Opening the Heart

Bradley Johnson • September 22, 2023

Ministry Is Not For The Faint of Heart

 It does not take long serving to Lord to realize the truth of this statement. It doesn’t matter whether we are serving the Lord as a Bible Study teacher, children’s ministry worker, a part of the greeter ministry, or serving as a deacon, ministry can be exhausting. It is hard work. It is hard work because ministry is heart work. Meaning, we are dealing with people, not programs. People are our ministry.

If we are called to make disciples, how do we do this without being frustrated, burned out, or exhausted. Acts 16:11-15 details Paul’s mission to Philippi. This is a city in which he will see fruit, frustration, persecution, and spiritual growth. Tucked away in this passage are several truths about ministry which will encourage, inspire, and instruct us as we seek to be faithful to Jesus’s words, “Go, make disciples of all nations…”

Dig Deeper and Consider These Questions

  • Why did Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke go to Philippi? Whose idea was it? Hint: read the previous passage.
  • Who opened Lydia’s heart to the Gospel?
  • Why did Lydia invite Paul and company to stay at her house?
  • Why is evangelism and discipleship difficult? 

  • Read Acts 16:11-15

    The Conversion of Lydia

    11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and 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 some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.


    Acts 16:11–15 (ESV)