Knowing The Way More Fully Series

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”

TEXT: ACTS 18:24-19:7

TITLE: “KNOWING THE WAY MORE ADEQUATELY”

INTRODUCTION: A. When you visit a place you’ve never been before, you tend to follow the directions

very closely. The more you travel to that place, the more complete understanding you

have and the less you use the directions.

1. The same thing is true in living the Christian life

--When you first start out, you’re afraid of making a misstep so you step very

carefully

2. The longer you walk the road with Jesus, the more confident you become

3. However, there’s a danger in thinking you’ve got it all figured out when you really

don’t

--You can walk with pride and arrogance instead of courage and confidence

B. There are two kinds of knowledge talked about in the New Testament

1. The first kind of knowledge is represented by the Greek word ”to

know”

a. This word denotes factual knowledge

b. I know that Benjamin Franklin was born in 1703 and died in 1790. I know that

he was a statesman, an inventor, a businessman, and one of the founders of this

nation but I didn’t know Ben Franklin personally.

--I have factual knowledge but not personal knowledge

2. The second kind of knowledge is represented by the Greek word  - “to

know through”

a. This word denotes experiential knowledge – knowledge by experience (been

there, done that, got the T-shirt, sent home the postcards kind of knowledge)

b. I know by facts that my wife was born in Tomah, Wisconsin on Feb. 14th.

(I won’t tell you the year because I want to live a little longer). I know she lived

in Wisconsin, Texas, Maine, Missouri, and Kentucky. Her dad retired from the

Army at Ft. Knox and she graduated from North Hardin High School in

Radcliff, KY

1). But I also know a lot more about my wife than that because I know her

personally and intimately: I know what makes her happy. I know what

makes her sad. I know what gets her upset. I know the love, care, and

support that she’s given me throughout our years together.

.

2). I know my wife’s way of doing things a lot more intimately than I know

Ben Franklin’s way of doing things.

C. Acts 18:24-19:7 – Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to

Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had

been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught

about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak

boldly in the synagogue.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to

him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the

brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving,

he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the

Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. While

Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.

There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit

when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a

Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,”

they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the

people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they

were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them,

the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were

about twelve men in all.

1. Two distinct events

--one need

2. Something was missing

a. Both Apollos and the twelve men in Ephesus were lacking an important

ingredient

b. They knew God and they knew the teaching of John the Baptist

--But they still needed the completion of their faith

3. Aquila and Priscilla and the apostle Paul didn’t rebuke or condemn these men

--They led them to know the way of God more adequately

D. One of the most common designations of Christianity in the Book of Acts is “the

Way”

1. Acts 9:2 –Says that Saul persecuted “…any who belonged to the Way”

2. Acts 19: 9 & 23

a. vs. 9 – “there were some who “publicly maligned the Way”

b. vs. 23 – “…there arose a great disturbance about the Way”

3. Acts 24: 14 & 22 – Paul stands before the Roman governor, Felix

a. “…I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way…”