Unpredictable Worship, Continued
Paul and Silas became the catalyst of unpredictability for a group of people whose lives were forever changed. In the predictability of the times, Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned for acting in Jesus’ name. In the unpredictability of the moment, from the bowels of the prison, hymns of praise and prayer wafted heavenward as these men counted themselves blessed to be persecuted for their Lord’s sake. And this unexpected worship captured the attention and perhaps the hearts of prisoners who may have found their true freedom that night. With the predictability of a person lost, a jailer is suicidal because he expects the escape of his unchained prisoners. With the unpredictability of a person saved, Paul and Silas remain the jail, demonstrating true freedom in Christ. And the jailer saw the uncommon and found the unexpected in the worship of two beleaguered men who loved their God more than their circumstances. And his life changed forever, unpredictably etched by the Spirit of Life.
The predictability of our times today dictate that Christians can expect no less persecution and trial than what Paul and Silas experienced in their day. Therefore, our worship should be carried beyond the walls of our church, away from the routine of Sunday, and into the everyday hard places of our lives where others can witness something unpredictable, something that perhaps doesn’t make any sense to them. For when they witness unexpected rejoicing from the “prisons” of our lives, their lives may be changed and they may join the household of the jailer.
Food for Thought
1. What do Deuteronomy 31:21, James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 4:12-16 tell you about why the Lord expects us to worship Him through the trials and hard places of our lives?
2. Applying what you have learned from these cross-references to Acts 16:16-34, how were these principles exemplified and what were the results?
3. How will you apply these principles to your worship life? What will be difference about your worship this week?
4. The next time you are faced with a trial, and you perservere through worship, notate how your ability to cope with the trial was different and the end results of the trial.
Copyright © 2000 by Kimberly Hannay ShoupAll rights reserved.
The predictability of our times today dictate that Christians can expect no less persecution and trial than what Paul and Silas experienced in their day. Therefore, our worship should be carried beyond the walls of our church, away from the routine of Sunday, and into the everyday hard places of our lives where others can witness something unpredictable, something that perhaps doesn’t make any sense to them. For when they witness unexpected rejoicing from the “prisons” of our lives, their lives may be changed and they may join the household of the jailer.
Food for Thought
1. What do Deuteronomy 31:21, James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 4:12-16 tell you about why the Lord expects us to worship Him through the trials and hard places of our lives?
2. Applying what you have learned from these cross-references to Acts 16:16-34, how were these principles exemplified and what were the results?
3. How will you apply these principles to your worship life? What will be difference about your worship this week?
4. The next time you are faced with a trial, and you perservere through worship, notate how your ability to cope with the trial was different and the end results of the trial.
Copyright © 2000 by Kimberly Hannay ShoupAll rights reserved.
posted by Tammy at 12:50 PM
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