The Woman Who Funded a Church and Changed History.
Notes
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Handout
This morning, I am going to stir up some controversy. We will continue in Acts 16, but first, I want to set the stage with a couple of other passages.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 14
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
You can feel the tension in the room right now. lets keep going 1 Timothy 2:12
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
Thank you for listening to todays message. See you next week……JUST KIDDING.
Now, let’s be honest—when we read these verses, we might feel a little uncomfortable. Some might even wonder, “Is Paul really saying women should be seen and not heard?”
Let’s look closer at what Paul actually meant.
What Does “As in All the Churches” Mean? (1 Cor. 14:33-35)
At first glance, it sounds like Paul is making a universal rule for all churches in all times.
But let’s break it down:
The phrase “as in all the churches of the saints” may actually belong to verse 33, not verse 34.
There was no punctuation in the original Greek, some scholars believe it should read:
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Meaning: All churches should reflect God’s order and peace—not chaos.
Paul clearly allowed women to speak in church—because just a few chapters earlier, he encouraged them to pray and prophesy.
For context, chapters 11-14 in 1 Corinthians are all about how church gatherings should function—prayer, prophecy, communion, and spiritual gifts. Paul isn’t contradicting himself; he’s addressing different issues in different ways.
5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
Did you catch that?
Paul assumes that women were praying and prophesying in church!
So if Paul allowed women to speak publicly, then what is he talking about in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 when he says they should “keep silent”?
This is where context matters.
The Corinthian church was chaotic—people interrupting, shouting questions, speaking in tongues without interpretation.
Women, who were often uneducated, may have been asking disruptive questions in the middle of the service.
Paul’s concern was order in worship, not silencing women forever.
But What About Head Coverings?
Since Paul assumes women were speaking in church, why does he mention head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11?
The key is Corinthian culture.
Pagan Worship & Temple Prostitution:
Corinth was home to the Temple of Aphrodite, where temple prostitutes played a role in religious rituals.
Uncovered or shorn hair was a sign of these prostitutes, distinguishing them from respectable women.
Honor & Shame in Greek Society:
In Greek and Roman culture, a woman’s long hair symbolized modesty and dignity.
A woman convicted of adultery was sometimes shaved as public humiliation.
Paul’s point? Honor Christ in how you present yourself in worship—don’t bring confusion by looking like you belong to another religion.
Does this mean all women today need to wear head coverings? No—because this was about cultural modesty, not a universal command.
What About 1 Timothy 2:12 – “I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach”?
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
Again, at first glance, this sounds universal. But let’s consider a few things:
A. Paul’s Wording – “I Do Not Permit”
Paul doesn’t say, “God does not permit”.
The Greek verb “permit” (epitrepō) is present-tense, meaning a temporary restriction in a specific context.
B. The Context: False Teaching in Ephesus
Timothy was pastoring in Ephesus, a city where false teachings were spreading (see 1 Tim. 1:3-7).
The Temple of Artemis dominated the city—led by female priestesses, influencing some Christian women to spread false ideas.
Paul was likely stopping unqualified women from teaching, not banning all women forever.
C. Paul’s Own Actions Contradict a Blanket Ban
If Paul meant no woman could ever teach, then why did he:
Praise Priscilla for teaching Apollos (Acts 18:26)?
Call Phoebe a deacon (Romans 16:1-2)?
Call Junia an apostle (Romans 16:7)?
Clearly, women were involved in teaching and leadership.
What Paul Was Saying vs. What He Was Not Saying
Paul WAS saying:
Worship should be orderly, not chaotic (1 Cor. 14).
Unqualified teachers (whether men or women) should not lead (1 Tim. 2).
Cultural modesty mattered (head coverings were about social perception, not spirituality).
Paul was NOT saying:
Women must be silent forever (he allowed them to prophesy).
Women cannot teach at all (Priscilla taught Apollos).
Women must wear head coverings in every culture (this was a cultural issue).
Transition to Acts 16 – Paul’s True View of Women
If Paul’s goal was to silence women, why didn’t he silence Lydia? Instead, he shared the gospel with her, and she became the first Christian in Europe.
But what does he actually do?
He preaches the gospel to her.
She becomes the first Christian in Europe.
She opens her home to Paul, and the Philippian church is born in her house!
