This week, we continue our Listen to Women Preach series with a powerful look at the life of Lydia, a woman whose influence helped shape the early church. Her story, found in Acts 16:11–15, takes place during Paul and Silas’s second missionary journey, shortly after Timothy joins the team. As the gospel spreads and churches grow, God leads them to Philippi—where Lydia is waiting.
Lydia was no ordinary woman. A successful entrepreneur from Thyatira, she sold purple cloth—an elite and expensive product. She lived and worked in Philippi, a thriving Roman colony, and led her own household, likely as a single woman or widow. But most importantly, Lydia was a worshiper of God, and her heart was open.
When Paul preached by the river, Lydia listened. She responded with immediate faith, was baptized along with her household, and invited the missionaries into her home. Through her hospitality and bold obedience, Lydia became the first recorded convert in Europe, opening the door for the gospel to take root in a new continent.
In Lydia, we see faith in action: courage, generosity, leadership, and spiritual hunger. She used her gifts, her resources, and her home to serve the mission of God. Her life reminds us that every believer—regardless of gender—has a role to play in kingdom work.
Join us as we learn from Lydia how to step out when called, steward our resources, and make room for the gospel in our everyday lives.
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