Goodbye Philippi

Acts 16:35-40

With moments left in town, Paul made a B line for Lydia’s house and the church gathered there. In that living room, the baby converts assembled to hear one last message from the only pastor they had ever known. Paul took this opportunity to give these new disciples a crash course on the Christian life. Both gospel encouragements and ethical admonitions formed the backbone of Paul’s message in order that he might leave them impressed with the hope and comfort of the gospel as well as the ethical pattern of new life in Jesus Christ. This message teaches the point that the people of God in every age need to be kept in Christ through the ministry of the word and that grace is conferred through holy admonitions (Canons of Dordt 3-4:17)