Mission of God, for the Glory of God: Acts 18

Introduction

Grandfather

Around Thanksgiving my maternal grandfather went to be with the Lord. He was 85 years old, and would be 86 today actually.

He was a great man, but by no means extrordinary concerning the ways the world deems extrordinary.

He was born and raised and lived in the same community for those 85 years.

His father started a small Barber and Beauty Supply store in that community, and my grandfather worked and ran that business for 50 years.

One career for his whole life.

By personality he wasn’t gregarious, charismatic, or dynamic.

Just faithful.

But as we prepared for his funeral and held his visitation I was overwhelmed by the substantial impact he had on that community, his family, but most of all the Kingdom of God.

At the visitation I got to see all my cousins, Pawpaw’s grandkids, who were also raised in that community. 7 in all.

But all their kids were there too: 12 greatgrands in all.

And through the success of his business, and deep generosity he had opened an investment account for every one of his grands and great grands.

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,”

But once the family had a time for the viewing, we opened the doors and although the community only boasts a population of 7,000 I think there may have been that many come through the funeral home to offer their comfort and condolances.

We stood there from 6-9pm without a break. Shaking hands, catching up, meeting new faces. And everyone of them would say something to the effect of...

I worked for your grandfather for 20 years. He was such a great man.

I rented from your grandfather in a tough time in my life, without him I don’t know where we’d be.

I served with your grandfather at church, he was a prime biblical example of what a deacon should be.

And on and on and on, for 3 hours.

How many of you know somebody like my grandfather? Nothing inherently special. No real popularity or big following. Just faithful.

Faithful to his family. Faithful to his job. Faithful to his church. Faithful to his God.

The Temptation with Acts

As we have surveyed the beginnings of God’s church in the book of Acts, I think it’s so easy to be inspired and encouraged by the incredible exploits of people like Paul, but also tempted to walk away every Sunday and think… Well Paul is amazing, but I could never be used like that.

What do I have to offer the Kingdom of God?

“I’m just a stay at home mom.”

I’m just a port logistics manager.

or engineer

or restaurant worker.

I’m just a Soldier.

I’m just a teacher.

What do I have to offer the Kingdom of God?

But there is no “I’m JUST” in the Kingdom of God.

Because if you are a part of the Kingdom of God, then the Spirit of God, the very spirit that raised Christ from the dead, resides within you. And if God’s Spirit lives in you, then you are never just a “JUST”

With the Spirit of God you are a vessel.

An instrument of the Spirit of God engaged in the mission of God, for the Glory of God.

So whoever you are, and whatever you do or wherever you go, if the Spirit of God dwells in you, then you can be engaged in the mission of God for the Glory of God.

Text

So over the last several weeks we have seen and focused on the wonderful exploits of the Apostle Paul, but in our text today we are going to see that the mission of God isn’t reserved for the spiritual special forces or outsourced to full time vocational ministers. But that everyone plays a role.

Whoever you are, whatever you do or wherever you go… you are to be engaged in the mission of God for the Glory of God.

So let’s read the first portion of our text

Acts 18:1–22 ESV

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

Physical Work

Context

Paul is still on his 2nd Missionary Journey, fulfilling his comission to preach Christ to the ends of the earth. And after leaving Athens, he heads to the city of Corinth

Corinth is totally different than Athens. Athens was the city of intellectuilism and culture, and boasted a popluation of 10,000.

Corinth is the commerical and economic center of Greece and had about 200,000 people. It sat on the coast on an ithsmus, or bottom of the “boot of Italy”.

Now the seas south of Italy were treacherous so it made Corinth incredibly popular for trade.

Boats from the East would dock, unload, and carry cargo east to west (3.5miles) to the port on the west to board another vessel to continue its journey. THe boats from the West would do the same.

So this was a city of incredible trade, but also dark carnality.

It was a city steeped in illicit sex and wealth, and whatever happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth.

And when Paul arrives, Acts 18:2-3 “he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”

Rome was in dissary regarding the fierce contention around Christ. So Claudius’s response was to rid the city of the troublemakers… all Jews. Orthodox or Messianic.

And Aquila and Priscilla had relocated to Corinth and were tent makers by trade, the same trade that Paul had probably learned as a child.

