God's Detours

Encounter: meditate and reflect on Acts chapters 15 & 16, then go back and read through 16:6-10 a few times underlining or journaling any words that seem to stand out to you.

Have you ever been traveling through an unfamiliar area and suddenly hit a detour? What you expected to be a simple trip from point A to point B quickly turns into a confusing journey that feels like you’ve scrambled the whole alphabet.

When we read the Book of Acts, we often imagine bold apostles preaching and traveling across the world. But if we look closer, we see something even greater at work—it’s not just the Acts of the Apostles; it’s the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 15 and 16, the early church faced major decisions and unexpected detours. But at every turn, they depended on the Holy Spirit through worship, fasting, and prayer.

When disagreement arose over how Gentiles could follow Jesus, the believers didn’t argue their way through it—they prayed their way through it. Their conclusion in Acts 15:28 says it all:

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”

Later, Paul and Silas planned to go to Asia, but the Spirit said no. They tried Bithynia—again, no. Only after listening and waiting did God give Paul a vision calling him to Macedonia. That “yes” led to Lydia’s conversion by the river and an entire family—the Philippian jailer’s household—coming to faith.

What do these stories show us? That when God’s people depend on the Spirit, whole families and communities are transformed.

The Spirit still leads today. Through worship, fasting, and prayer, we become sensitive to His direction. Sometimes that means God will close one door to open another. But every time we wait and listen, His plan unfolds more beautifully than ours ever could.

This month we witness to those who are devoting their lives to God's plans for their lives, Men, Women and children and we celebrate new members and many of our young people being baptized. The Book of Acts never truly ends—it continues through Spirit-led people who say yes to God’s call.

Spirit-led with you,

Pastor T

Reflection Questions:

• Where might the Spirit be redirecting you today?

• How could your home become a place where the Holy Spirit is welcomed and obeyed?

• What would change if every decision began with: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”?

Spiritual Practice:

Is there an important decision you need to make in the next few weeks. Ask at least 2 trusted spiritually mature friends, family members or church leader to listen to the options before you, pray together, commit to fasting one day or however you are led as you sense God's guidance coming in the forms of circumstances, a Word from scripture, common sense, a vision or dream, or through nature. Journal what seems to be unified between you.

Small Group Discussion Questions:

When have you felt the Holy Spirit leading you to do something—even something unexpected?

1. The Spirit in Decision-Making (Acts 15:28)

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…

• Why do you think the early church prayed and listened before deciding big things?

• How can we make space to listen for the Holy Spirit in our church or homes today?

• What might “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” look like in our decisions?

2. The Spirit Redirects and Surprises (Acts 16:6–10)

• How did the Holy Spirit guide Paul and Silas in their missionary journey?

• Have you ever had a “closed door” experience where God said “no” or “not yet”?

• What can help us trust God’s redirection instead of being frustrated by it?

  
  

3. The Spirit Saves Whole Households (Acts 16:14–34)

• How did Lydia and the Philippian jailer respond to the message of Jesus?

• What role did prayer, worship, and obedience play in their stories?

• What could it look like for your household to be filled with the Spirit and faith?

  
  

4. Application & Prayer

• Where do you sense the Spirit leading you or your group next?

• Pray together, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your homes and ministries.