Fly High – Acts part 16
On the lighter side of life: See funny pictures from aha.com
Scripture Text: Acts 18
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis
In Corinth
Ac 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Ac 18:2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,
Ac 18:3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
Ac 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Ac 18:5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
Ac 18:6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Ac 18:7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.
Ac 18:8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
Ac 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
Ac 18:10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Ac 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Ac 18:12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.
Ac 18:13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
Ac 18:14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
Ac 18:15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law —settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”
Ac 18:16 So he had them ejected from the court.
Ac 18:17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
Ac 18:18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
Ac 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Ac 18:20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.
Ac 18:21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
Ac 18:22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
Ac 18:23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Ac 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
Ac 18:25 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.
Ac 18:26 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.
Ac 18:27 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.
Ac 18:28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Thesis: Acts chapter 18 reveals the importance of passing the torch onto to others so that the spread of the Gospel can continue. The Heart beat of the message of Christ goes on as others pass it on to others and take the time to mentor and disciple others.
Introduction:
This chapter could be titled “And the beat goes on!” Why? Because the spread of the Gospel by Paul continues to press it’s way through Greece, and now it spreads out into Ephesus (Asia). The way its spreading is by Paul going, preaching and doing the Word. It also spread by Paul mentoring other leaders. This way the Gospel spread to places he himself could not go. He multiplied his hands by mentoring and discipling others. Even his disciples learned to train and disciple others. So the beat of Good News went on and on and on. The heart beat of the Gospel is passing on the mantle to others to continue the work of the ministry. This is an essential function of the Body of Christ and it needs to be focused on today as well.
Paul hitched up with Priscilla and Aquila and he spent the time training them up in the teaching of the Lord and in the way of the Holy Spirit. When he felt they were ready he moved on to another place and left this couple behind to continue the discipling of the new converts in Ephesus.
He in turn heads back to some of other churches to strengthen them, equip them, teach them and help make more disciples. He even encouraged the Body of Christ with stories from the places he had been and shared what the Holy Spirit was doing else where. Paul knew the importance of mentoring others so that the Gospel would spread to the ends of the earth.
Aquila and Priscilla stayed on in Ephesus to pastor the church that meet in their home. They also stayed involved in the synagogue and in turn encountered a believer/preacher named Apollos. The Word tells us that he was a well educated man of God and this couple a ministry team decided to take him under their wings and teach him more about the Lord. But he only knew the baptism of John so Aquila and Priscilla explained to him the way of God more adequately. In other words they explained and taught him about the Holy Spirit. He is mentored and discipled for a time and then he goes off into the work of the ministry on his own. He would go into towns and debate with the Jews and he would show them that Jesus is the Christ from Scripture. Apollos from church history accounts became the Bishop of Cenchrea where he himself mentored many others into God’s leaders.
This chapter is filled with new faces and new individuals who are ministers of the Gospel. We find Paul raising up leaders Priscilla and Aquila who in turn take Apollos under their wing and point him to the truth that there is more to the Gospel – respectfully the Holy Spirit. Remember the book of Acts is about the work and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It is also about taking the time to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and experience all that there is for the Christian. The Holy Spirit is given according to Jesus for the empowerment to do ministry – for the ability to be a witness for Jesus in the whole world. The believer needs to be equipped with the whole package from the Lord to be as effective as possible for the growth of the kingdom.
The key spiritual concept here is – Train up other leaders for the Body of Christ so the Gospel continues to spread. It’s about the process of mentoring others for the sake of the Kingdom.
What are the qualifications necessary to be a mentor to others?
As a mentor you must possess the following characteristics:
• Have High standards— a commitment to excellence in Christ
• Proven expertise in Christian service and knowledge
• Respect for the abilities of others
• Commitment to shared learning with others
• Willingness to be an advocate and supporter of another
• Trustworthiness
• Care and empathy for others
• Effective communication skills
• Creativity and openness
• Self-confidence and ability to affirm and correct others
• Positive attitude
• Flexibility
• Ethical behavior in one’s own life
How does mentoring that happen?