And upon finding this couple Paul, and Aquila and Priscalla WORKED.

Worked

They engaged the mission of God for the glory of God through Work.

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”

Did you know that on average you will spend 29.4% of your total waking life at work.

And yet although nearly 1/3 of our waking life will be spent working so many of us spend that time hating work. Grumbling, and moaning. And dreading work.

Believing Work to be part of the fall. That as sin came into the world, so did work.

But Work isn’t a consequence of the fall… And internally you just mumbled, “Well you don’t know my work.”

That may be true, but what you need is a theology of work.

Work was given before sin ever entered the world and therefore Work is a part of God’s perfect creation.

The fall of man only made work more difficult, and consequently our experience of work now involves toil and pain as well as life and pleasure.

But work itself was created good!

Which means, Work is good for you too. Unlike creatures not created in the Image of God, human beings crave meaning and purpose in our lives.

Work was designed to be a partial fulfillment of that meaning and purpose.

Work is the way we provide basic needs and help others with those needs.

Do you know why Paul was working as a Tentmaker in Corinth?

Because he was hungry! Because he needed clothes and lodging and food.

Work is part of God’s plan, and as Paul writes 1 Cor 10:31 “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

“Work heartily, as for the Lord.”

Are you? Are you working for the Lord at Work?

Do you possess a strong work ethic?

Would people be able to look at your work and think… “There’s something different about this person.”

Your employer ought to be able to say, “Man, these Christians are my best workers.”

Because you aren’t there just for a paycheck, but you’re there to glorify God.

Now I’m not talking a 70 hour work week to impress man. The kind of work that makes us feel important and try and communicate to others our importance. That’s not the point. The point is to work heartily as to the Lord and not to man.

So, do you view your work as an opportunity to engage the mission of God for the glory of God?

Now, a quick note for our stay at home mothers…

Husbands, if you come home from your 45-60 hour work week and feel entitled to sleep in, or not cook, or not contribute in parenting or in the organization of the home… our security team wants to have a word with you out back… I’m just kidding. But it is egregious to assume that just because a stay at home wife or mother isn’t earning a paycheck, they aren’t working.

Because ya’ll work! Often, for no compensation apart from glorifying God in the unglorifying work of diaper changing and cleaning, and household adminstration.

Annie left me for a day or so with all 4 of our kids and when she got home I looked her dead in the eye and said, “If you ever leave, I’m going with you.”

Ya’ll I was exhausted. So just because you aren’t receiving a paycheck doesn’t mean you’re not working, but just becuase you’re working doesn’t mean you’re working for the Lord.

Do you view the opportunity to stay at home as a chance to engage the mission of God for the glory of God”

In our text, Paul was working. Working to provide for himself, but also working to remove any cause for stumbling from the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 11:7 “Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?”

In Corinth there were itinerant preachers and philosophers that would bait and switch their audience. Smoothe talkers aimed at financial gain.

2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word for profit.

Paul didn’t want these people to think he was just some cheap peddler, so he worked and labored and toiled to make sure he offered the Gospel free of charge!

So he worked Monday-Friday and on the Sabbath day (vs. 4) he reasoned in the synagogue.

In our text, Aquila and Priscilla were also working.

They seemed to have employed the Apostle Paul.

They provided this lone ranger with meaningful employment that gave him security and comfort and stability.

When Paul first came to Corinth he writes, 1 Corinthians 2:3 “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,”

But landing a job under this beautiful married couple gave him stability.

Many of you are in positions where your WORK provides employment opportunity for others.

Are you aware of the stratgeic opportunity that gives you to enage the mission of God for the glory of God?

To be a covering for people who may come to you vulnerable.

Now some may scoff and say, “This ain’t a charity.”

And hey, listen I get it. Priscilla and Aquila didn’t give handouts they gave meaningful work.

But as disciples of Jesus Christ, their work had more meaning than offering a paycheck to their employee.

So Let me ask you, “Would your employees know that you are a follower of Christ by the fruit of your lips and the fruit of your lives?

Do you view your opportunity to provide employment as engaging in the mission of God for the glory of God?

Their work was also Remote.

