Mission in Corinth
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:24
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Don’t quit, Don’t give up
Don’t quit, Don’t give up
Ministry work is not easy and not for the faint hearted. And, we are all called to ministry (to care for, minister to one another). Paul has on his journey faced many things and it could have been easy to quit, to give in, to give up. Our passage today covers Paul’s time in Corinth.
Heard an illustration that is noteworthy.
(Illustration) - a man was shoveling snow from his driveway when two boys carrying now shovels approached him. “Shovel your snow mister?” one of them asked. “Only two dollars!” Puzzled, the man replied, “Can’t you see that I’m doing it myself?” “Sure,” was the reply, “that’s why we asked. We get most of our business from people who are half through and feel like quitting!”
Raymond Edman - Wheaton College said
“It’s always too soon to quit”
Spurgeon told a London congregation:
“By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.”
Paul previously beaten, stoned
Paul previously imprisoned, jailed
Paul previously run out of town (several times)
Paul had been chased down by unconverted Jews
Paul, did not give up, as we can learn and apply in our life and our walk with Christ, don’t give up, even if it is at a “snail’s pace.”
God opens doors and the enemy wants to close them. Sometimes because the task is hard, difficult we close the doors ourselves by quitting. May we be reminded today it is always too soon to quit.
The Lord will give Paul encouragement for him then, and we can find lots of encouragement in God’s word today to help us when the enemy wants to get us to give up, to quit.
(Transition) Paul had left after his limited time, limited response in Athens and came to Corinth (about 65 miles).
Corinth at the time about 200k people was the center for both trade and travel, money and vice, strange philosophies and new religions. Paul arrived alone in the city that had a reputation of being a wicked city (see Rom1:18-32). A city that would be a tough place to start a local church, and the church started, a church Paul loved had some division problems (1Cor) and authority problems (2Cor) and Paul had written to them at least 2 letters.
Paul’s work in Corinth consisted of:
Time - he was there for 18 months
18 months wrapped up in just 18 verses, the results, well two letters were dedicated to that.
Work - worked as a tentmaker
He did not want to be a burden so he brought his trade craft with him and worked, labored as he labored for the lord too.
Ministry - teaching in local synagogue
Like was his pattern, he loved to teach in the synagogue for “religious people need saving too.”
Conflict and results from it- conversions
His teaching brought about conflict and being expelled from the synagogue so as we look at our passage today we will see the results
God’s hand, provision and protection
In a few words from the Lord Paul is comforted in the words, the provision and assured of the protection of the Lord
Correspondence - believed wrote to church of Thessalonica from Corinth
So, this morning want to bring out three points from the passage.
Paul’s arrival (Act18:1-4)
Timothy and Silas join him (Act18:5-8)
Paul and the teams time (Act18:9-18)
Paul’s Arrival
Paul’s Arrival
From a tough crowd in Athens to even a tougher crowd, now alone, in Corinth.
1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,
3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
To understand (v.1) maybe I better back up some so you can see context better then we will glean from the scripture!
32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” 33 So Paul went out of their midst.
34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Gleaning from the scripture
In 17:32-34 We see the reaction of the people when Paul preached the gospel and the resurrection which is of first importance according to 1Cor15. Some sneered, some said will listen again, others believed and he even named some of them who believed. Now that leads us to our passage.
Question: What did Paul do upon entering Corinth (v.2-3)?
Found Aquila and Priscilla
He stayed with them
Question: What did Paul do (v.4)?
Reasoned with the Jews and Greeks in the Synagogue every Sabbath.
So Paul comes to Corinth after reasoning with the Philosophers in Athens and is determined to glorify God and preach Jesus here in Corinth. Paul did not rely on man to support him, though he had several churches that did help in the work (i.e. Philippi 2Cor11:7-10). He worked hard in his trade so not to be lumped in who proclaimed something in the name of God for money.
God provides provision to Paul, and does for us too.
God’s provision put him with Aquila and Priscilla who had been displaced from Rome because of Claudius and they formed a bond and worked together.
This great couple, mentioned several times in Acts who just later in this chapter will lead Apollos to know the truth so he could teach more accurately (Act18:24-28)
God used Paul in a systematic way; the same can hold true for us too (Act17:2, 17, 19:8-9; Isa1:18) .
Paul came and reasoned in the Synagogue as was his pattern
2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Paul did the same in Athens, Thessalonica and in Ephesus. why? Because religious people need saving too.
Did you know that is similar with what Isaiah did?
