A New Kind of Community
The gospel brings people from different backgrounds and unites them as one family in Christ
“So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 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. 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. 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” (Acts 16:11-14).
The story of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16 doesn’t just highlight the personal transformation that the gospel brings—it also shows us how the gospel unites people who, by all human standards, should remain divided. Philippi, where Paul first met Lydia, was a diverse city. It was a Roman colony, meaning its citizens enjoyed privileges similar to those in Rome itself, but it was also a melting pot of different ethnic backgrounds. People from all walks of life called Philippi home, from wealthy business owners like Lydia to poor slaves and blue-collar workers.
When Paul and his missionary team arrived in Philippi, they didn’t find a synagogue, which means there were not even ten Jewish men to form one. Instead, they found a group of women praying by the river. God chose this humble setting—a simple prayer meeting attended by women—as the starting point for His work in Europe. Paul and his companions sat down and shared the gospel with them, and it was there that God opened Lydia’s heart.
This moment is a beautiful illustration of how the gospel transcends social, economic, and cultural barriers. Lydia, a wealthy woman from Asia, became one of the first converts in Europe. Later in Acts 16, we read about the conversion of a poor slave girl and a Roman jailer. These three people—so different in background, status, and experience—became part of the same church. The gospel united them in a way that nothing else could.
This is the power of the gospel. It doesn’t just change individuals; it creates a new community, even more, a new kind of community. In Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. The gospel brings people from different backgrounds and unites them as one family in Christ. It breaks down the walls that divide us and makes us one.
As we reflect on this, we should ask ourselves: are we building our unity on the gospel or other things? It’s easy to seek unity in common interests, social status, or backgrounds, but the true foundation of Christian unity is our common hope in Jesus Christ. The gospel comes to unite us, so let’s keep building our communities on the firm foundation of Christ!
CELEBRATING SUNDAY…
Sunday Worship: This past Sunday, Pastor Barnabas Piper continued our series in James! Check it out here.
TONIGHT AT IMMANUEL - RAY ORTLUND!
Join us tonight at 6:30 pm as Dr. Ray Ortlund continues our series, “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: For Today You Live.”
ON THE HORIZON
Marriage Foundations Seminar - If you are preparing for marriage or are young in your marriage, join us on Saturday, November 9, from 9 AM - 1 PM in the cafe for a marriage foundations seminar. Lunch will be provided. RSVP here.