The Gospel in Four People
Scripture Text: Acts 16
Application Questions
In Acts 16, God’s Holy Spirit takes center stage in the advancement of the gospel. Where do you sense the Holy Spirit leading you right now?
Of the four people highlighted in Acts 16, who do you identify with most and why?
How does faith become inspirational as you consider your own despair, sin, and longing?
Quotes for Reflection
NT Wright, Acts for Everyone
“‘Salvation’ in the ancient world didn’t mean ‘going to heaven when you die’, and that is by no means how the New Testament writers use it. Jesus himself frequently speaks of someone being ‘saved’ when he means ‘healed’(e.g. Luke 8.48: ‘your faith has saved you’, in other words, ‘has made you well’). So ‘saved’ meant, simply, ‘rescued’, ‘delivered’ – from whatever problem, be it sickness, financial disaster, personal catastrophe, or anything else, might be threatening.”
St. John of the Cross, The Ascent to Mt. Carmel
“Our deduction is that since faith is a dark night, it illumines the soul that is in darkness. Those who want to reach union with God should advance neither by understanding, nor by the support of their own experience, nor by feeling or imagination, but by belief in God’s being.”
Tom Holland, Dominion
“The legacy of Christianity is a legacy of transformation, of a willingness to challenge the status quo and to seek a better way. Christians have always been driven by a sense of mission, a conviction that they are called to change the world for the better. This has led them to challenge oppressive regimes, to fight for justice and equality, and to champion the cause of the marginalized and the oppressed. The legacy of Christianity is a legacy of hope in the face of despair, of redemption in the face of sin.It is a message that speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart: the desire for meaning, for purpose, for connection, for transcendence.It is a message that has inspired some of the greatest works of art, literature, and music in human history. The legacy of Christianity is a living legacy.”