1. By the mentor spending personal ministry time with the mentored.
2. By the mentor spending social time with the mentored.
3. By the one being mentored showing a teachable heart and a receptivity to learn more.
4. By the mentor role-modeling the importance of the Holy Spirit in their life.
5. By the mentor instilling boldness into the mentored about the importance of communicating the Good News.
6. By working side by side with the mentored.
7. By releasing the matured mentor to actually do the work on their own at the appropriate time.
Three examples from Acts of people who were mentored and in turn turned around and passed on the gift of mentorship: Paul, Priscilla/ Aquila and Apollos
I. The example of the Apostle Paul and the importance of mentoring.
a. The apostle Paul was a man who had Bible knowledge but he lacked a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. He had knowledge of the Word but no Holy Spirit living in him (Acts 9).
b. When he got converted on the Damascus road this man’s life life changed dramatically.
i. He was taken in by Ananias who was sent by God and he prayed for and prayed for Paul to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It says from the Word that scales fell from his eyes so that could now see the truth.
ii. Paul spent time with the disciples in Damascus and learned more about Jesus and His way. He then began preaching right away in the synagogues that Jesus was the Christ.
iii. Paul then went to Jerusalem and Barnabas took Paul under his wings and discipled this man so that he would become a great preacher for the Kingdom of God.
1. Paul was mentored by Barnabas and was more adequately taught the way of the Lord.
a. To be a mentor requires dedication and sacrifice to the one being discipled:
i. A. W. Tozer, said this:
The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little besides ourselves. Contributed to sermon central by: MaryLewis
2. The vision of Jesus and His conversion changed Paul’s life and direction. But remember the Lord sent individuals into this man’s life to help mentor him and disciple him.
a. This is a major part of the salvation and discipleship process.
c. Paul the great apostle of all times had a mentor and his name was Barnabbas – man of encouragement.
i. The Holy Spirit used Barnabbas to teach Paul and to help disciple Paul into the minister - leader that God wanted him to be.
ii. Let me ask you a few questions:
1. Did Paul need someone to disciple Him?
2. Did Barnabbas spend time with Paul?
3. Did Barnabbas more accurately teach Him the way of the Lord?
4. Did Paul have to be willing to be teachable?
a. Did Barnabbas correct Paul?
5. Did Barnabbas and the Holy Spirit instill in Paul a boldness to do communicate the Gospel?
a. Paul was not afraid to go into the synagogues to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ.
b. Barnanbbas went with him! No fear!
6. Did Barnabbas and Paul do ministry side by side for a appointed time?
7. Did Barnabbas release Paul to do the work of the ministry on his own?
T.S. – Paul was discipled and mentored by Barnabbas and Paul grew to where he then mentored Priscilla and Aquila along with many other disciples for the Kingdom.
II. The second example of Priscilla and Aquila show the importance of mentoring and the need to pass it on to others.
a. Paul knew the importance of being mentored and being discipled by a mature believer so he took Priscilla and Aquila under his wings . We could says and, “The heart beat of the Gospel went on!”
i. This dynamic pastoral team of husband and wife was taken under Pauls’ wings.
ii. Paul spent a lot of personal time with this couple.
iii. Paul spent time teaching them the more adequate way of the Lord and he introduced them to the power of the Holy Spirit.
iv. Aquila and Priscilla showed that they had teachable hearts and were willing to grow in the things of the Lord.
1. They understood that they did not know it all!
2. They sat under the teaching of Paul so that they could grow!
v. Aquila and Priscilla were known for not being afraid to risk their lives for the Gentile church - Romans 16:3
vi. Aquila and Priscilla labored in ministry along side Paul for a while.
1. They were considered fellow workers with Paul (Romans 16:3)!
vii. When the time was right Paul left them in Ephesus to carry on the work of the Lord while he headed to another area so that the beat of the Gospel moved on!
b. John Maxwell makes this observation about our pastoral couple:
i. Leadership doesn’t mean just getting others to follow; it also means equipping and preparing leaders to guide God’s people. The account of Aquila, his wife Priscilla, the apostle Paul, and Apollos illustrates this principle. Aquila and Priscilla-who, like Paul, were Jewish believers and tentmakers-had fled to Corinth from Rome when the emperor Claudius ordered all Jews to leave the city. When Paul arrived in Corinth, he stayed with this couple and evidently taught them a great deal about the things of God. They took the teaching seriously, for when they traveled to Ephesus, they instructed a minister named Apollos about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (and the power of the Holy Spirit!) (Leadership Bible, page 1350).
T.S. – Barnabbas mentored Paul and Paul mentored Aquila and Priscilla who in turn mentored Apollos. This is how the beat of the Gospel goes on!