That’s right, long before Covid made it popular, Priscilla and Aquila were engaged in a remote work environment.

When Paul was ready to leave Corinth (after 18 months) he wanted to head back to Antioch, completing his 2nd missionary journey.

His return took him through Ephesus, and although Paul didn’t linger there, Priscilla and Aquilla did (vs. 19).

In Ephesus, their remote work allowed them to disciple and mentor the young Apollos (who we will cover soon).

And when God was done with them there, apparently they took their work back to Rome and continued to serve the church all the while being full time tent makers (Romans 16:3 “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,” ). Romans 16:5 “Greet also the church in their house.”

With the flexibility of their trade, and remote nature of their work Priscilla and Aquilla were able to use their work in strategic cities, engaged in the mission of God for the Glory of God.”

Many of you have the same opportunity, but I wonder how many actually consider the mission of God for the glory of God a deciding factor in where they land for work?

I hear all the time how cost of living and housing markets dictate these types of decisions, but I believe God will actually place you in a strategic location for your work to engage the mission of God for the glory of God if you allow Him.

Another quick note: many in our church don’t necessarily work remotely, but you work transiently.

Most at the command of Uncle Sam.

I haven’t been around the military community long, but ya’ll what I see is a strategic opportunity even in the midst of transience to be engaged with the mission of God for the glory of God.

Don’t underestimate the impact God can have through you when you work heartily for Him.

Alright, I took some time there, but ya’ll it has to be said:

God created us to work. All of us. And you will spend a third of your waking life working.

But are you working to be engaged in the mission of God for the glory of God?

Because Paul and Priscilla and Aquila were.

Another way the characters in our text engage in the mission of God for the glory of God is through their Generosity

Generosity

Acts 18:5 “When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.”

Occupied

Circle the word occupied. That word means: to devote completely

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia (Remember they were left behind by Paul in Berea and Thessolinica), but their arrival to Corinth allowed Paul to DEVOTE HIMSELF COMPLETELY to the preaching of the Word.

Before this point Paul was only able to preach on the Sabbaths!? Why?

Because he had to work.

But at this juncture, Silas and Timothy came to Corinth and delivered Paul financial gifts from other churches!

Generosity

It is largely believed that here is where the church in Philippi fincially gave to Paul.

Philippians 4:15 “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.”

Remember that Rich lady Lydia? And that slave girl? And that jailer and their home? They used their mateiral generosity to engage the mission of God for the glory of God!

But it wasn’t just Phillipi. It was the churches in the region of Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 11:8-9 “I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need.”

Those brothers from Macedonia are Silas and Timothy and those churches in Macedonia include Berea and Thessalonica.

Other churches, sought to engage the mission of God for the glory of God by generosity.

Their financial gifts allowed Paul to put aside his M-F 9-5 to preach the Gospel full time in Corinth.

Paul would later write to the Corintians… those who had benefited from Macedonia’s giving

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:12 “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”

Paul would encourage his churches to be Generous Givers.

Because generous giving supplies the needs of the saints but also glorifies God by overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Practically what this means is that when you give generously to the mission of God promoted here at CBC Richmond Hill it supplies the needs of the church, our community, and the saints. But those that benefit turn around and give thanks to God for his provision, and care, and goodness which increases to the glory of God.

Now some of you have been in churches that make it feel like its all about money, and you’re sitting in your seat (uncomfortably close to your neighbor) thinking…

“Here we go again, they just want my money!”

NO! We don’t want your money, its that God wants your heart!

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Like Paul, Philippians 4:17 I don’t seek the gift, “but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.”

Are you Giving in order to be engaged in the mission of God, for the glory of God?

As a church, corporately we want to Give Generously.

In January we gave 10% of our Monthly Giving to Connection Church Richmond Hill to support the mission of God, for the glory of God in the planting of gospel centered churches in Richmond Hill.

In February we gave $1000 each to four families connected to our church that serve in international missions!

And in March we are currently praying about who we can give to domestically to engage the mission of God for the glory of God!

Are you giving? If not, you’re missing a unique opportunity to join God in His work for His glory.

