The Story of a Remarkable Woman
This Sunday as we think about the women that have most influenced our lives and faith, Pastor Doug will be sharing about a remarkable woman in Acts named Lydia and the characteristics she showed as she began her journey of faith and sharing it with others.
How can we follow Lydia’s example and have a positive impact on people and the Way of Christ?
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The Story of a Remarkable Woman
[Note – This sermon was preached from an outline.]
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who give so much of yourself to others. I’m thankful for my mother and think of her love, laughter, and selflessness today. I’m deeply grateful to Jill for being the wonderful mother she is to our sons.
Often a mother is the thread that holds a family together. It’s a blessing to have a loving and devoted mother and we feel for those who don’t have that experience. Yet, the gifts a mother gives of unconditional love, attention, nurture, guidance, and service to name just a few, are gifts that other people can give and share whether you have children or not. Many of you can identify women who influenced your life and faith in a significant way who may have been mentors, teachers, or a spiritual mother, sister, or guide.
As we continue our journey through the Bible, today we’re hearing from The Book of Acts which describes how the Way of Christ was transformed, under the empowerment and leading of the Holy Spirit, from a mostly Jewish sect based in Jerusalem to a mostly Gentile movement that spread rapidly around the entire Mediterranean Sea and concludes with the Apostle Paul sharing the good news about Christ in Rome.
In the Book of Acts, we meet several women who play a significant role in the growth and expansion of the Way of Christ.
In Acts 1, Mary the mother of Jesus, and other women were part of Jesus’ core group of about 120 believers devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1.14), as they waited for the Spirit to be given.
In Acts 9.36-43, we hear the story of a disciple named Tabitha whose Greek name is Dorcas. “She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” Tabitha made tunics and other clothing and cared for widows. She was so important that when she died, the disciples in Joppa sent for Peter who was nearby in Lydda and he went at once and restored her to life.
Acts 12.12, tells us the house of Mary, “the mother of John whose other name was Mark,” was a place where many gathered and prayed fervently for Peter when he was in prison.
Then in Acts 16.6-15 we hear about a memorable woman named Lydia who Paul and his companions meet on their journey.
“6 They (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8 so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, we (Luke joins, Paul, Silas, and Timothy)immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13 On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.”
Paul and his companions travel to Macedonia because of a vision Paul has during the night. The Book of Acts and the Bible as a whole teach that God sometimes communicates through visions and dreams. These are in some ways God’s forgotten language. We often don’t pay close enough attention to visions and dreams, but Paul did. He was open to the Lord communicating with him in this way. His vision was so clear that he and his team left the next day.
Vision is of a man of Macedonia, but Paul and his team meet with women by the riverside. Apparently there were not enough men to have a synagogue in Philippi. Paul was open not only to visions and dreams, but also to whoever showed an openness to the Gospel.
We’re introduced to Lydia during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey which lasted 2 ½ years and (50-52 AD) and covered about 2,000 miles of travel. We traveled a little farther than that going to Greece in March and April. Paul and Lydia chose to travel as part of their life and work. In the case of the Apostle Paul, his travel was done with the intention of sharing the good news of God’s love in Christ, who suffered and died and rose again.
Travel can play a significant role in helping you learn and grow by exposing you to different cultures, customs, people, food, music, and ways of doing things. You realize the world is a much larger place than the small circle of your knowledge and experience. That’s why travel, mission work trips, pilgrimage trips, and cross-cultural experiences can be so beneficial, enlightening, and fun!
Part of what made our trip special was Tedi and Didi Oprenov driving from Sofia, Bulgaria to meet us in Philippi and spending 24 hours with our group. That night they shared with us about their ministry which we have been supporting for more than 15 years and in particular what they are doing to help Ukrainian mothers and their children who are fleeing the war. Our group was inspired by their faith, leadership, hospitality, and generosity – all qualities, that we see in Lydia’s life as well.
We went to the ancient ruins in Philippi during our trip to Greece in March. We also visited a chapel dedicated to Lydia and had a service by the riverside. Lydia of Thyatira was a Gentile and the first Christian convert in Europe, Acts 16:14 describes Lydia as a native of Thyatira the name of an ancient Greek city in Asia Minor, now the modern Turkish city of Akhisar (“white castle”). It lies in the far west of Turkey, south of Istanbul and almost due east of Athens. She was a trader of purple goods and a worshiper of God. She is among a group of praying women whom Paul and his companions encounter soon after arriving at Philippi (Acts 16:13). After receiving Paul’s message, Lydia is baptized along with her household (a group that could have included children, extended family, slaves, and business associates), and she insists that Paul and his fellow missionaries stay at her home (Acts 16:15).
Lydia is the first convert to Christianity in Europe. She is worth remembering for that and for what we can learn from her.
She was a successful businesswoman, a woman of prayer, she exercised leadership, practiced hospitality, shared generously, displayed courage, and made an impact.
She was a successful businesswoman, adealer of purple cloth. She was from Thyatira where a technique had been developed to procure the prestigious purple dye from the root of the madder plant, a much cheaper way of producing the dye than extracting it from shellfish, as was done elsewhere.
A woman of prayer – “The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.” Her heart was prepared, I suspect, by her being a worshiper of God and regular at prayer. We have a time of prayer now here in the sanctuary on Wednesday morning at 8:00 am if you’d like to gather with others and pray.
Exercised leadership – she was a servant leader who did what she could to help others and to enable them to grow.
Practiced Hospitality – Lydia hosted the New Testament All Stars in her home, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke. More than half of the New Testament is attributed to two of the people she had at her dinner table. She was generous in opening her home.
Displayed Courage – Acts 16.40, “After leaving the prison, they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.” (note – no longer “we” of Acts 16-.10-17, Luke appears to have departed). Acts 16:40 presents Lydia’s house as a gathering place for the Philippian church. After Paul and Silas are released from jail, they meet with the believers at Lydia’s house before they leave the city.
Made an Impact. Lydia’s stay in Philippi may not have been permanent; she is not mentioned in Paul’s Philippian correspondence. With mobility, people come and go, but you can make a significant contribution even in a short period of time. God’s timing was perfect so that she and Paul and his companions were in Philippi at the same time and the Gospel gained a foothold in Europe.
Question for Discussion or Reflection
- Who is a woman who has influenced your life and faith in a significant way? What did she do that was so special and influential?
- Paul and Lydia chose to travel as part of their life and work. What role can travel play in helping you learn and grow?
- Paul and his companions travel to Macedonia because of a vision Paul has during the night. Why do you think God sometimes works through visions and dreams?
- Has your faith or decision making been impacted by visions or dreams? If so, in what way? If not, are you open to the Spirit moving in that way in your life?
- Lydia embodies several admirable Christian traits, what are they? Which of them stands out the most to you? Which would you like to demonstrate more of in your own life?
- How can you follow Lydia’s example and have a positive impact on people and the Way of Christ? What steps or actions can you take that will help meet needs and spread the Good News?