Spirit was already active in Lydia's life, but Paul coming to her was the additional push for her to accept Christ. In fact, she and her entire household, which would have included servants and perhaps slaves, were all Baptized. It is after this that Lydia reveals her heart for the Lord. She invites Paul and those who are with him to remain as guests in her home. Peter himself indicates to new converts that they are to always share hospitality with other Christians and never begrudge their presence in their home. From this time forward through today, hospitality remains the hallmark of Christian generosity. Even though we primarily see men as missionaries in the texts of the Bible, it was clear that Lydia was the first woman to begin and maintain a Christian presence in Philippi. Hospitality is one of the greatest gifts of the Spirit when it comes to helping those who are on the edge of accepting Christ. This discovery in life is moved by the Spirit, and shapes the rest of the believer's life, just as it does ours. From daily prayers to food and housing, and gathering in the hope of Christ's love, we are all called to be very aware of the power of hospitality to transform lives. At church we see it in carry-in meals, in sharing resources for world hunger, for the global ark, for our community food bank, for filling the food cart in the narthex, to brining in free veggies from week to week, and in the words of kindness and love that we share.   Every one of us can be a Lydia in the lives of others. We just need to open our hearts and minds to the Spirit's guidance as She sustains our lives from day to day.

God bless you all. There will be two weeks of no Bible Studies from Monday, May 25th through Thursday, June 4th. Be sure to get it marked on your calendars.

With Christ Love, Pastor Kim