My fear:

2. My fear: That we will break the chain and hinder the reaction!

3. God wants His movement to continue on through us: Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. -Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

4. Question: Aren’t you glad THEY were faithful to obey?

5. Question: Aren’t you glad THEY were faithful to obey? Question: Will we (and the generations that follow) do the same?

7. “True-ish” sermon series: www.missionpointchurch.com

8. A person trapped & enslaved: One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” -Acts 16:16-17 (NLT)

9. The frustrating reality: This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. -V. 18

10. Why was Paul so exasperated? • She was a distraction?

11. Why was Paul so exasperated? • She was a distraction? • She was mocking them?

12. Why was Paul so exasperated? • She was a distraction? • She was mocking them? • She was speaking the truth, but not submitted to it!

13. Saying means nothing if you are not doing.

14. Saying means nothing if you are not doing. • “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” • -Luke 6:46 (NLT)

15. Freedom begins on the inside: …turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. -V. 18

16. Think about it… “…any thought, ideology, philosophy, religious thinking, etc…that doesn’t align with the revealed word of God…no matter how close…how good…how acceptable…how popular it may sound…has its roots in demonic deception.” Do you agree?

17. The “thief” only comes to steal, kill, and destroy: Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith… -1 Peter 5:8-9a (NLT)

18. Jesus brings abundant life, but not everyone is happy: Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. -V. 19

19. The tactics of the offended: • Use fear-based exaggeration “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. -V. 20

20. The tactics of the offended: 2) Make false accusations and misrepresent beliefs/motives “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” V. 21

21. The tactics of the offended: 3) Form a mob and seek to silence the opposition A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:22-24 (NLT)

22. Question: When the time comes, will you love enough to speak out anyway? • Or will you and I be tempted to • just stay silent? • To let the captives just remain captive! • Or, even worse, will you join • the ‘mob’ & embrace • their un-holy, un-biblical, • un-Godly agenda?

23. God has chosen you to be like Him: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” -John 15:18-20a (NIV)

24. Don’t be surprised or ashamed: Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

25. Don’t be surprised or ashamed: So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 1 Peter 4:12-16 (NLT)

26. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. -John 16:33 (NLT)

27. A surprising reaction to persecution and pain: Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. - Acts 16:25 (NLT)

28. What would you do? • Cry? • Collapse? • Call your lawyer? • Complain? • Curse God?

29. The freeing power of prayer and praise: Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! -Acts 16:26 (NLT)

30. Love can’t see suffering and still stay silent: The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” -Acts 16:27-28 (NLT)

31. Love never fails: The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” -Acts 16:29-30 (NLT)

32. Question: Has anybody ever seen the way you live… the way you worship… the way you speak about and represent your God… the way you love them and others… and (in response)… wanted to know your God?

33. Lovingly pointing people to the Savior: • Providing backpacks & school supplies • Loving our community on Good Old Days (September 8th) • Praying for receptivity for over 12,000 household invitations (mailed Sept. 10th) • Personally inviting others to come & see - 9am or 10:45am (September 16th) • Serving others with joy! Sundays, Small Groups, serving teams

34. The “chain reaction” continues on: They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. - Acts 16:31-34 (NLT)

35. Questions: Have you believed & been saved yet? Have you been baptized? Is Jesus having an impact on your heart & your household? Are the people around you seeing & asking you why? If not, why not? And what can you do to take the next step?