Being the Church Outside the Church
Pastor Doug Heisel – September 20, 2026
Acts 1:8 – (Jesus said) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
How to be the church outside the church: Acts 16
1. Trust God’s GUIDANCE even when He CHANGES your plans.
(vv. 6-10) – Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
2. Trust God’s POWER to help you flourish even in DIFFICULT circumstances.
(vv. 22-24) – The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
(v. 25) – About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
3. Trust God to USE you to bring MORE people to new life in Jesus.
(vv. 26-28) – Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
(vv. 29-34) – The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
Life Group Discussion & Questions
BREAKING THE ICE: Rate your feelings of “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out), using a scale of 1-10: 1 being “little concern” and 10 being “I truly hate being left out”. Explain why you picked that number.
DIGGING IN: Read Acts chapter 16.
1. In Acts 16:6-10, you read about what is often referred to as “open or closed doors.” In this passage, there were two places Paul attempted to go, but was somehow restricted from moving in either of those directions (closed doors). Shortly after, he had a vision that involved a request to minister in Macedonia (an open door). Has there ever been a time when you wanted something to open up, but the door closed, only later to discover something else opened up? Share some details and any lessons you learned.
2. When it comes to following the leading of the Spirit, most of us want uncertainty to disappear. However, this story illustrates something God does all throughout Scripture — He wants us to trust taking steps of faith, in spite of a lack of clarity on all the details ahead. Our confidence is not in knowing the future, but knowing the God who does. Is trusting God with uncertainty an easy or hard step of faith for you? Explain.
3. Acts 16 culminates in the conversion and baptism of a jailer and his entire family. It happened because Paul and Silas lived out their faith in real life situations. How does that help or challenge you? Explain.
BRINGING IT HOME: This series is about God working in and through our lives as we love and represent His church. Continue to reflect on how both sides of that can become stronger in you.