Slices
Prepare
Thank God for those who have shared the gospel and encouraged you in your Christian life. Be specific!
Bible passage
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, ‘I will come back if it is God’s will.’ Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and travelled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Explore
Apollos made a considerable impact, through God’s grace, on the believers (v 27). Paul wrote, ‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow’ (1 Corinthians 3:6) when people said they preferred Apollos to Paul. And Luke attributes the impact of Apollos’ ministry to God’s grace alone.
Sometimes one notices in a church or group there’s just one leader, keeping a firm control on everything and everyone. Or that someone is jealous of the ministry or work of another. What do you learn in these verses about how the early church worked?
They blessed the ministry of others, giving them the freedom to develop their part in God’s work of grace. Far from limiting Apollos when he hadn’t grasped the full implications of the gospel, it seems Aquila and Priscilla, themselves newly part of the ministry team, gently taught him and encouraged him (v 26).
How easy do you find it to do everything yourself and be in control? Take care: it can lead to burnout for you and it stifles the gifts and ministry of others who are also able through God’s grace to be a part of the work. Paul has now added a number of people to his team and, far from finding that a threat, he can see that it has enabled the ministry to spread.
Respond
Pray for your church leaders to have discernment in encouraging others.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ecclesiastes 4,5; 2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Commit to fast and pray for children and young people in your area. Ask that God would continue leading more and more of them to actively seek him out. (This weeks prayers are related this this article in Connecting You.)