This isn’t a man trying to push women out—this is a man partnering with women to advance the gospel.
So let’s Pray and then turn to Acts 16 and see what Lydia’s story teaches us about God’s heart for women in the Church.
Pray
8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Paul’s entire journey to Philippi begins with a vision from God.
Let’s make a couple of key observations about this vision.
Paul immediately identified that the vision was from God. He was able to recognize it because he was in step with the Spirit and devoted to a life of prayer.
If you want to be more in step with the work of God, spend consistent and intentional time in His presence.
Paul and his team didn’t hesitate. They immediately left for Macedonia. Too often as believers we sit around and wait until the time is right, or until we have it all together, Real faith and trust doesn't wait, it moves.
Faith moves quickly—delayed obedience is disobedience.
The vision shows a man from Macedonia calling for help. But when Paul arrives in Macedonia, there is no mention of this man. Instead, Paul meets and ministers to a group of women. Paul sees a man in his vision, but when he arrives, it’s a group of women by the river. Was the vision wrong? No. God was guiding Paul to the right people—even if it wasn’t what Paul expected.
Perhaps Paul was expecting to meet the man in the vision, instead, God led him to a woman who would become the first Christian in Europe. Sometimes, we expect God to move in one way, but He surprises us. Lydia’s conversion reminds us that God’s plans are bigger than our expectations.
So why Lydia?
Luke gives us some details about her that are important, but if you don’t understand the historical and cultural context, you might miss their significance.
Let’s look at the text again.
14 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.
First, Luke tells us she is from Thyatira. This is an important detail because Thyatira was famous for its purple dye industry. That leads directly to the next key detail: she was a seller of purple goods.
Why does this matter? In that day, purple was the color of wealth and royalty. Producing purple dye was expensive, making it a luxury item only available to the upper class. This means Lydia was not just an ordinary merchant—she sold high-end goods to the wealthy and powerful, which tells us she was a woman of means and influence.
Lydia wasn’t struggling to get by; she was a successful businesswoman operating in a major trade city. She had status, financial stability, and connections with the elite. Yet, despite her success, God had something even greater for her.
Real quick, I want to address something. We all know about the false gospel of prosperity—the teaching that God wants everyone to be rich and that financial wealth is a sign of His blessing. But there’s another false gospel that’s just as dangerous—the poverty gospel—the idea that you must be poor and suffer financially to truly follow Christ.
Both are distortions of the truth. God has no problem with you having wealth. He has a problem when your wealth has you. The issue isn’t how much you have, but whether your heart belongs to Him or to your possessions.
Lydia was wealthy, but she was also open to God’s leading. She didn’t let her business or status keep her from responding to the gospel. Instead, she used her resources for the Kingdom.
Next, Luke tells us that Lydia was a worshiper of God.
Lydia “worshiped God,” but she didn’t yet know God.
Let me give you some modern-day examples of this.
There’s the cultural Christian—someone who identifies as a Christian because they grew up in a Christian family or country, but they’ve never truly surrendered their life to Christ.
There’s the churchgoer who follows traditions but lacks personal faith—they attend services, pray, and may even read the Bible, but they haven’t fully encountered Jesus in a transformative way.
There’s the person who believes in God but doesn’t understand the gospel—they think Christianity is about being a “good person” rather than about grace and a personal relationship with Jesus.
And then there’s someone seeking truth but missing Jesus—they believe in God, maybe even study different religions, but they haven’t recognized that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Lydia was already a worshiper of God, but she still needed to hear the gospel. The key part of Acts 16:14 is “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” This shows that belief in God alone wasn’t enough—she needed Jesus.
In the same way today, many people believe in God but haven’t truly encountered Him through Jesus Christ. The moment they do, their faith moves from knowledge about God to a deep, personal relationship with Him.
This is where everything begins to change. Lydia goes from being a spectator of God to a participant in the Kingdom of God.
She immediately responded by being baptized, and not just her—her entire household followed.
You want to see your household have a relationship with Jesus?
You need to go all in.
Don’t expect your family to change if you’re only watching from the sidelines. Lydia’s faith wasn’t passive—it was active. She didn’t just believe; she responded. When she surrendered to Jesus, those closest to her saw the change and followed.
