The Complete Understanding Series

The Complete Understanding

Sermon by: CH (CPT) Keith J. Andrews

08 JAN 06

I have friend in our battalion who received a puzzle in one of the care packages that were sent during Christmas. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, she worked on this puzzle. I saw her a couple of days later and said “I see that you finished that puzzle.” She said, “Yes, I did and it had two puzzle pieces left over.”

Somewhere in the world another puzzle is missing those two pieces. The people who are putting it together are going to find their puzzle is incomplete. The owners are probably looking all over their house, under the bed, in the seat cushions, trying to find those extra pieces.

In the same way, many of us and many of our friends have on incomplete knowledge of the Gospel. They know a little bit, they have been to Sunday school, or they have been to church once or twice. We work and work and we wonder if this is all there is—to work to be good and to hope that in some way it is good enough to get to heaven. We wish we could just have the complete story.

This evening, we are going to look at a man named Apollos who was a good man , but he just didn’t have the complete truth.

And it is my prayer tonight, that all of us will come to realize that it is not what we do that gets us to heaven, that what we do does not bring us closer to God—but that it is when we know Christ personally and accept him, that we can be free from this burden of sin.

Look with me at Acts 18:24-27

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; (Acts 18:24-27, NKJV)

I. This passage introduces us to a person named Apollos.

Verse 24 says that Apollos was eloquent. He was a good speaker. Even today, we like to hear good speakers. I read once that Colin Powell receives $100,000 for every speaking appearance. The organizers can pay that much because they can expect to receive much more in profits. We like to hear good speakers.

Apollos also was excited about his religion and he was very vocal about proclaiming it.

We have all sat through briefings that aren’t at all exciting. Every Tuesday night and Friday morning, I give one; Suicide Prevention and Midtour Reunion. The good thing about the Tuesday Night Briefing is that some can go straight to bed after I put you to sleep.

Verse 25 says that Apollos was “fervent in his spirit”, he was enthusiastic. He was excited to tell the story about Repentance; He was even excited to talk about Jesus.

Despite what political correctness that we have, we are a people who are excited to talk about God and our faith. 96% of all Americans believe in some kind of God. Most of American will even mention Jesus. 85% of Americans claim to be Christians.

Verse 25 continues to say that Apollos also spoke with accuracy about Jesus.

And again, most of us realize and treasure an accurate portrayal of Jesus Christ.

We just finished with the Christmas season. And as a nation, we, by and large, don’t have any problem with the Baby Jesus and the manger. We don’t have a problem with celebrating Christmas rather than the Happy Holidays. There are a few that attempt to abuse the constitution but by a large, we celebrate Christmas.

We also don’t doubt the historical Jesus. The fact that there was a person named Christ, whom the Bible talks about. And many will say that he was a good man. Because, in fact, he was.

Apollos taught that. Apollos believed that too.

But one thing that Apollos went beyond our society’s religious practices. Verse 24 says that “he was mighty in the scriptures.” The New living Translation says that “he knew the scriptures.”

But theThe literal Greek reads:

“Power being in the writings.”

Apollos was powerfull in speaking from Scripture. He knew the word of God – backwards and forwards. He could describe the Law of Moses and the prophecies of Isaiah. He knew the scripture and knew them well.