Sermon – Hero Makers, Pathway to Greatness
Key Scriptures - Acts 18:1-4 (Paul Meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth)
“Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike.”
Acts 18:24-28 (Apollos Instructed at Ephesus)
“Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.”
Introduction – Supportive and mentoring believers are hero makers! I have entitled this message, “Hero Makers, Pathway to Greatness. Aspiring to be great without a strong commitment to a life of service is a complete waste of time, but with a genuine heart of service, there is no telling how far you will go in life. This lesson is about some of the great heroes of faith and how they got there! The pathway to greatness is not straight or smooth. It is filled with ups and downs, successes and failures, joy, and disappointments. We all have those periods of our lives where we feel like everything is falling apart. It isn't just that the world is falling apart around us, it is also the feeling that no matter what we do, nothing is getting better. I bring this up because Paul has one of those moments in Chapter 18. You can sense his frustrations and feelings of failing and wanting to quit. What does a Christian do during the real difficult times in life? One great lesson revealed in Acts Chapter 18 is how God renews and refreshes Paul. God used some supportive mentoring believers, to get Paul back on his feet. This is one of the great secrets to Christianity. The fact is that Christianity was never intended to be a solo act. Whenever you find a "spiritually weird" Christian who has a strange doctrine. You will usually find they spend too much time alone and not enough time with other Christians. This is why the Bible stresses gathering with other believers. (2 Thes. 2:1).
Acts Chapter 18 introduces the readers to several new characters. You will notice the importance of teamwork in the kingdom. When Paul gets down in the dumps, God uses his friends to encourage him, pick him up and gives him the strength to move on. We are introduced to a husband-and-wife team named Aquila and Priscilla. One of the great promises of the Bible is that God will provide for all of our needs according to His riches in Glory (Philippians 4:19). Yet many times those needs are supplied through supportive mentors and friends here on earth. During a time when Paul's companions were not with him, God brings new friends into Paul's life for support and companionship. That is a wonderful way God works.
Paul is in the middle of his second missionary journey. He and Silas left Syrian Antioch and traveled by foot north and west through central modern-day Turkey. In Lystra, they met Timothy; Paul saw Timothy had the potential to be a leader in the church and brought him along. Priscilla and Aquila became friends of Paul, co-laborers with Paul and later became mentors to Apollos. They are shining examples of teamwork and demonstrate the daring and beautiful possibilities of men and women working together for the flourishing of the kingdom.
History and fiction are replete with stories of dynamic duos. Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Romeo and Juliet. Sonny and Cher. Ike and Tina. These powerful pairs united their individual gifts and abilities to accomplish incredible things. The Bible also records important husband-and-wife combinations. Abraham and Sarah. Moses and Zipporah. Ruth and Boaz. But no marriage was quite like that of Priscilla and Aquila. And consequently, no ministry was quite like theirs. Crazy as it sounds, Scripture suggests that without Priscilla and Aquila, the church might not have turned out the way that it did.
Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers native to Rome. After the persecution of the Jewish people under the Emperor Claudius, they made their way to Greece, where they encountered the Apostle Paul and tutored the dynamic evangelist Apollos. Their impact on these Christian leaders – and the bravery they demonstrated within the early church—became legendary, and Priscilla and Aquila are referenced in four different New Testament books. Priscilla and Aquila never pastored a mega church, did not have a healing ministry, did not have a prophetic call, yet working together they made a powerful impact for the good of the church and the cause of the kingdom. In the seven references to this couple, the wife is mentioned before the husband five times. This is somewhat uncharacteristic of the naming conventions in the Bible and suggests that Priscilla played a leading role in their ministry work. Priscilla and her husband first appear in Acts 18. They have come to the Greek city of Corinth as refugees from Rome, fleeing the persecution of the Emperor Claudius. But this anti-Semitic terror did not crush their spirit, and the couple resourcefully set up a tentmaking shop in Greece. It was there that they first encountered the Apostle Paul. Paul would later note that he came to Corinth “in weakness, fear, and trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). But Priscilla and Aquila welcomed him into their workplace, providing him with meaningful employment that facilitated his missionary activities.
