| There's one method of Christian
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| | straight...God wouldn't allow you to
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| fellowship that, although quite common in
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| | preach in Asia or Mysia but He WILL let
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| some corners of the Vineyard, is quite
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| | you talk to the ladies down by the
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| foreign in others.Let's talk about House
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| | river... this is WAY too unorthodox!14
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| Church!Though quite a few American
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| | One of those listening was a woman named
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| churches are willing to establish "cell
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| | Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the
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| groups" or "home groups," for the most
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| | city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of
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| part, the typical church tends to include
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| | God. The Lord opened her heart to respond
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| these gatherings merely as some sort of
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| | to Paul's message.
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| "bolt-on program" to what most perceive
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| | 15 When she and the members of her
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| as the REAL church. As with any other
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| | household were baptized, she invited us
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| program of the church, members can choose
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| | to her home. "If you consider me a
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| to attend or ignore this one, too. With
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| | believer in the Lord," she said, "come
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| us being as busy as we are, the majority
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| | and stay at my house." And she persuaded
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| of church-attenders will choose to ignore
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| | us.COMMENT: Was there a "Sinner's
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| their church's "home group" ministry and
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| | Prayer"? A "Four Spiritual Laws"? A
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| focus their attention on what they see as
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| | "Roman Road"? Any kind of profession of
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| the REAL ministry that takes place on
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| | faith? Did they not have a "Salvation
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| Sunday morning, maybe Wednesday night
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| | System" in place? No, the Scripture
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| and, occasionally, Sunday nights.If you
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| | merely says "the Lord opened her heart."
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| will, look for a moment at Acts Chapter
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| | How did they know THAT? Where was Lydia's
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| 16 along with my thought-provoking
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| | husband during all this? Was she a single
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| comments:TIMOTHY JOINS PAUL AND SILAS4 As
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| | woman inviting these men over to her
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| they traveled from town to town, they
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| | house? What ever happened to "avoiding
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| delivered the decisions reached by the
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| | the appearance of evil"? What were Paul
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| apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the
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| | and his posse thinking? Most
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| people to obey.
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| | importantly...where did Lydia and her
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| 5 So the churches were strengthened in
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| | household go to continue their
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| the faith and grew daily in
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| | discipleship process? Church? Sunday
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| numbers.COMMENT: Churches? Who was going
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| | school? Did they watch TBN or listen to
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| around building these buildings? Did they
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| | Pastor Michael's "Your Town for Jesus"
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| have pastors, secretaries, janitors,
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| | broadcast on radio or listen to tapes or
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| steeples, padded pews, a children's
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| | read eMail's?Beginning with verse 16,
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| ministry? A playground? Did Paul and his
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| | Paul casts a demon out of a slave girl
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| companions stick around and "pastor"
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| | who was earning money for her owners.
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| these churches? Of course not!Paul has
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| | They make a fuss and Paul and Silas wind
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| Vision of the Man of Macedonia. Read
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| | up in jail. The pair were singing hymns
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| this:Lydia's Conversion in Philippi
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| | to God when an earthquake struck and
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| 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the
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| | shook the jail, opening its gates and
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| city gate to the river, where we expected
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| | lossening all the chains on the
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| to find a place of prayer. We sat down
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| | prisoners.27 The jailer woke up, and when
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| and began to speak to the women who had
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| | he saw the prison doors open, he drew his
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| gathered there.COMMENT: What...no
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| | sword and was about to kill himself
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| synagogues in the area? No temples? No
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| | because he thought the prisoners had
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| "churches" on every street corner? Where
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| | escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm
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| else would they possibly go to pray?
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| | yourself! We are all here!" 29 The jailer
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| Having failed at their attempt to find a
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| | called for lights, rushed in and fell
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| "place" to pray, they stopped to chat
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| | trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He
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| with some ladies. WHAT?!! C'mon guys,
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| | then brought them out and asked, "Sirs,
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| stay focused! Let me get this
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| | what must I do to be saved?
|
