In the Footsteps of Paul: Seeking Purpose in Philippi

During my 3-month Sabbatical this year, my husband Dan and I went to Greece to walk in the Footsteps of Paul. My first 4 Sermons upon my return, attempted to integrate personal challenges of today with this experience, rooted in Paul's mission to grow the early church. I showed a series of slides with each of the 4 sermons, and will share several with each posting.

In the Footsteps of Paul: Seeking Purpose in Philippi; Acts 16:6-12; Philippians 1:3-11

Today we are following in Paul's footsteps in Ancient Philippi as we seek purpose in our own lives. The question of purpose came up for me while visiting this first stop of the Pauline-related ruins that we saw.

Our Acts passage says Paul landed in “Samothrace” which is an island. Then he came to the mainland– the first place Paul landed in Europe–(then called "Macedonia" now northern Greece). Paul landed in Neopolis, now the city of Kavala. St. Nicholas Church is very close to the bay where he landed and there is a mural outside of both of Paul’s dream of the “man of Macedonia” in our reading for today, and also of Paul’s landing.

We had a personal, paid tour guide through the ruins at Philippi which made a huge difference for understanding what we were looking at. After viewing the theater, archway and other parts of the city, we came to the site that could have been where Paul and Silas were imprisoned. If not this exact place, it was something similar nearby. There was a sign on a gate that said, “Prison of St. Paul,” with a carved cave behind it. There would have been a structure would have been built up around it.

I stood here a good while wondering: If Paul didn’t do what he did, I wouldn’t be who I am. If Paul hadn’t become who Jesus chose him to be, where would I be? Who would I be? What would my purpose be?

My whole identity, sense of self, my purpose is shaped by the reality that Paul became who he was, and fulfilled his purpose, even in the face of suffering.

And for me, I don’t just mean being a pastor–I mean being a person of faith, having a relationship with Jesus, experiencing the love of God. All of this is completely central to my life, my being—whether I am serving in a pastoral role, or on sabbatical, or no matter what I’m doing.

We all need and want this spiritual purpose, this deeper meaning to our life, regardless of the activities, jobs or roles we give our time to, in whatever our stage in life. In our 20’s and 30’s, that might mean seeking a good career or relationship. In middle age, it might be wondering if what we have done is significant enough. In retirement, it might be asking, “What do I still have to give?” The details change, but the longing for spiritual meaning and larger purpose remain the same.

As we moved through ancient Philippi, we could see the significance of Paul’s purpose, and indeed, of our purpose, in sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

Paul was on the move.

He walked on the Via Egnatia–

The Roman Road that took him across the empire and took him to Philippi, Thessalonica and beyond.

We were literally in the footsteps of Paul–he actually walked on this road–these very stones!

The stones have not been replaced by newer ones like in most other places.

• Imagine stepping into the heart of ancient Philippi — the Roman Forum.
• Sunlight glints off marble. 
• To one side, a library once held shelves of scrolls
• merchants sold goods under shaded colonnades.
• You hear the sound of halls where business deals were struck and court cases argued
• You pass the stone platform — the bema — where officials addressed the crowds
• Statues of gods and emperors once stood proudly here, there's a partial figure of Fortuna, watching over the bustle.

In the stalls were shops the shops, where Paul spoke to shop keepers
Paul was tent-maker –it was not something for camping, but awnings to cover over shopping stalls. The Forum was the center of power, commerce, conversation, and religious debate. Here Paul fulfilled his purpose by building meaningful relationships so he could share Jesus’ love.

In the 4th-5th century, two basilicas were built on either side of the Forum: Basilica A–on the side of the Forum where Paul was imprisoned; Basilica B- on the side of the Forum where he was arrested for casting out the demon from the girl who was being used for divination.

Philippi not excavated until the 1860’s - a French archeologist decided to figure out what these pillars were that stuck out of the ground! Everything else was found 8’ underground.  A massive earthquake in the early 600s shattered much of Philippi. Along with invasions and changes in trading patterns, it became too hard to rebuild.

For history buffs, a couple of miles to the northwest lies the battlefield where Mark Antony & Octavian defeated Brutus & Cassius in 42 BCE. Mark Antony & Octavian traveled the Via Egnatia to get to them. Octavian became Ceasar Augustus.

