We’re Better Together

Many of you have probably heard the term “lone ranger Christian.” This refers to someone who believes that they do not need other believers. They don’t think they need the church or anyone else. This is what happens when we are alone (SNAP).

In order to be strong, to resist attack, to stand firm in the face of opposition, persecution, and difficulty; we must stand together (NO BREAK).

Last week we discussed how community and fellowship bring us courage and boldness.

Today we will learn how that theme continues into the end of chapter 18.

Evangelism, personal growth, and the stability of the local church all depend on the ability of believers to stand together in unity.

This morning we will explore two reasons why believers are better together.

Understanding these two reasons will drive us to stand together.

Only when there is community and unity can our purpose be realized.

What purpose? Growing in Christ and spreading the gospel message.

Reason #1. We are better together because…

1. Together We Find Boldness vv. 18-23

Again, we touched on this last week. Today, however, let me give a slightly different illustration (S).

How do you think it would feel to be this one piece? ANSWER

Intimidating, fearful, powerless, hopeless etc.

This is what it is like when we try to stand without our brothers and sisters in Christ.

However, this is how the church is supposed to operate (S). Each piece in its place doing what God has called it to do in support of one another.

A chess game with missing pieces is at a severe disadvantage.

In the same way, a local church that is missing key pieces will find it difficult to accomplish its God-given task (S).

Together we can face the enemy. Together we can be bold.

What do we do with that boldness?

First, we have…

a. Boldness to proclaim vv. 18-21

READ v. 18

This first sentence is a powerful testimony to what fellowship and boldness accomplish. Remember that Paul just got called before the ruler of the whole area. He saw the ruler of the synagogue get beaten. Yet he stays a good while.

When the body of Christ stands together there is courage.

“Took leave of” means to say farewell. He says goodbye to the believers there and sails to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila.

v. 18 took leave of = said farewell.

First they stop in Cenchrea where Paul takes a vow and has his hair cut off (S).

READ v. 19

They sail to Ephesus (S).

Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.

As is his custom, Paul reasons in the synagogue.

The fellowship that he had enjoyed in Corinth has brought Paul’s boldness back. Remember that he arrived in Corinth in “fear and trembling.” Then he met Priscilla and Aquila and then Timothy and Silas arrived. This fellowship seems to have restored Paul to his former passion.

Fellowship and community keep us passionate in our responsibility.

When they arrive in Ephesus, he opens a dialogue with the Jews in the synagogue.

Paul boldly proclaims Christ because he has believers with him. Believers who have his back.

When we are together we give one another boldness to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is what Paul does. Apparently, as he reasons with them, he meets with some success.

READ vv. 20-21

They ask Paul to stay and he says no because he wants to be in Jerusalem for the feast. This is not the response Paul normally gets. When Paul reasons in the synagogues, he usually gets attacked. Here, he is invited to stay. As we already mentioned, he refuses so he can be in Jerusalem for the feast.

He tells those in Ephesus that he will be back if that’s God’s plan. Then he sails away.

In some ways it may have been easy for Paul to remain in this city because the doors seem to be open to the gospel. Yet Paul has a desire to be back in Jerusalem for the feast. Why?

Why does Paul want to go to the feast in Jerusalem?

Jerusalem is the center of Jewish life. Paul wants to be where there are a lot of Jews. Why? I think we get a hint in ; (S).

;

Get a hint in ; .

Romans 9:3 NKJV

For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

Romans 10:1 NKJV

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

This is Paul’s heart. This is why he always goes to the synagogue first. This is why he always reaches out to the Jews. This is why he wants to visit Jerusalem. Paul had a heart for His people to know Christ.

Who do you have a heart for?

Experience teaches us that we are bolder in groups.

Paul’s boldness to proclaim the gospel is enhanced when he is able to fellowship.

If we want to be bold in giving out the gospel, we need to have fellowship and community.

Bold gospel proclamation is fueled by fellowship.

We have been given a commission by the King of kings. Our Savior has given us a task. Our Redeemer has commanded us to take the gospel to a lost and dying world. This is a corporate commission! This is a task that we will best accomplish together. Now, does that mean we will always have someone next to us when we share the gospel? No. It seems clear that in this passage Paul is alone. However, the support of his brothers and sisters in Christ is what gives him boldness.

