The Essential Question (Part 7): More Mission TripsSample

Jailhouse Rock

Prepare: What have been some turning points in your life? Spend a few moments reflecting on the ways God has led you at the major crossroads in your journey.

Read: Acts 16:1-40

Reflect: Paul was no paper pusher. With the Council at Jerusalem behind him, Paul was itching to get "out of the office" and back to what he did best: traveling, preaching and planting churches. It's important to recognize what we're good at in ministry; some are builders, others are maintainers, and the church needs both. But there's no question about Paul--he was a builder (Romans 15:20).

That's why Paul got into a predicament in Philippi. He was breaking new turf for the good news in this important Roman city when he attracted both spiritual and economic resistance. The ensuing jailbreak was no less miraculous than Peter's escape (Acts 12:1-19) and reminds us that those who are truly pursuing God's will are never hopeless.

But the punch line of Luke's account is the jailer's question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (16:30). Some may think the jailer was afraid the prisoners would take revenge and was begging for mercy, or that he wanted to cut a fast deal since jailers were executed for allowing their prisoners to escape. What seems clear from the context, however, is that the earthquake had shaken him spiritually, exposing his need for God. That's why Paul immediately saw it as a ministry opportunity, which led to the salvation of an entire family. If we want to make a difference for God today, we too must learn to recognize and appropriately step into the stress and trauma of the people around us.

This passage also demonstrates an important, yet often overlooked, principle about finding God's will. Did you notice that Paul and his companions encountered three red lights–on the edges of Asia, Mysia, and Bithynia–before they got a green light to enter Macedonia? That should give us a new perspective on ministry roadblocks.

The significance of God's negative leading here is that he was leaving Paul no option other than to cross the northern Aegean Sea. From the perspective of history, we now know that this was a turning point in the growth of the church. It was at this juncture that the gospel spread from the Middle East to Europe; Macedonia is the gateway between the two continents. From Europe, the good news spread to the rest of the world, and eventually to you and me. True, it took centuries to play out. But it never would have happened if Paul hadn't understood that God leads us by both saying yes and no.

Apply: What is the biggest roadblock in your life right now? Instead of asking God to remove it, spend some time asking God to show you what he's saying to you through it.