But there’s one final thing I wish to say this morning:

Spiritual Gifts

Acts 18:23–28 ESV

After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

At this point Paul’s 2nd missionary journey is complete, vs. 22 he went to Antioch.

Verse 23 is a transition where Paul begins his 3rd missionary journey that focuses primarily on Ephesus as Coleman will share next week.

But after this transitory statement Luke introduces us to a man named Apollos

Apollos

was a Jew from Alexandria, which was in North Africa, but somewhere along the way he heard about Jesus and launched his own traveling ministry there in Ephesus.

But Luke makes an interesting note: Acts 18:25 “He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

We really don’t know what Luke intended in this statement, although Coleman may be able to shed some light on it.

But suffice it for today that it was clear enough that some things were lacking in Apollos’ understanding of Christ, to the point where Priscilla and Aquila noticed pretty quickly.

Acts 18:26 “and they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

Here’s the final point for us this morning:

Use your Spiritual Gifts in the mission of God for the Glory of God

We don’t know a ton about this couple, but we know that they used all God had given them for the mission of God and the glory of God.

We already saw how they used their work, but now they are using their gifts.

There are 2 specific passages of Scripture that lists Spiritual Gifts.

Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12

But each Scripture begins pretty similarly, and the overall principles of spiritual gifts are clear:

Each person may have a different gifts, but they are all given by the Same God for the Same Purpose:

To engage the Mission of God for the Glory of God! SO USE THEM!

And in 1 Corinthians 12:28 we read about a “gift of helping”

A spiritual gift believed to aid or render assitance to the church. The unique ability of some to move toward those in spiritual need with a kind word, or a scriptural truth.

And it is very clear to me that Priscalla and Aquila possessed this gift! But honestly, probably more Priscilla.

Because of the 7 times they are referenced in Scripture, 5x she is listed first which was unheard of for the time period.

And most commentators believe its because of her strong gifting!

But they each used their gifts!

They helped Paul when he arrived in Corinth.

They helped Apollos in his understanding in Ephesus.

They even wrote him a letter of recommendation for ministry to Corinth.

Paul would later write, Romans 16:3-5 “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.

They helped all the churches of the Gentiles!

These weren’t flashy, out front ministers of the Gospel… they just faithfully used their gift and helped the mission of God for the glory of God!

Are you aware of your spiritual gifts? Are you exercising your gifts for the mission of God to the glory of God?

Many may say, “I don’t know what my gift is...” Well discover it.

Read Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12, and prayerfully ask God what is true of you.

Begin serving.

Sometimes gifts are discovered through serving. And I don’t mean just serving the ministries of this local church (although our kids department would love to have you!)

But serve the MISSION OF GOD--- that extends outside these 4 walls.

You heard from Regan who engages the Mission of God for the glory of God with her gift in mercy.

You heard from her that the gift of discernment, and the gift of exhortation or sharing the gospel is also needed.

I know of some in our church who have the gift of leadership, and always seem to draw others into their development and counsel.

Time fails me to do a deep dive on spiritual gifts, but by definition Christ has given you gifts by His grace to be used in the mission of God for the glory of God.

Priscilla and Aquila did.

Conclusion

Let me land our plane for us:

Paul was a remarkable bondservant of Christ, and lived his converted life engaged in the mission of God for the glory of God.

And as we study Acts its easy to magnify Paul and distance ourselves from our unique roles in the mission of God.

But we all have roles, and our text today has provided 3 easy ways to engage:

Work

Give

& Serve for the mission of God, to the Glory of God

And a life faithfully given to the exercise of these 3 things for God’s glory will be a life of deep impact whoever you are, whatever you do, and wherever you go.

Communion

As a continuation of our worship as well as a visible disPlay of the gospel i just preached…we are going to take communion. If you are serving go ahead and start passing out

communion is a sacrament of the church, instituted by Christ, where he commanded us to regularly partake of it in “remembrance” of him.”

the bread represents Christ’s body and the juice his blood,

and this meal is for the believer, for those who by faith acknowledge what these symbols mean for them personally.

So if you aren’t a Christian, I kindly ask you to let the elements pass you by.

so take as the elements come around, and as john plays, remember Christ. and in a moment I’ll come back up to lead us through the meal together.

1 Corinthians 15.