130407 Follow Up, the Missing Element in Evangelism

Acts 18:19–28 (NKJV) 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 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. 22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 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. 26 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. 27 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; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Introduction

1. Paul on the move, Acts 18:18-20 from Ephesus to Jerusalem

a. Priscilla and Aquila travel with Paul to Ephesus

b. He Leaves Them There & Continues on

2. Stopped by Antioch and spent some time there.

Strengthening & Receiving Strength

1. Strengthening the Disciples, Acts 18:23

a. Checked on them…follow up on people…see how they are doing

Beginning with Acts 18:24 we have our first introduction to Apollos.

Acts 18:24 (NKJV)

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

Seven other passages Acts 19:1; 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:5, 6; 4:6; 16:12; Titus 3:13

Apollos was a Jew, which meant he had the background of the Mosaic Law. His name, Apollos, is Greek. So he was a Hellenistic Jew. He hadn’t been born in Greece or in that area of Macedonia; he was born at Alexandria in North Africa, at the mouth of the Nile River in Egypt.

Alexandria, was founded by Alexander the Great, and was one of the great centers of Greek culture. It was quiet a cosmopolitan area having over ½ million people from many nations.

A great university was there and it had one of the finest libraries in the world, containing some 700,000 volumes.

It was there that a Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, was made. There was a Jewish temple in Alexandria.

The great center of the early church moved from Jerusalem and Antioch to Alexandria, and it remained important for several centuries of early church history. Athanasius, Tertullian, and Augustine, three great men of the early church came from there.

We are told that he was “an eloquent man,” a great preacher. Also he was “mighty in the scriptures,” which means he was well trained in the Old Testament.

Acts 18:25 (NKJV)

25 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.

That he had been “instructed in the way of the Lord” means he had an education by word of mouth not by revelation. This is a common phrase often used in the O.T., to refer to the teachings and instructions of the Lord God for His people.

Some believe Apollos was a disciple of John the Baptist. He, like John, preached a baptism of repentance in order to be prepared for God’s Messiah. Unlike John the Baptist, Apollos had not yet been introduced to Jesus Christ as the One promised by the O.T. Scriptures to bring about man’s redemption and salvation.

He spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. He taught everything that he had learned, but he knew only about the baptism of John. He couldn’t go any further than that. He had not heard of Jesus or at least he was unaware of the teachings of Christ, His death, burial and resurrection. He did not yet know of salvation by grace through faith alone.

Acts 18:26 (NKJV)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.

They invited Apollos home for dinner after the service. They realized that his information was very limited; so they told him about Jesus. Here is a beautiful example of how God can use a woman to help instruct a lost preacher.

Acts 18:27 (NKJV) 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;

Apollos was a brilliant man, but up until the time that Aquila and Priscilla took him home for dinner, he didn’t know the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 18:28 (NKJV)for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

“He vigorously refuted the Jews publicly or He mightily convinced, (KJV)” the Jews, showing them by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ. He had taught zealously the things of the Old Testament up through the ministry of John the Baptist. He knew nothing beyond the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla had the privilege of bringing him up to date and also to conversion. He then went to Achaia, visiting the churches in Greece, including Corinth and Athens, preaching Jesus as the Messiah and Savior.

a. Nothing replaces the scriptures, verse 28, showing from the Scriptures

b. Helping others in verse 27, “he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;”

c. Notice the cycle of being strengthened and then in turn strengthening others.

d. His message? 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Why is follow up so important?

Follow Up Strengthens the Ministry, Acts 18:23

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

Follow Up Strengthens the Mighty, Acts 18:24-26

Follow Up Strengthens the Members, Acts 18:27

27 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;

Steps to Good Follow Up (Three degrees or levels of Follow Up)

Immediate Follow Up

Def. The follow up effort that begins immediately after a believer accepts Christ as Savior. (First few minutes to the first three days following conversion)

Advance Preparation – If we wait to begin follow up after a conversion or a new member joins we are already behind.

Illustration of new parents preparing for the arrival of their new baby…..

Steps to take in Advance Preparation:

Step 1 – Determine who will oversee and give direction to follow up ministry.

Step 2 – Select and obtain counseling and follow up materials we will use.

Step 3 – Enlist and train counselors

Step 4 – Enlist and train encouragers

Step 5 – Enlist and train New Christians/New Members mentors

Step 6 – Plan for a New Members Class

Step 7 – Plan an ongoing environment conducive to making newcomers feel welcome and a part of the overall church program.

Step 8 – Provide Counseling by a trained counselor as soon as decision is made.

Step 9 – Magnify the importance of the decision when presenting new members to the church family.

Step 10 – Assign new members to Deacon Family Ministry Plan

Step 11 – Assign new members to an Encourager

Step 12 – Telephone new members one day after the decision

Step 13 – Make follow up visit within 48 hours

Short-Term Follow Up

Def. The follow up effort that continues several days after a new believer’s conversion through the first month.

Step 14 – Send a series of follow-up letters appropriate for decision that was made

Step 15 – Enroll new member and encourager in New Member training

Step 16 – Visit by Sunday School Teacher

Step 17 – Visit by Deacon

Step 18 – Baptism

Ongoing Follow Up

Def. The follow up efforts that continue on behalf of a new believer after one month through the first year or longer, as needed.

Step 19 – Progress Reports from Encourager after Two Weeks, One Month, Three Months

Step 20 – Continued Discipleship Training

Step 21 – Involve New Members in roles of serving and ministering to others.

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