A Tale of Three Travelers
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever laid in your bed, either at night or in the morning, and wondered about your purpose for life? If you haven’t don’t worry about it. With our stage of life, I normally fall asleep right away and then wake up running.
However, some people take time to think about their purpose for life.
Many life coaches recommend it.
BetterUp.com explains:
“Your life purpose statement can ground you throughout every stage of your life. Having a life purpose statement is a way to filter out what you don't want in your life and focus on what you do want. That way, in times of uncertainty and crisis, you'll have a way to stay grounded.
“If you're struggling to make a decision, you can look to your purpose statement. As new opportunities or challenges come into your life, you can react by deciding if your response aligns with your ultimate goals.”
Now, their life purpose examples are interesting at best.
1. Traveling around the world and exploring different cultures
2. Supporting your community
3. Fighting for a social cause like climate change
4. Being a positive, supportive person for your loved ones
5. Building a business that makes a difference in people's lives around the world
I mean they are nice. But, are those purposes really, truly worthwhile and fulfilling?
Purpose statements are important. Calvary Bible Church kinda has one. Our tag line is “teaching to live the word of God.” We are in the process of changing it to more fully reflect what we do as a local body of Christ.
Purpose statements.
What do you think Paul’s purpose statement was, if he had one.
He told the Corinthians earlier in this letter:
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
I can’t put words in Paul’s mouth, but it seems like he strove to cease every opportunity he could to disciple people to Jesus Christ.
Discipleship is the process of teaching others about Jesus and leading them to be like Jesus.
“A Christian disciple is one who puts Jesus first, obeys the Lord, produces good fruit, loves others, and makes more disciples.”
Truthfully, Paul’s purpose statement, if we can say that it is his, should be our purpose statement. Traveling the world is great. But, what is better is seeing the world change through faith in Jesus Christ.
Living that purpose statement can be rather daunting though. And it is not really cut and dried. Thankfully, in this last chapter of 1 Corinthians, we see three vignettes of three different travelers, which gives us a broad picture of discipleship.
After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Today we will look at the one who wanted to disciple, one who was scared to disciple, and one who wouldn’t disciple.
Pray
1. The One Who Wanted to Disciple
1. The One Who Wanted to Disciple
First, we will look at the one who wanted to disciple.
This side of the room: say “let’s do it!”
In this passage, we see Paul’s passion and how it is constantly torn between competing areas:
After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
Paul was not a traveling evangelist who flies into town for a day or a week and then leaves, never to come back again. He wanted to see people grow in following Christ, to passionately convince them that Jesus was worth complete, one-hundred percent, pursuit. Jesus loved us, so we love him.
Paul spent the time so that people could get to know him and see through his words and his life that what he said was true.
He spent that time in Corinth, about a year and a half initially. Now, he was spending that time in Ephesus, totaling about 2.5 years. How does he know that his work there is effective: because there were many who opposed him.
Many of us would say: you know, there is opposition to the Gospel here, maybe we should pick up the stakes and try somewhere else. But Paul said: the truth I am preaching must be landing because people are not liking what I am saying.
I remember one of my former pastors telling me that he knew a counseling session hit home because the guy went back to his house and destroyed his garage.
Paul wanted to invest in people’s lives. So, he saw the open doors for ministry in Ephesus and the people who’s lives were on the brink of changing, as seen by their opposition to his teaching. Seeing all that, he knew he had to stay. Indeed, he wanted to stay.
But, just as much as he wanted to stay in Ephesus, he wanted to go to Corinth and spend time with them. Like I said, he wasn’t a fly-by-night evangelist. After spending years in an area, he would go back and visit the church, to encourage them in the faith. To provoke them to growth and good works. This visit, he wanted to be long, plenty of quality time.
For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
Perhaps even staying the whole winter, about three months. On the way, he would go through Macedonia and spend time with churches there that he helped start.
He looked at his life and said: how can I encourage people to follow Jesus.
At the end of his life, he would describe himself:
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
He gave himself completely to the work of the Lord.
Our lives have so many pulls. I spoke about this briefly, or not so briefly, several weeks ago. We get pulled here and pulled there, to fill our lives with priorities and purposes that will not last.
But, on the flip side, we could fill our lives with so many things that do last. So many ways to disciple people, to encourage people to follow Jesus. We could think of opportunities at the church, current ministries and ministries that need to be started. But, there are also so many opportunities in the community as we take part in food pantries, non-profit boards, mentoring programs, substitute teaching, community meals and fundraisers. All opportunities to interact with people so that we can share with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There should be a desire for that. To look at the opportunities and say: I want to do that and I want to do that and I want to do that. If the Lord permits, it will happen!
The one who wanted to disciple. This side, say “Let’s do it!”
2. The One Who Was Scared to Disciple
2. The One Who Was Scared to Disciple
Now, we would look at Paul and have a mixture of respect and disgust. Because, truthfully, he makes everyone look bad. At least what we know about him. He just seems to keep going and going and going. Never backing down. Sure, he wasn’t a passionate speaker, but he was a bulldog for the truth. And he truly wanted people to know Jesus, and he gave his life completely for that to happen.
Most of us look at what Paul did and say: “I couldn’t do that.” And the biggest reason people give is fear or timidity.
Enter Timothy, the one who was scared to disciple. Ok, first side, what did you say?
This side, you are going to say: “Do I have to?”
Timothy.
When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
Timothy was a strong Christian. His mother was a faithful Jew who taught Timothy about God. His dad was a pagan Greek who didn’t care about religion, and really didn’t want his son raised in it.
