And Now, the Great Wineskin Awakening

There's one method of Christian fellowship that,get this straight...God wouldn't allow you to preach
although quite common in some corners of thein Asia or Mysia but He WILL let you talk to the
Vineyard, is quite foreign in others.Let's talk aboutladies down by the river... this is WAY too
House Church!Though quite a few Americanunorthodox!14 One of those listening was a
churches are willing to establish "cell groups" orwoman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from
"home groups," for the most part, the typicalthe city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of
church tends to include these gatherings merelyGod. The Lord opened her heart to respond to
as some sort of "bolt-on program" to what mostPaul's message.
perceive as the REAL church. As with any other15 When she and the members of her household
program of the church, members can choose towere baptized, she invited us to her home. "If
attend or ignore this one, too. With us being asyou consider me a believer in the Lord," she said,
busy as we are, the majority of church-attenders"come and stay at my house." And she
will choose to ignore their church's "home group"persuaded us.COMMENT: Was there a "Sinner's
ministry and focus their attention on what theyPrayer"? A "Four Spiritual Laws"? A "Roman
see as the REAL ministry that takes place onRoad"? Any kind of profession of faith? Did they
Sunday morning, maybe Wednesday night and,not have a "Salvation System" in place? No, the
occasionally, Sunday nights.If you will, look for aScripture merely says "the Lord opened her
moment at Acts Chapter 16 along with myheart." How did they know THAT? Where was
thought-provoking comments:TIMOTHY JOINSLydia's husband during all this? Was she a single
PAUL AND SILAS4 As they traveled from townwoman inviting these men over to her house?
to town, they delivered the decisions reached byWhat ever happened to "avoiding the appearance
the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for theof evil"? What were Paul and his posse thinking?
people to obey.Most importantly...where did Lydia and her
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faithhousehold go to continue their discipleship
and grew daily in numbers.COMMENT: Churches?process? Church? Sunday school? Did they watch
Who was going around building these buildings? DidTBN or listen to Pastor Michael's "Your Town for
they have pastors, secretaries, janitors, steeples,Jesus" broadcast on radio or listen to tapes or
padded pews, a children's ministry? A playground?read eMail's?Beginning with verse 16, Paul casts a
Did Paul and his companions stick around anddemon out of a slave girl who was earning
"pastor" these churches? Of course not!Paul hasmoney for her owners. They make a fuss and
Vision of the Man of Macedonia. Read this:Lydia'sPaul and Silas wind up in jail. The pair were singing
Conversion in Philippihymns to God when an earthquake struck and
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the cityshook the jail, opening its gates and lossening all
gate to the river, where we expected to find athe chains on the prisoners.27 The jailer woke up,
place of prayer. We sat down and began toand when he saw the prison doors open, he drew
speak to the women who had gatheredhis sword and was about to kill himself because
there.COMMENT: What...no synagogues in thehe thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul
area? No temples? No "churches" on every streetshouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29
corner? Where else would they possibly go toThe jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell
pray? Having failed at their attempt to find atrembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then
"place" to pray, they stopped to chat with somebrought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I
ladies. WHAT?!! C'mon guys, stay focused! Let medo to be saved?