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
So, what can we learn? It is good to reason the scripture with people, not argue but reason the scripture. Paul practiced that also in
Paul reasoned, taught even government officials too (Act24:25, 26:25)
The likes of Felix, Festus and king Agrippa II
25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”
and
25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.
The gospel is designed and intended to appeal to the mind and to the heart (Mt22:37)
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
The gospel Paul presented, reasoned with persuaded both Jews and Greeks (Act17:4, 19:8) and almost with Agrippa (Act26:28)
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
and add to that one
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
and just for fun
28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”
So we can learn that Paul reasoned in all places with the same gospel regardless of the audience or even the problems that came because of the gospel.
Timothy and Silas join him
Timothy and Silas join him
Being alone did not stop Paul from proclaiming, preaching the gospel, but it is always better when we work together, so now his mission team, ministry partners join him.
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Gleaning from the scripture:
Question: What was Paul’s focus after Silas and Timothy arrived in Corinth (v.5)?
Began devoting himself completely to the Word
Question: what as the result of the preaching (v.6)?
They were resisted and blasphemed
Paul said “blood be on your own heads”
Question: In (vv.7-8) we see two new people enter into the story, who are they?
Titius Justus a worshiper of God (v.7)
The leader of the synagogue Crispus (v.8)
Question: what was the response of many who heard the preaching (v.8)?
They were believing and being baptized
So Silas and Timothy get there from Macedonia, from Thessalonica (1The3:1-7, 1The1:1)
Timothy, Titus come bearing good news from Thessalonica (1The3:1-7)
That lead to Paul’s response in writing to the church of Thessalonica (1The1:1)
Paul testified who Jesus was (Act18:5, 20:21, 24, 23:11, 28:23; Mt16:15; Act17:2-3; Act26:16)
21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
and add to that
24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
What do you proclaim? Jesus had asked the disciples that question, in like words.
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
We, like Paul, like the other apostles, like people through the ages must be ready to proclaim, speak of who Jesus is.
How did Paul do it, more than likely just as he has previously done.
2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
with the scriptures, with the very word of God.
Paul could do something we cannot do, he shared eyewitness testimony as noted in Act26, we cannot do that but our life can witness the transforming power of Christ in us and we can proclaim Christs power through the scripture to others.
Paul met with opposition (Act18:6-7, 13:45-46)
So it could be just like those who have chased him down before
45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. 46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
From the rabble-rouser’s (unconverted, unconvinced Jews) to the Gentiles he took the message. Paul did not flee the city or not taken out of the city, he went next door
7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.
Paul’s preaching brought about more conversions (Act18:8; 8:12)
Paul’s preaching brought about personal, household, and many! Very similar to the Jews on Pentecost (Act2:37-41) or the Samaritans (Act8:12)
Now Paul did baptize Crispus (1Cor1:14), but not many others in Corinth (1Cor1:10-17).
So, even in opposition the gospel was still effective! Paul then had encouragement from the Lord, and who does not like good encouragement (v.9-10)
Don’t be afraid
Keep on speaking
I’ve got your back, no harm will come to you.
Oh, yeah, you are not alone!
(Transition) Paul spent 18 months there after he was encouraged God made a way and enabled too.
Eighteen months
Eighteen months
A command is given and a zealots faith proclaims, and an unlikely advocate appears.
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
13 saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you;
15 but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17 And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things. 18 Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow.
Gleaning from the scripture (watch time, may have to answer the questions as we go)
Question: What was the command given to Paul (v.9)?
Do not be silent, but go on speaking.
Question: Who rose up against Paul (v.12) and who drove the Jews away fro the judgment seat (v.16)
Jews with one accord raised up again Paul.
Gallio, the proconsul, drove them away.
Question: what happens to Sosthenes because of his faith (v.17)?
The Jews began beating him in front of the judgment seat, but Gallio took no concern.
The Lord spoke in a vision to Paul and brought much comfort to him. There is a promise too, that he would not be harmed, but this is more than likely meaning that the proclaiming of the gospel will not be harmed, will not be hindered. Makes me think of this (not on your outline)
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Also during that 18 month period he wrote a second letter to the church of Thessalonica (2The1:1) about AD 51-52.
Gallio was God’s tool in Corinth to help the furtherance of the gospel by the words of Paul and the mission team. Know God has people who help us too in the furtherance of the gospel here at Fort Dodge.
To sum up very quickly.
We have seen the dedication and systemic methodology that was effective then and should be now!
There were many who believed and were baptized. And I hope we continue to see that blessing here too.
(Prayer) ( Exit)