One encounter in Philippi that changed the story of the gospel in Europe forever — happened when Paul met a woman named Lydia.
In our Acts reading, Paul receives a vision from a “man of Macedonia”, which leads him, not to a man, but to a woman!

There was no synagogue in Philippi, so on the Sabbath, Paul walked to the riverbank along the Zygas River, just northwest of the city wall, knowing there he would find Jewish worshippers.

Lydia wasn’t from Philippi — she was a businesswoman from Thyatira, known for trading in luxurious purple cloth. She was successful, respected, and spiritually curious.

When Paul spoke about Jesus, something in her heart came alive. Scripture says, “The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly.”

Lydia became the first person baptized in Europe! She shared the good news of Jesus with her whole household, and they all became Baptized!

Lydia’s faith and hospitality became the doorway for the gospel to take root in Europe.

Here is the worship for baptism in the river now, including, seating, and an icon of Lydia in the white structure.

Looking at icon, I was wondering the importance for Lydia to be chosen for such a significant purpose–to be the first convert on European soil.

Soon, I realized I began to see my own reflection superimposed over Lydia’s. You can see the white of my rain jacket on the right side of the icon.

As this realization came over me. I heard the words,

• “You are chosen.”
• And then, “Everyone is chosen.”
• And then, “Everyone is chosen right where they are for a divine purpose.”

I walked further up the river because I wanted to see more of what it looked like when Lydia and Paul were here.

I asked God what I needed to know to help grow St. Luke’s today. And I heard,

“Remember you are chosen, tell them each one is chosen.”
I asked, what to focus on. The answer was, “Love.” Not sentimentality, or "anything goes" love, but Agape Love.
Love that offers true grace, deep forgiveness with accountability,
Real community.
Love that hangs in for hard conversations, and works for trust worthy of the kingdom of God.
Union with Christ-love, who is in all and loves all.
Focus on LOVE.

I recalled later that love is very much a part of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, starting with the first chapter, which we just read:

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Lydia immediately moved to share the good news of Jesus with her whole household–family, servants, workers in her business, slaves–everyone–a harvest of righteousness born of LOVE! Being chosen, and being people who share Jesus’ LOVE means it’s not something we keep to ourselves.

Philippi became a beloved, growing and joyful community because their founding member –Lydia–understood from the beginning that being chosen meant sharing Jesus’ love right where she was, right where God had already placed her.

Through Paul's ministry, Lydia's purpose expanded into an inclusive, joy-filled community rooted in Jesus' saving love!

There is a Baptistry or church of St. Lydia built by the river.

Paul says in his letter to the Philippians:

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.

Every inch inside the Baptistry is covered in painted scenes of Paul and Lydia all over the ceilings and walls.

So, let’s bring this closer to home. You’ve been placed by God in your family or chosen family, your friends, your neighborhood, your workplace or daily activities, and this church on purpose.

Who will miss the encouragement they need, or experience the kindness they’re desperate for, or learn about the hope of Jesus… if you do not live out your purpose right where you are today?

You are not an accident of geography or circumstance — you are chosen to be here, now, for reasons God already knows, and has a purpose behind.

• What love does Jesus call you to share?
• What hope, what encouragement, does God ask you to speak?
• What friendship, what prayer does Jesus need you to offer to someone right where you are?

Make no mistake, the God who created you and the Jesus who loves you enough to die on the cross, has a purpose for you where you are right now, just like Paul in Philippi, just like Lydia on the riverbank, in her household, and as a leader in the Philippian church–just like me standing at St. Luke's telling you what message I received that day.

There is a role only you can fill — right here, right now. Lydia’s story tells us:

God chooses people at just the right time and place for just the right reason.

Imagine what happens when our entire church family sees themselves this way. What if each of us woke up tomorrow knowing that we are chosen —
chosen to serve, chosen to speak life, chosen to carry Jesus’ love and presence into the ordinary places we go? That’s how purpose gets lived out. That’s how love spreads. That’s how communities are transformed.

Philippi had its Forum, — Lydia had her household—we have our own circles of influence.

Just like Paul and Lydia, God calls us to be faithful right where we are, trusting God to multiply what’s been planted in us for spreading more LOVE and JOY n this world, which is desperate for good news.

You do have a purpose, no matter your age or stage or what your day entails.

Share the grace and light of Jesus Christ who has claimed you as his own and loves you completely.

You are chosen, you are placed, and you are here on purpose —So go and live it, right here, right now, right where God has planted you.