After “some time” in Corinth, Paul determined to return to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila, committed to the early Christian ministry, accompanied Paul across the Aegean Sea to Ephesus, where their ministry continued. Acts 18:24 notes that it was in Ephesus that they met the Egyptian evangelist named Apollos. While Apollos was “a learned man” who spoke “accurately” and “with great fervor,” his knowledge of the way of God was incomplete (18:24). Recognizing the opportunity to invest in this young leader, Priscilla and Aquila invited him into their home and provided deeper instruction.
What would the Church have become without the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila? In his catalog of greetings to the Roman church (Romans 16:3), Paul sends his regards to Priscilla and Aquila. Paul notes that Priscilla and Aquila “risked their necks for me”. One translation says, “For my life’s sake Priscilla and Aquila submitted their own throats to the knife.” We don’t know what this great act of bravery was, but it was sufficient to have impacted Paul long after the fact. Did they smuggle him out? Did they publicly defend him? Did they borrow a great deal of money to facilitate his work? The details are unclear, but the importance was not.
Priscilla and Aquila make two more appearances in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 16:19, where they are with Paul, and again in 2 Timothy 4:19, where the author’s last testament is not complete without a final word of loving correspondence with the couple, who have evidently returned to Ephesus. What can we learn from the story of Priscilla and Aquila? On the surface, it demonstrates the added value of men and women partnering over the long term for the cause of Christ. Teamwork makes the dream work. Priscilla and Aquila lived as strangers and foreigners in this world, they were Kingdom builders. This world was not their home. Kingdom Builders are faithful believers who use their talent, gifts, and resources to promote God’s agenda, encourage other Kingdom Workers, meet the physical and spiritual needs of others to advance the gospel. They see opportunities, discover gifts in others, and overcome obstacles. They are hero makers! What can we learn from this lesson?
1. Kingdom Builders Must Travel Light. Luke 22:35-37 “Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied. “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’[a] Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
Jesus told the disciples that the nature of there assignment who require them to travel light, be attached only to those you need for the success of your task. Many opportunities are lost because believers become attached to too much baggage, too much property, too many titles and too many positions.
First, it is clear from their wide travels that Priscilla and Aquila traveled light. They were not attached to Rome although they had a successful business and lived in Rome. Their citizenship was in heaven and their allegiance was to Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:20). They were at home in Rome, then Corinth, then on to Ephesus, and to anywhere, at any time their mission called them. Traveling light made their relocation easier, reduced their cost and saved them time. Additionally, traveling light meant they had less to carry and manage, reducing the risk of lost and more open to the call of God. In our increasingly transient society—and in an era with ongoing cultural change—it remains essential to keep our spiritual bearings. We are members of Christ and citizens of his kingdom first. They lived unattached to this present world. How attached are you to this world.
2. Kingdom Builders Practice Radical Hospitality. Matthew 25:35-40 “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’’
I know this text refers to the day when faithful servants of God will receive their rewards, but I want you to see Jesus encouraging us towards radical hospitality. Since believers live in an hostile environment and changing conditions, we must all be ready to offer radical hospitality. Priscilla and Aquila practice radical hospitality. They understood the importance of true Christian hospitality. Radical hospitality is hospitality that goes beyond being friendly; it is welcoming guests with a warmth, openness, and authenticity that significantly exceeds expectations. When Paul arrived in their community, they gathered in a worn-out traveler. They provided shelter, company, and income for him, advancing his missionary call. In Ephesus, they followed the same pattern with Apollos, perhaps sharing what they had learned from Paul to strengthen the witness of this remarkable young preacher. Their table and living room became sources of encouragement and instruction for those who would teach the church at large. To what extent do we see our hospitality as a means of kingdom growth?
3. Kingdom Builders are Obedient Risk Takers. Matthew 10:16 “See, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves.”
Jesus knew ministry in the present world was risky business. They must operate like sheep among wolves. They would need tough skin, tender hearts, and a tame tongue as a dove. They would need the wisdom of a serpent. As we take the gospel to a hostile world, we must be wise (avoiding the snares set for us), and we must be innocent (serving the Lord blamelessly) Priscilla and Aquila practiced both techniques in their kingdom assignment. They made decisions, took a risk, and boldly obeyed God and followed their call. Their courageous act on Paul’s behalf was essential to Paul’ success. No matter the cost, they gladly paid it. When the moment arose, Priscilla and Aquila were willing to bear their throats to the blade for the sake of their friend and the cause of Christ. They never received great accolades or earthly rewards. They never received promotions and titles; they were servants of the kingdom. They served the kingdom by serving others. Priscilla and Aquila are therefore great models for all men and women called to acts of courage. Adversities, inequities, and enemies will inevitably appear, and brothers and sisters in Jesus cannot recoil in the tough times. Like Priscilla and Aquila, they must be prepared to risk greatly for the ultimate good.
