Missio Dei | Week 7 | Acts скачать в хорошем качестве

Missio Dei | Week 7 | Acts

Missio Dei | Week 7 | Acts 16:16-24 | “Prison Ministry, Pt. 1” As we talked about last week, the gospel is international; it transcends borders, reaching all who’ll answer God's call to salvation. This means we can go anywhere with the good news, from distant lands to our own neighborhoods, from the friend group to the family table, and from the freedom of the public square to the confinement of a prison cell. In today’s passage, Paul and Silas will be wrongfully imprisoned. As such, they follow in the footsteps of the other apostles who were likewise incarcerated for the faith (cf. Ac 4:1-3; 5:17-18; 12:1-19). Interestingly, things aren’t so different today. According to a recent report, “4,712 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned, with more than 1,600 of these incidents occurring in India.”[1] Looking through Church history, one could argue that a key tradition of Christianity is the practice of jail time! But as we'll see, it is in dark places like jail cells where the light of the gospel often shines the brightest. Paul and Silas don't see their imprisonment as a hindrance to the kingdom of God but as an opportunity. The mission field isn’t only to be found in foreign lands, nor is it confined to our own back yards; it is also found inside correctional facilities. Faith-based prison outreach programs have a proven track record of reducing recidivism, that is, people returning to prison. For example, inmates in Minnesota who went through Prison Fellowship’s program had a recidivism rate of 0.8 percent, compared to the state average of 40 percent, saving taxpayers $3 million.[2] On the last day, what will distinguish unbelievers from believers is their care not only for the poor but also for the imprisoned (cf. Mt 25:35-36). As Christians, we must see gospel opportunities in the bleakest places. [1] Chandler, Diana, “World Watch List 2026: Christian persecution at all-time high in 15 nations,” January 14, 2026, Baptist Press, [accessed January 17, 2026]. [2] https://www.prisonfellowship.org/abou... Sermon Manuscript: https://bit.ly/3LR3zti _______________________ Grace Pointe Baptist Church 12029 Eastern Ave. Baltimore, MD 21220 Contact: info@GracePointeLife.com Website: https://www.gracepointelife.com Give here: https://www.gracepointelife.com/give/