Sermon Tone Analysis

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Dylan

Possible Missions Talk Interview

Sermon Introduction

I rarely every say in telling a joke “tell me if you heard this before” because if I like the joke it doesn’t matter if you have heard it.

I like to tell it.

Not sure when I last spoke from the example of this couple.

But I like to tell it.

Headed into the missions conference I find it fitting.

Please think of the names of a couple in the New Testament?

Do you you have the names in your head?

Joseph and Mary

Herod and Herodias

Zacharias and Elisabeth

Joanna and Chuza

Mary and Cleophas

Ananias and Sapphira

Felix and Drusilla

I doubt it.

It was probably Aquila and Priscilla God did something very special in Ephesus around Acts 18-19.

It is always special when a couple gets to a point where there names are rarely said separately.

Acts 18:11–28 (KJV 1900)

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.

17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat.

And Gallio cared for none of those things.

18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will.

And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Introduction:

Notice the amount of time given to what might not be considered the most action pack chapter.

Looks like a movie my wife would like.

Just a couple in love living their lives together serving those around them.

No one dies.

In Colossians it says the whole world had known the Gospel.

Much due to what happens in Ephesus on the span of about a decade.

Col 1:23 “23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

The work in Ephesus was something pretty special.

Acts 19:10 “10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

There is no doubt that God used this family in a wonderful way.

They yielded their lives and became faithful to a simple process of discipleship.

In return they made a huge difference in this world.

Time spend in the Word.

They were part of a them that studied the Bible.

Acts 18:11 “11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”

This is where the great stories of Christian couples always start.

Not just when a boy falls in love with a girl.

But when that boy and girl fall in love with the Word.

They were able to make a tent together, that is impressive.

Looking for ways to serve.

An opportunity opened up and they took it.

Acts 18:18 “18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.” [More about his haircut another day]

Here they learn application to the truth they have learned.

At the synagogue to learn.

Built in margins in their life.

Took the opportunity to serve in a new ministry.

[Boats aren’t always required]

Believing in young people and enjoying watching them move forward in the ministry.

Willing to talk to Apollos.

Acts 18:26 “26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

Apollos was not a heretic.

Apollos just needed discipleship in an area.

He did as good as he knew to do.

Acts 18:25 “25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (18:25)

His doctrine regarding Jesus was accurate but deficient.

Probably this means Apollos did not know about the Holy Spirit’s baptism.

John’s baptism symbolized cleansing by God because of repentance toward God (cf.

19:4).

But Christian baptism pictures union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection by means of Spirit baptism (cf.

Rom.

6:3–10; 1 Cor.

12:13; Gal.

3:27; Col. 2:12).

Able to do it in a way that would not embarrass him.

- Note from Janice Minard

Opened up their lives to help teach God’s Word.

Even opening their home for a church to be in it.

Given to hospitality.

One of the greatest things you can give to the cause of making Christ known is to remove the “No Vacancy” Sign from your life.

They help Apollos on their journey.

They are a great example of yoke fellows.

Letter of recommendation.

Acts 18:27 “27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:”

Their story will continue in Apollos 1 Cor 3:4-6 “4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?