Romans 16:3-4 “Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert * in Asia for Christ.”
Paul says, “Not only I, but all of the churches of the Gentiles are grateful for Priscilla and Aquila.” Their lives were testimonies of God’s faithfulness to the refugee, the worker, the obedient, and the wise. And around the Mediterranean, their work was recognized.
Perhaps “all the churches of the Gentiles” should be expanded to include the churches in America, In North Carolina, In Raleigh and Charlotte, and even Dunn. Perhaps all of us owe a debt to the earnest kingdom work of Priscilla and Aquila. I just wonder if, whenever he sat down to write 2 Corinthians, Paul might also have been thinking about Priscilla and Aquila. Perhaps he was reflecting on the good old days around the tentmaking table. Maybe while sewing, cutting, praying and planning, he gained more perspective on his life and ministry, when he said, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:3-4).
You see, when you are a tentmaker, you are always patching holes, always repairing tears, always setting up and taking down, you long for something more permanent. You long to see people in crisis rescued, people in the dark come to the light, people lost be found. Your heart burns for the next generation of believers. You live your life looking to your heavenly home, looking for your Lord’s return. You want to believe your labor is not in vain. What you have stitched and sewn, where you have invested, and the stakes you have sunk that seem fleeting and temporary will matter forever. Since, what we do for Christ will last, it is worth giving whatever it takes.
I said all this to say, this text really could have been talking about our Kingdom Builders, Pastor Leroy, and Pastor Audrey. The apostolic call on their lives is a kingdom call. These Kingdom Workers have sacrificed so much for the kingdom of God and the people of God. The countless miles they have traveled, the hours of counseling they have done and the many kinds of aid they have rendered are simply phenomenal. The trials they have endured, the sickness they have suffered, and the challenges they have overcome, are just as commendable. They too are given to hospitality, opening their home, their lives and their table to God’s people. Finally, their story is also one of risk and obedience. Their courageous acts on our behalf are meaningful to us, but costly for them. They are Godly examples that should be celebrated! Celebrate them, not because they are perfect, but because they are worthy, faithful, and loving. Who in your life do you sense God inviting you to offer hospitality to? How can your table and living room be sources of encouragement and support to weary travelers? Where in your life could you live more courageously? What do you hear the Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community?
The greatest among you is the one who is serving, the one who is putting others' interests above their own. The one who is laying down their life to help others, to care for others, to build up others.” “The one who is greatest among you,” Jesus says, “Shall be the one who is serving you.”
To me, greatness encompasses all areas of life and includes the types of thoughts we have, the words we use, the way we interact with others, the way we make others feel, the way we keep ourselves accountable, the discipline we demonstrate every week, the nature of our relationships with people, the strength of our connections, the sort of goals we have, our habits, our self-worth, the depth of our empathy and compassion, the energy we release, and the sort of people we strive to become. Jesus calls us to be servants of God, of His kingdom and of Others. How is He calling you to servanthood? How can you best serve those around you today?
These hero makers live their whole lives in the background, in the shadow of others and in supporting. They never took center stage, but they kept on serving. The song written by Bette Midler said it this way,
“It must have been cold there in my shadow, To never have sunlight on your face. You were content to let me shine, that's your way. You always walked a step behind. So I was the one with all the glory, While you were the one with all the strength. A beautiful face without a name for so long. A beautiful smile to hide the pain. Did you ever know that you're my hero, And everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle. For you are the wind beneath my wings! It might have appeared to go unnoticed, But I've got it all here in my heart. I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it, I would be nothing without you. Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be, I could fly higher than an eagle, For you are the wind beneath my wings. I Fly so high I almost touch the sky, Thank you, thank you, Thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.”
Hero makers are kingdom builders who lived sincerely, travel lightly, practice hospitality radically, and take risks for kingdom advancement. I choose to be a hero maker, how about you? AMEN