III. The third example of Apollos reveals the importance of mentoring others.
a. If you spend much time studying the characters of the Bible Apollos himself surfaces to the top as an excellent teacher and preacher of the Word of God.
i. Maxwell states, “Church history tells us that Apollos was such a good teacher that most people would rather have listened to him than to the apostle Paul. That’s quite a feather in his cap! This causes us to assume he had everything together. Yet Apollos “knew only the Baptism of John” (18:25). He understood repentance. He understood what it meant to surrender to God. But he wasn’t familiar with the deeper truths of discipleship or the Spirit-filled life. So Aquila and Priscilla mentored him by taking the time to listen, evaluate, relate, and explain “the way of God” (18:26)” (1351).
ii. There are a few references to believers only knowing the Baptism of John in Acts – Listen to this scenario:
1. Acts 19: 1-7: The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Ac 19:1. Ac 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples Ac 19:2 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.” Ac 19:3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Ac 19:4 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.” Ac 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Ac 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Ac 19:7 There were about twelve men in all.
a. This group of believers only knew about John’s Baptism of repentance so Paul introduced them to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
b. Let’s recall what is the purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
i. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
c. This encounter occurred 23 years after the day of Pentecost – by the way it still happens today!
i. This parallels what happened on the Day of Pentecost described in Acts chapter 2.
ii. How do you know it still goes on today? – Let me pole the congregation today – “Please raise your hands if you have been filled with Holy Spirit and empowered to do ministry and to be His witness in the world.”
1. How many speak in tongues?
a. Hands?
d. I believe Aquila and Priscilla introduced Apollos to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
i. Part of the process of mentoring is teaching people more about the way of the Lord and what his word says and teaches.
b. I can see that Apollos was mentored by the following seven steps we talked about earlier:
i. I want to focus on just a few this morning.
ii. The key to his becoming the great minister and leader rested on his willingness to be teachable.
1. Let me ask you a question this morning “Are you teachable? Or do you think you know it all?”
iii. John Maxwell stated this on page 1351 of the Leadership Bible:
1. What most impresses me about Apollos, however, is his teachability. He never thought he had learned so much that he couldn’t improve his game. Luke points out several facts about this man:
a. He came from a cultured city (v. 24).
b. He was an educated man (v. 24).
c. He knew the Scriptures well (v. 24).
d. He’d been taught the Christian faith (v. 25).
e. He had an obvious gift (v. 25).
f. He taught truth accurately (v. 25).
g. He taught truth passionately (v. 26).
2. But the key to Apollos success in the ministry and the helping to grow the Kingdom of God was his teachability!
3. John Maxwell adds this thought about growing in Christ.
a. Leaders face the danger of contentment with status quo. After all. If a leader already possesses influence and has achieved a level of respect, why should he or she keep growing?
i. Your growth determines who you are.
ii. Who you are determines who you attract.
iii. Who you attract determines the success of your organization (1351).
Conclusion:
The key spiritual lesson from our text today is: The necessity of us committing to training up other leaders for the Body of Christ. This is how the beat of the Gospel goes on and on. This is God’s plan for the church!
How does that happen? We learned that their needs to be seven dimensions to mentoring others:
1. The mentor needs to spend personal ministry time with the mentored.
*This time is filled with teaching moments and the impartation of spiritual insight.
2. The mentor must spend social time with the mentored.
*These social gatherings and fellowship times help to develop a relationship that builds Christian character and maturity in the potential leader.
3. The one being mentored must show a teachable heart and a receptivity to learn more.
*If a potential leader is not teachable then don’t waste your time because pride always comes before the fall.
*Pride says I know it all and therefore sets the person up for failure.
4. The mentor must role model the importance of the Holy Spirit in their own personal life to the mentored.
*Too many in the church want to please men and not God and the mentor must teach the whole truth and make sure the potential leader is seeking the impartation of the Holy Spirit.
*Too many Christian today reject the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and then lose out on the power to do ministry and to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
*We need to receive all that God want us to have today to complete the task at hand.
5. The mentor must impart into the mentored a boldness to communicate the Gospel to all who will listen.
*They must be willing to speak to others about the Lord and not be afraid to speak the truth even in the midst of opposition.
6. The mentor must be willing to minister side by side with the potential leader so as to help them grow, develop and mature in their ministry skills.
*The mentor needs to be the potential leader’s biggest fan and supporter.
7. The mentor must be willing to release the leader to do the ministry on their own at the appropriate time.
*The mentor must always be willing to assist and help the new leader in their process of growth for the rest of their life.