We can support one another in prayer, we can ask each other about opportunities to witness, we can strengthen and encourage one another.

Together we find boldness to proclaim. But that’s not all. Not only do we find boldness to proclaim when we are together. Secondly, we have…

Not only do we find boldness to proclaim when we are together. Secondly, we have…

b. Boldness to persist vv. 22-23

READ v. 22

This is what Paul does (S). Lands in Caesarea, goes to Jerusalem, then back to Antioch.

Paul the missionary, has returned to his sending church.

With this verse Paul’s second missionary journey ends. He started in Antioch and he ends there. It is believed to be about 2 years since Paul left Antioch.

This is part of what keeps missionaries going. Knowing that they have a support team at their home church who is with them. A support team that has their back no matter what! We need to be this for one another.

The ability to persist, to carry on when things get tough, comes from having those who help you make it through!

Part of Paul’s ability to endure all his trials came from those who were supporting him in prayer, finances, and physical presence.

v. 23 Why do these disciples need strengthening?

READ v. 23

We have no idea how long he stayed. But eventually, Paul leaves for his third missionary journey (S). This journey is a mission of encouragement or strengthening.

Strengthening – ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērizō) strengthen. To confirm. To make more marked by firm determination or resolution.

Strengthening – ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērizō)

Why do these disciples need strengthening?

Paul established the Galatian churches on his first missionary journey with Barnabas. When they preached in Antioch of Pisidia (S) they were initially well received. But when they became popular, the Jews persecuted them and chased them off. What do you think life was like for those believers left in Antioch? Probably filled with persecution!

In Iconium (S) there was an attempt to stone Paul and Barnabas. tells us that the city was divided. Some liked the apostles and some were with the Jews. In this kind of an environment a church would be faced with constant tension.

They left Iconium and went to Lystra (S) where they were first taken for god’s and then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and they stoned Paul, leaving him for dead! In a city willing to do that, what must the believers have faced?

These are the churches from the first missionary journey that Paul now encourages. We will see him visit the churches from his second missionary journey in chapter 20.

The bottom line is that in almost every city where Paul had planted a church there was persecution and suffering.

In Philippi they were beaten and imprisoned. While the jailer did come to Christ, there was a certain level of hostility to the gospel and those who proclaimed it.

In Thessalonica the Jews caused an uproar and dragged Jason to the magistrates. Then these Jewish unbelievers followed Paul, Silas, and Timothy to Berea and persecuted them there as well. In Athens there were those who mocked. In Corinth Paul was brought before the judgment seat.

The bottom line is that in almost every city where Paul had planted a church there was persecution and suffering.

The churches in these places would have had a tough time. And so Paul goes to strengthen them.

Churches should provide encouragement and strength to one another.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Galatian churches he said this; (S).

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We are to bear one another’s burdens. Do we?

When we bear burdens, we strengthen.

Having burden bearers is an essential part of persistence.

We need people who will come alongside us and strengthen us. We also need to be the kind of people who come alongside others and strengthen them.

Having fellowship within the body of Christ gives us boldness. That boldness enables us to proclaim the gospel and it enables us to persist when life is hard.

We are better together because together we find boldness. Reason #2. We are better together because…

Reason #2. We are better together because…

2. Together We Find Instruction vv. 24-28

In Bible school there was one particular teacher that everyone loved. One of the reasons we loved him was because the class period before any test we took of his he would literally read us the questions and answer them in class.

That meant that in order to get an A on any of his tests all you had to do was write down the answers.

Now, sometimes he would go through the questions too fast for one person to write it all down. So my roommate and I would split the questions up and do every other question.

Because we worked together we were able to learn more and pass the tests.

What I would miss, he would catch and what he would miss, I would catch.

When the body of Christ functions as it has been designed, this is what happens. We are able to support and strengthen one another.

has a powerful lesson about how instruction is to be passed on (S).