If you want to see transformation in your family, in your home, in your workplace—it starts with you going all in for Jesus.
Lydia didn’t just respond; she immediately acted. She invited Paul and his companions into her home.
But this wasn’t just a one-time gesture. Lydia was a wealthy woman with a home that was likely large enough to accommodate others. Instead of keeping her faith private, she opened her home and allowed it to become the first church in Europe.
Her faith wasn’t just about receiving—it was about participating.
We are not called to be consumers of the church; we are called to be participants in the Kingdom of God.
Ask yourself this question:
Am I a participator or a consumer in the church?
Are you someone who just attends church, or are you someone who is actively using what God has given you to serve, to encourage, and to build His Kingdom?
Lydia didn’t wait. She didn’t sit back. She used what she had to advance the gospel. What are you doing with what God has given you?
At the beginning of this message, we looked at some of Paul’s words that seem to limit women’s roles in the church. But what do we actually see in Paul’s actions?
He didn’t silence Lydia.
He didn’t tell her to step aside and let a man lead.
Instead, he shared the gospel with her—and when she responded, he partnered with her in ministry.
Paul’s first recorded convert in Europe was a woman. And not just any woman—a businesswoman, a leader, a person of influence.
Not only did Paul recognize Lydia’s faith, but he accepted her invitation to stay in her home. And that home became the first church in Philippi—a church that would grow and become one of the strongest in the early Christian movement.
Lydia was not just a spectator—she was a leader in the early church.
Lydia’s story reminds us that God’s Kingdom is for everyone—men and women, rich and poor, insiders and outsiders.
If Paul believed women had no role in ministry, why would he allow the church in Philippi to start in Lydia’s home?
If God didn’t call women to lead and serve, why do we see so many examples—Lydia, Priscilla, Phoebe, Junia—of women stepping into these roles in the early church?
The truth is, women were not just present in the early church—they were essential to it.
God is still calling women today to lead, serve, teach, and proclaim the gospel. Lydia’s story proves that being a follower of Jesus isn’t about your gender—it’s about your obedience.
This isn’t just about Lydia’s story—this is about your story.
God didn’t just save Lydia—He used her to establish His church.
Lydia didn’t just receive the gospel—she participated in spreading it.
She didn’t sit back and wait for someone else to lead—she stepped up, she opened her home, and she played a role in the movement of the gospel.
The question is—will you?
Lydia’s faith was active. She didn’t just believe—she participated. She didn’t just hear the gospel—she used what she had to advance it.
And how did she do that?
She gave.
She opened her home, her resources, her influence, and ultimately, her life to the work of God.
Lydia’s first response to salvation was generosity.
She invited Paul and his team into her home—not just as guests, but to use her home as a base for the early church. Her home became the first church in Philippi.
She understood something that we often struggle with: everything we have belongs to God.
So here’s the challenge:
What are you doing with what God has given you?
Maybe for you, giving means being generous with your finances—supporting the mission of the church, helping those in need, investing in Kingdom work.
Maybe it means giving your time—volunteering, mentoring, discipling someone younger in the faith.
Maybe it means giving your home—creating a space where people can encounter Jesus, whether through hospitality or opening your doors for ministry.
Maybe it means giving your gifts—teaching, leading, or using your abilities to build up the body of Christ.
Lydia saw what she had as a tool for the Kingdom, not just something for herself. She gave freely because she knew that God had given freely to her.
Imagine what could happen if we took this same posture of generosity.
What if we saw our resources as Kingdom tools instead of personal possessions?
What if we looked at our homes as places of ministry instead of just personal comfort?
What if we gave generously—not just our money (which is important for a church), but our lives—to see the gospel move forward?
Lydia’s generosity helped establish the church in Philippi, which would become one of Paul’s strongest supporting churches. Her willingness to give didn’t just bless Paul—it helped build a church that would spread the gospel throughout Europe.
What could God do through your generosity?
“Lydia went all in. No hesitation. No holding back. She gave what she had for God’s mission.
Will you?
Will you give?
Will you move from spectator to participant?
Will you use what God has given you to build His Kingdom?
As we close in prayer, ask God to show you what He’s calling you to give—whether it’s your time, your finances, your home, or your talents. Then, commit to stepping into that generosity.
Let’s pray.
