RLC Home Group Handout | October 25th, 2026
Jesus Stories; “Good News for All" | Acts 16
Recap
In Acts 16, we see the gospel reaching people whose circumstances and positions in society are vastly different. Through Lydia, we discover that our success and religious devotion cannot replace our need for grace. As the Lord opens her heart, we see her open her home and use her resources to serve others. Through the enslaved girl’s deliverance, we encounter Jesus’ power to do what we cannot do for ourselves, and we are challenged to consider whether we value another person’s freedom more than our own comfort or gain. Through Paul and Silas’s suffering and the jailer’s conversion, we see how faith in Jesus sustains us through hardship and transforms the way we use our power. Together, these encounters remind us that none of us can purchase, earn, or outgrow our need for salvation. Our common Savior brings us into a new family, where our differences become opportunities to display his grace through generosity, compassion, and love.
References
Acts 16:13–15 — God opens Lydia’s heart, and her response includes baptism and generous hospitality.
Matthew 6:19–21 — What we treasure shapes our hearts and the way we use our resources.
Acts 16:16–24 — Jesus’ power delivers an exploited girl, exposing owners who value profit above her well-being.
Acts 16:25–34 — Worship, mercy, and the message of salvation accompany the jailer’s transformation from guarding prisoners to caring for them.
Philippians 3:20 — Our shared citizenship in heaven gives us an identity that reaches beyond social standing and earthly loyalties..
“The Gospel is Good News for all - for the Privileged, Powerless, and Powerful."
Discussion Questions
Head
Is there anything that stood out or spoke to you in this week’s sermon?
How does Acts 16 show that having resources, lacking freedom, and holding authority all leave people needing Jesus?
The girl’s deliverance leads to suffering for Paul and Silas. How does this challenge the idea that doing God’s will always makes life easier?
Heart
Which person’s circumstances do you most identify with: Lydia’s security, the girl’s powerlessness, or the jailer’s authority? Where do you recognize your need for grace?
Lydia’s open heart leads to an open home. What makes it difficult for you to share your time, space, or resources?
What type of person would you be unlikely to share life with apart from Jesus? How has belonging to his family challenged your preferences?
When you suffer, what do you find yourself saying about God? What helps you bring both your pain and your trust to him?
Hands
Like Lydia, what resource could you make available this week, a meal, a room, a skill, money, or time, to serve someone?
What practical step could you take to support someone who is vulnerable or being exploited? Consider what help would serve their needs and dignity.
Where has God given you authority or influence? What specific act of care could turn that influence into service this week?