Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15
Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Acts 16:16-31 CSB
Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us! ” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony and a leading city of the district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.
Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! ” And it came out right away.
19 When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here! ”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.”
Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Acts 16:16-31 CSB
Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us! ” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony and a leading city of the district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.
Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! ” And it came out right away.
19 When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here! ”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.”
GOING DEEPER
Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15 / Acts 16:16-34
Introduction
Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15 / Acts 16:16-34
- OUR SACRIFICE TO GOD IS OUR WITNESS
- PRAISE CHANGES OUR FOCUS
- PRAISE PROTECTS US WITH GOD’S PEACE
- PRAISE REMINDS US OF GOD’S PRESENCE
Introduction
- Hebrews 13:15 “Sacrifice of Praise…”
- Matthew 12:34 “Out of the abundance of the heart…”
- Luke 21:1-4 (The Widow’s offering)
- James 5:13 (Sad? Pray / Joyful? Sing praises)
- Acts 16:16-34 (Paul & Silas arrested & imprisoned)
- 2 Corinthians 11 (Beaten beyond measure)
- Job 1:21 "Blessed be the name of the Lord"
- Psalm 22 & Matthew 27:46 “Why have You forsaken Me?”
- Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing…”
- Psalm 22:3 “God inhabits the praises of His people…”
- Hebrews 13:5"I will never leave you nor forsake you."
CONSIDER
A sacrifice of praise is our worship offered to God when circumstances make worship difficult; and in that sacrifice God uses our praise as a witness to others, a means of peace for our hearts, and a reminder of His presence in our suffering.
1. When is praise easiest for you, and when is it most difficult?
2. What current circumstance in your life might require a "sacrifice of praise" rather than praise that comes naturally?
3. The widow gave God two small coins, and Paul and Silas offered God praise from a
prison cell. What "two small coins" of praise could you offer God this week, even if your
heart feels weary or discouraged?
4. What problem, fear, or burden has become magnified in your mind lately?
5. How might intentionally praising God help shift your focus back to His greatness and
faithfulness?
6. Can you think of a time when someone's trust in God during suffering strengthened your
own faith? How might your response to hardship become a testimony to those who are
watching your life?
7. Paul and Silas sang at midnight before God changed their circumstances. Are there areas
where you've been waiting for God to act before thanking Him?
A sacrifice of praise is our worship offered to God when circumstances make worship difficult; and in that sacrifice God uses our praise as a witness to others, a means of peace for our hearts, and a reminder of His presence in our suffering.
1. When is praise easiest for you, and when is it most difficult?
2. What current circumstance in your life might require a "sacrifice of praise" rather than praise that comes naturally?
3. The widow gave God two small coins, and Paul and Silas offered God praise from a
prison cell. What "two small coins" of praise could you offer God this week, even if your
heart feels weary or discouraged?
4. What problem, fear, or burden has become magnified in your mind lately?
5. How might intentionally praising God help shift your focus back to His greatness and
faithfulness?
6. Can you think of a time when someone's trust in God during suffering strengthened your
own faith? How might your response to hardship become a testimony to those who are
watching your life?
7. Paul and Silas sang at midnight before God changed their circumstances. Are there areas
where you've been waiting for God to act before thanking Him?
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