September 6, 2026

Acts 16:16-40

What Is God Up To? Part 2

Sunday Sermons

In Acts 16:16-40, the gospel has reached the European continent for the first time, and it takes root in a Roman colony called Philippi. When the name of Jesus sets a slave girl free from an evil spirit, her owners lose their income, a mob forms, and Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown into prison. At midnight they are praying and singing hymns when an earthquake shakes the foundations and opens every door. The earthquake made it clear that there is a higher authority than Rome.

Luke draws our attention to three unlikely conversions in Philippi: a businesswoman, an enslaved girl, and a Roman jailer. A woman, a slave, and a gentile. Lydia was an honest seeker whose heart the Lord opened at a riverside prayer service. The slave girl was bound twice over and met by a power greater than the one that held her. The jailer wasn’t seeking anything at all that day, and before the night was over he was asking what he must do to be saved. The earthquake in Philippi did not come to break Paul and Silas out of jail. It came to set a jailer free in Christ. God is on the move toward us, not the other way round, meeting us right where we are.

Speaker

Tommy Bailey

Series

Acts of the Apostles

Go to Series

Scripture

Acts 16:16-40

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Worldview & Culture

Sermon Notes

Acts 16:16-40

What Is God Up To? – Part 2

Pastor Tommy Bailey

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6

1. The Multifaceted Guidance of God
2. The Surprising Provision of God
3. The Saving Power of God

The Saving Power of God
  • Lydia (vv. 13-15)
  • Unnamed slave girl (vv. 16-19)

God is on the move toward us, not the other way round. In the very midst of our confusion and incapacity, we are met by the oncoming Lord.
Fleming Rutledge, Advent

The Saving Power of God
  • Lydia (vv. 13-15)
  • Unnamed slave girl (vv. 16-19)
  • Unnamed jailer (vv. 23-36)

At the cross, the most powerful man who ever lived submitted to the most brutal death ever died, to save the powerless. Christianity does not glorify violence. It humiliates it.
Rebecca McLaughlin, Confronting Christianity

“Father, make the truth of the Gospel intellectually intriguing and compelling to us. Make the goodness of the Gospel experientially more satisfying than anything else in the cosmos. Make the beauty of the Gospel—Jesus, himself—riveting, overwhelming, and whole-heart consuming.”
Scotty Smith

“Boasting in the cross is what we will do for eternity…humbled, liberated, rejoicing—gasping at God’s kindness and mercy. It is the need of our day: men and women for whom Christ in his crucified glory eclipses all other dreams, hopes, and purposes; men and women who find Christ more satisfying than everything.”
Michael Reeves, Authentic Ministry

Discussion Questions

  • Read the passage together: Before today’s sermon, what did you already know or believe about this passage? Did anything in your understanding shift after hearing the message?
  • Challenge and Reflection: Was there a part of today’s message that was particularly challenging or surprising for you? Why?
  • Unpacking the Message: Pick a quote from today’s sermon notes. Discuss what it means to you.
  • Personal Impact: What’s one specific way you feel called to change or grow after hearing this message?
  • Practical Application: What’s one step you can take this week to put today’s message into practice?
  • Connecting Scripture: Are there other Bible passages or stories this message reminds you of? How do they expand or confirm this teaching?
  • Gratitude: What aspect of God’s character stood out to you in today’s message? How does it inspire praise or gratitude?
  • Pray the Scripture: After hearing the message, is there a specific area where you feel led to pray? How can we pray for one another in light of today’s teaching?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“All Creatures of our God and King“ by St. Francis of Assisi, translation by William H. Draper
“And Can It Be“ by Charles Wesley
“There Is A Fountain” by William Cowper and Lowell Mason
“Come Unto Jesus“ by Jordan Kauflin, Keith & Kristyn Getty, and Laura Story
“Hallelujah, What A Savior” by Philip Paul Bliss
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used with permission. CCLI License no. 2003690

Looking for our Hymns of the Week or resources to worship anytime? We’ve curated a playlist of hymns TVC Worship has led on our YouTube Channel!

Call To Worship

At The Cross

Most merciful God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus. We remember this day His redeeming death, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. Thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, to Whom we belong, in life and in death. He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Most holy God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, Who became sin for us and suffered the punishment due to us, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.

Confession of Faith

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart.
In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Classic Prayer

Anselm of Canterbury

O Lord my God—
teach my heart this day where and how to find You.
You have made me and remade me,
and You have bestowed on me
all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know You.
Teach me to seek You,
for I cannot seek You unless You teach me,
nor find You unless You show Yourself to me.
Dearest Father, let me find You by loving You,
and then ever love You when I find You.
For Your name’s sake. Amen.

TVC Prayer Ministry

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Praying for the Persecuted Church: United Arab Emirates

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