2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

This is exactly what we see happen in this next passage. First Apollos is instructed, then he instructs others. These verses reveal two types of instruction. First we find…

a. Instruction that equips vv. 24-26

READ v. 24

We learn a lot about Apollos here in v. 24.

He’s Jewish, from Alexandria, eloquent, mighty in Scripture, and he came to Ephesus.

When Luke calls him “eloquent” the idea is that he is able to speak with precision, reason, and learning.

Apollos is an educated man who is able to communicate well.

Along with that he is “mighty in the Scriptures.” This means that he was capable. He had great ability with the Scriptures.

He is knowledgeable, persuasive, and able to explain Scripture.

This is the foundation for equipping – Scripture.

i. The foundation for equipping v. 24 – Scripture

This book is what we use to equip the saints. This book is what we teach and learn from.

Our ability to equip others is determined by our knowledge of God’s Word.

READ v. 25

Apollos had been taught the way of the Lord. He was passionate, and so he teaches what he knows.

Now, all he knows is the baptism if John. This means that he was teaching and proclaiming “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He was essentially still trying to prepare for Christ’s coming.

What I love here is his passion. He clearly and powerfully teaches what he knows of Scripture.

If we would all be faithful to teach what we know, this world would be much different.

He gives us a formula for equipping – Accuracy.

ii. The formula for equipping v. 25 – Accuracy

Mighty is the idea of being capable. He had great ability with the Scriptures.

ii. The formula for equipping v. 25 – Accuracy

We don’t just teach the Word; we teach it accurately.

READ v. 26

This is one of my most favorite passages of Scripture in all of the Bible. Why? Because it shows us how the church should operate.

This godly couple hears Apollos speaking and instead of going home and talking about how he was passionate but didn’t know the whole truth, they take him aside and teach him. Now, did you notice the part where Apollos went up to them and asked to be discipled? Me neither. They didn’t wait to be asked! They took the initiative. Sometimes we use this excuse, “I would disciple someone, but no has asked me.” Shame on us! Don’t wait to be asked! Find someone and disciple them. If someone asks to disciple you, don’t get offended. All of us need to grow and mature.

Priscilla and Aquila grab Apollos and instruct him. They are equipping this gifted man to teach better! The focus of their equipping is the Way of God. They want him to understand that Jesus has come!

iii. The focus of equipping v. 26 – The Way of God

This is what discipleship should look like. Mature believers taking younger believers under their wing to teach them truth.

The emphasis in this passage is on handling the Word of God accurately. The verse that immediately comes to mind when considering that is (S).

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How can someone rightly divide or correctly handle the Word if no one ever teaches them?

We need to be identifying the gifts of those around us and equipping them to use those gifts with maximum effect for the glory of God!

That’s what is taking place here. So the mandate for all of us is simple, yet difficult.

Know the Word and teach it with accuracy.

This is our mandate. This is how we instruct others. It is a lifelong process to know the Word and it takes hard work to teach it accurately. Yet, this is what we are called to do.

Is this a concern that we have? Are we willing to engage passionate people who have been mislead or mis-taught? Will we take them aside and teach them the Word? Are we concerned with accuracy?

Priscilla and Aquila give of their time and resources as they instruct Apollos. Why bother? Because they want him to be equipped to do what God has called Him to do. Their instruction equips him. The second type of instruction we see here is…

b. Instruction that encourages vv. 27-28

READ v. 27

After his time of instruction with Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos heads to Achaia (S). Already in Ephesus there is a group of believers who write to those in Achaia asking them to receive him.

This is one of the first times we see a letter of recommendation and introduction sent from church to church. When Apollos arrives he is a huge asset to the churches in Achaia.

ii. Encouraged by his presentation v. 28

This is now the third generation. The instruction and equipping went from Paul to Priscilla and Aquila, then from them to Apollos, now from Apollos to those in Ephesus and Achaia.

This is why discipleship is so powerful! Our impact is multiplied when we raise and train other believers. Those who invested in Paul are a part of this as well.

At the end of the verse Luke throws in that these believers came through grace.

This is something that we stress often because it can never be emphasized too much. Salvation is by grace through faith. We cannot earn it, we do not work for it, salvation comes by grace not works. This is what separates Christianity from all other religions. We do not believe in performance based salvation. We can never become deserving of grace. It is given because we don’t deserve it.

