The First Week of June

Printable Guide

We Read…

This story that we read in Acts 16 is an interesting one. First, Paul gets annoyed with a woman and casts a spirit out of her (hmm). Then, her owners get upset and throw Paul and Silas into jail (oof). Then, Paul and Silas have an incredible chance to escape prison but choose to stay put (huh). What a crazy turn of events! As I read this story, the idea of Jesus’s good news continues to jump out. And I wonder, especially in the context of the slave woman and those who oppressed her, what does the good news mean for them? How is it good in their lives?

The good news for the slave woman (being set free from both the spirit and slavery) probably doesn’t feel too good for the people who were using her to make money. We say that Jesus brings good news, but it’s important to see that this version of “good” isn’t defined by our world. Our world would say it’s good to get ahead, to make the most money, to be in power, but Jesus says something different. Jesus instructs us to love God and love one another. The God who created all things, whose power is seen in clouds and fire and lightning, tells us to take care of one another. We read in Revelation 22 that anyone who is in need can come to Jesus, just like the slave woman. And Jesus tells us in John 17 that his love for us should also be the love we have for one another. Good news doesn’t mean good for our selfish desires. Instead, it means goodness and new life for all people.

Acts 16:9-15

9 A vision of a man from Macedonia came to Paul during the night. He stood urging Paul, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 Immediately after he saw the vision, we prepared to leave for the province of Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. 

11 We sailed from Troas straight for Samothrace and came to Neapolis the following day. 12 From there we went to Philippi, a city of Macedonia’s first district and a Roman colony. We stayed in that city several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the riverbank, where we thought there might be a place for prayer. We sat down and began to talk with the women who had gathered. 14 One of those women was Lydia, a Gentile God-worshipper from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth. As she listened, the Lord enabled her to embrace Paul’s message. 15 Once she and her household were baptized, she urged, “Now that you have decided that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us. 

Acts 16:16-34

16 One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. 17 She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” 18 She did this for many days. 

This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment. 

19 Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. 20 When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews 21 who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod. 23 When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. 24 When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks. 

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!” 

29 The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?” 

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” 32 They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house. 33 Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God. 

Psalm 97

1 The Lord rules! Let the earth rejoice! 

Let all the islands celebrate! 

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround God. 

His throne is built 

on righteousness and justice. 

3 Fire proceeds before him, 

burning up his enemies on every side. 

4 His lightning lights up the world; 

the earth sees it and trembles! 

5 The mountains melt like wax 

before the Lord, 

before the Lord of the whole world! 

6 Heaven has proclaimed 

God’s righteousness, 

and all nations have seen his glory. 

7 All those who worship images, 

those who are proud of idols, 

are put to shame. 

All gods bow down to the Lord! 

8 Zion has heard and celebrates, 

the towns of Judah rejoice, 

because of your acts of justice, Lord, 

9 because you, Lord, are the Most High 

over all the earth, 

because you are so superior 

to all other gods. 

10 Those of you who love the Lord, 

hate evil! 

God guards the lives of his faithful ones, 

delivering them from 

the power of the wicked. 

11 Light is planted like seed 

for the righteous person; 

joy too for those whose heart is right. 

12 Rejoice in the Lord, righteous ones! 

Give thanks to his holy name! 

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

12 “Look! I’m coming soon. My reward is with me, to repay all people as their actions deserve. 13 I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 14 Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. 17 The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come! Let the one who wishes receive life-giving water as a gift.” 

20 The one who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I’m coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. 

John 17:20-26

20 “I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. 23 I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me. 

24 “Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am. Then they can see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 

25 “Righteous Father, even the world didn’t know you, but I’ve known you, and these believers know that you sent me. 26 I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.” 

We Think…

• What stands out to you in these verses?

• Does anything confuse you or not make sense?

• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?

• Why did the prisoners stay in jail instead of escaping?

• How do the images in Psalm 97 help you to better understand who God is?

• Why does Jesus want us to be unified through him

We Feel…

• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?

• Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?

• What has God made new in your life? In your heart? When have you heard Jesus calling you to him? When have you needed Jesus?

• What does it look like to love others like Jesus has loved us?

We Believe…

In John 17, Jesus prays for us to be united with Him and through Him. Through the Holy Spirit, we are united as God’s people and as the body of Christ. This invitation into a relationship is a beautiful part of our faith. We believe that God loves us so much that God came to live among us and gave of Godself to us and for us. We believe in a God who is close to us, both as individuals and as a community. God is not far away or distant, but actively working in our lives and uniting us together.

We Practice…

How can we practice the good news of Jesus in our own lives and relationships? What does the good news of Jesus mean for you today? Maybe this is freedom from expectations or knowing that God is with us, maybe it is the gift of forgiveness and second chances. What is one way that you can practice offering this good news to someone else? Perhaps this comes from intentional selflessness in your relationships this week, or from offering forgiveness to someone difficult to forgive. Talk to a mentor or friend about how you would like to practice this, and then let them keep you accountable as you do this.