Timothy was though by his mother and his grandmother. And, then Timothy heard about Jesus, turned from the religion of works of his mother and the pagan beliefs of his dad, and embraced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He was a solid Christian. The Christians in the towns around him spoke well of him. Paul started to take him along on his missionary journeys, and strengthened him in his faith, teaching him the ways of Jesus. Discipling him, because that is what Paul did. Paul came to rely on Timothy, calling him his dear son.
He would write:
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
But, Timothy wasn’t perfect. Timothy was timid. Timothy got scared.
Paul would write to Timothy:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Now, picture the scene. Timothy is traveling to Corinth. He knows that the Corinthians are mad at Paul. He has called them out on some serious sins in their midst. He has strongly correct some bad theology. He has demanded some radical changes.
Some of the Corinthians are so mad at what he has said, that they are started to say he isn’t a true apostle, but a false teacher and should be ignored.
Timothy is Paul’s prodigy. His mini-me. Wherever he went, people were reminded of Paul. And wherever he went, he was charged with spreading Paul’s message. Verifying what was written down in Paul’s letters.
So, how do you think the church in Corinth is going to respond to this young man coming to them. Are they going to have a potluck and greet Timothy with hugs and slaps on the back, telling him how glad they are that he is there and that they are greatly encouraged by his message?
No. That’s not the character of this church, unfortunately. Which is why Paul had to write:
“See that he has nothing to fear while he is with you.” and “No one, then, should treat him with contempt.”
Knowing Timothy’s character, I bet he was dragging his feet all the way from Ephesus to Corinth, or dragging his sails, because the closest route is by ship.
I bet his was rehearsing what was going to happen the entire way. Maybe he was remembering Jonah, as he reflected on sailing the opposite direction.
But, whatever he was doing, he still went. He went to the Corinthians to push them to follow Jesus, in spite of how he felt. In spite of his fear or timidity.
There are plenty of times, we have the opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. Or we have the opportunity to encourage a believer in the faith. Or we have the privilege to correct a believer in their theology or actions.
And in the face of those opportunities, we are scared stiff. So, what do we do? We kick some dirt up, punch a wall, and step into the opportunity.
As Paul wrote to the Philippians:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.
Serving God is such a privilege, even in circumstances that make us afraid.
So, we have
The one who was scared to disciple. This side: “Do I have to?”
The one who wanted to disciple. This side, say “Let’s do it!”
Let’s do that again.
3. The One Who Wouldn’t Disciple
3. The One Who Wouldn’t Disciple
Finally, we have the one who wouldn’t disciple. I really shouldn’t say it that strongly.
But, everyone say: “not going to happen!”
Let’s talk about Apollos.
The text says:
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
As a reminder, Apollos was a disciple of John and living in Ephesus.
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.
Priscilla and Aquila, who had lived briefly in Corinth but were now traveling with Paul, found Apollos in Ephesus and taught him more fully about Jesus and what salvation by grace through faith really means. Apollos wanted to spread this message around, so the believers encouraged him to travel. He goes to Corinth and preaches.
Does a great job. Speaks passionately, unlike Paul. And immediately the church in Corinth splits.
Paul writes about this:
My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Paul tells them that they shouldn’t be splitting into factions but should be united on the Gospel.
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
Apollos left Corinth after some time and returned back to Ephesus sometime after Paul had been ministering in Ephesus for some time. They became coworkers for the Gospel there.
The Corinthians really liked Apollos. So much more than Paul. So, they sent a letter to Paul with some questions and asked him to send Apollos back to them to minister.
Paul, dutifully, urges Apollos to come.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
But, Apollos refused.
Did you ever watch Sesame Street? There was a song that they would sing from time to time. “one of these things is not like the other. One of these things is not the same.”
That is what is happening in this passage. Paul yearned to disciple people and was pulled in many different directions. And he somehow accomplished all of it. “Let’s do it!”
Timothy was scared “Do I have to?” but he still ministered. He was faithful.
Apollos is presented with an opportunity to disciple and he refuses. “he will go when he has the opportunity.” But, that phrase drips with unwillingness.
Why? Well, it could be because of the same reason Paul gave. The work in Ephesus was all-consuming and he was loath to leave it.
But, I tend to agree with Gordon Fee:
The First Epistle to the Corinthians H. About the Coming of Apollos (16:12)
this refusal probably says as much about Apollos’s own character as it does of Paul’s in asking him in the first place. Most likely he would have turned it down precisely because with Paul he resisted any implication that either of them was party to the internal strife being carried on in the church in their names.
He didn’t want to feed the fires of strife in that church.
Whatever the reason, Apollos wouldn’t return to Corinth at that time.
Apollos reminds us that even if there is an opportunity to serve God, we sometimes shouldn’t take that opportunity.
Can I be transparent with you? As a pastor, I am presented with many opportunities to minister, to disciple. Opportunities in the church, opportunities in the community. And it is tempting to take all of them. And sometimes, I want to take all of them.
Earlier this year, I took more than I should have, which wore me down. I had a harder time balancing family ministry, church ministry, and community ministry. It was a constant juggle.
And because of that, I wasn’t able to apply the purpose of the pastor very well.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
I was too busy doing, so I wasn’t able to train and pass things off. I should have said “no” more. There have been some opportunities that people have recently approached me with, that I have needed to say “no”. Opportunities of things that need to happen, but I am not the right person to do it. God is calling me to a certain ministry and I am praying for people to stand up and take the baton of the needs that I refused.
God has called each of us to join the work of discipleship. There will be sometimes that we need to say “no” to one opportunity so that we can focus on another one. However, more often than not, we are saying “no” because we are scared or timid or need our priorities rehandled. We should imitate Paul and Timothy in those times and say: “I’ll do it!”
The one who wanted to.
The one who was scared to.
The one who wouldn’t.
Where do you fit? Are you living according to the purpose that God has placed on your life? Or do you need a refocus?