How was Apollos a great help to these believers?

READ v. 28

Apollos was an apologist. v. 24 states that he was eloquent and mighty in Scripture.

With passionate speech he exposed the error in what the Jews were believing and teaching.

How did He do this? He proved from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ.

This doesn’t mean that he had them turn to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in their Bibles. They didn’t have the NT. Even if they did, the Jews wouldn’t have accepted it. They still don’t.

Apollos used the Old Testament to prove Jesus is the Christ. That’s what this word “show” means. It means to prove.

How did Apollos use the OT to prove Jesus was the Messiah?

- Jesus was born where prophesied (S).

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

- Jesus was born of a virgin (S).

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

- Jesus died as prophesied (S).

Psalm 22:16–18 NKJV

For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

- Jesus is the only one who has ever fit this description.

Isaiah 53 NKJV

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53 NKJV

We cannot be dogmatic about what Scriptures Apollos would have used to prove Jesus was the Messiah. But we can be confident that you can use just the OT and preach Jesus as the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Here’s the challenging thought. Apollos would have never had this ministry if not for the faithfulness of what we would call a regular couple. These working class, small business owners, took a young believer under their wing and equipped him to serve.

You might think to yourself that you can’t have an impact. Maybe you are not gifted in public speaking, maybe your not quick with an answer. You know what you can do? What all of us can do? Regardless of our limitations, we can share what we know with others. We can take new believers and teach them what we know. Through those discipling relationships, we can have an impact far beyond our personal sphere of influence.

Let me illustrate that for you.

These are my grandparents (S). Wayne and Pauline Goza. Though always active in church they’ve never had the chance to go on a missions trip. Never preached a sermon, never led a revival. What they did, was raise three children to know and love Jesus. One of those was my mom. Through those three children and their children God has literally reached people all over the world. Their children and grandchildren have shared the gospel on 5 continents, in 16 countries, in 39 US states, and in 148 cities. In 17 cities people have trusted Christ. Members of the family have directly led 95 people to Christ.

Beloved, be faithful. When we faithfully serve the Lord where He has placed us, He will use us for His purpose and glory.

I want to challenge all of you to invest in the life of a younger believer. Don’t wait to be asked.

Priscilla and Aquila didn’t wait for Apollos to ask! They grabbed a gifted, passionate, man and they taught him. God then used him to instruct and encourage others.

Faithful, consistent discipleship broadens our impact.

You may never be able to go overseas, you may never preach a sermon or lead a revival or any number of things. What you can do is invest in someone who will.

Conclusion

All of us would recognize and admit that we are in a Spiritual battle. What we may not be as quick to recognize is that we cannot fight this battle alone. Yes, we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but we also need our fellow soldiers.

The church is described in Scripture using the picture of a body.

In order to function well and accomplish its goals, a body needs all of its parts.

We need one another. We need one another because…

Together we find boldness.

Does anyone else struggle to be bold? Or is it just me?

I’ll be honest, sharing my faith to a stranger terrifies me. I want to be accepted and liked, and the Cross offends people.

I need all of you! I need my brothers and sisters to help me be bold!

We don’t just need boldness in sharing our faith, we need to boldly endure persecution, trials and hardships.

The hands ability to endure and heal depends on its connection to the rest of the body.

The body of Christ is no different. To endure and heal, we need one another.

We also need one another because…

Together we find instruction.

Every single time I stand in this pulpit I do so because of what others have invested in me. I heard my Dad faithfully preach the Word all my life. I had teachers at Bible school who taught me how to handle the Word.

Not one of us is self-made. We are the product of the investments made by others.

The equipping and encouraging needed in the body of Christ will only happen in community.

We are better together.

Here is what I pray for Grace Church.

I pray our hearts would be drawn together.

I pray our fellowship would create boldness in sharing and living our faith.

I pray our discipleship would equip and encourage.

I pray that Christ would use us for His purpose and glory.

May we grow in Christ and preach the gospel.

Acts 18:18–28 NKJV

So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 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. 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. 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; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

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