Trusting God with People and Timing

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Start with Application Testimony

[Give people an opportunity to share how they applied what we learned last week]

Last lesson’s question: What will you do this week to treat people like they truly belong to God, and not to you?

INTRO

Paul has been traveling on his second missionary journey for a while, traveling largely with Silas and Timothy

In the first part of chapter 18, Paul had traveled to Corinth and stayed there for over 18 months, planting and building a church community there

The Lord had told him to stay for a while and that he had nothing to fear, because the Lord had “many people in this city”

It was during this stay in Corinth that Paul wrote two letters back to the small group of believers in Thessalonica, carried by Timothy who brought back reports of how they were doing (the books 1 & 2 Thessalonians)

In this lesson we will see Paul conclude his second missionary journey and finally returning to Antioch, then almost immediately set out on a third missionary journey

We will also see some new ministry leaders come in to the picture, in the areas that Paul had traveled through

READ

Question to consider as we read:

What is the hardest part of trusting God with other people?

Acts 18:18–28 CSB

18 After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

EXAMINE

What are the key points in this passage?

#1 | Paul, Priscilla & Aquila, and Apollos could have chosen ego, anxiety, and jealously

Paul could have:

stayed in Corinth too long because things were going well there

stayed in Ephesus after seeing how well he was being received

been anxious that the people of Ephesus would fall in love with Priscilla and Aquila and forget about him

been jealous of Apollos, who spent more time in Ephesus than Paul and was now ministering to the church in Corinth (Note: “Achaia” was a region that included Corinth)

Priscilla and Aquila could have:

been unwilling to stay behind - afraid of missing out on where Paul was going next

been jealous and defensive for Paul and not helped Apollos become a better teacher, out of fear that he could steal attention from Paul

Apollos could have:

been too defensive to receive instruction from Priscilla and Aquila

been too arrogant to think he needed a letter of recommendation

#2 | Instead Paul, Priscilla & Aquila, and Apollos all chose humility, teamwork, and focus on their calling

They trusted God’s timing and plan

Acts 18:20–21 When they asked [Paul] to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

This is a simple statement from Paul, but it reveals the faith he had that God would take him to the right people and places at the right time

They loved each other, but they weren’t co-dependent

Acts 18:19 When they reached Ephesus [Paul] left them there...

We can see in Paul’s letters to these early churches that they formed strong bonds of love and concern for one another

But their trust in God included trusting him with the preservation of their relationships, which created healthy boundaries in those relationships

Consider what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 3:9–12 “How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you.”

They focused on the work and not their ego

Acts 18:27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him...

Their focus was on building God’s Kingdom, not Paul’s or anyone else’s

If Apollos had been called by God to go to Corinth, then the other leaders and believers wanted that work to go well

You can see this same attitude in Paul’s incredible words in Philippians 1:15–18 “To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will… 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice”

Paul didn’t care if people preached the gospel just to hurt him and steal his reputation - he just wanted to see God’s kingdom advancing and people getting saved. Wow!

They were okay with other people being loved more

Years later, we know from Paul’s letters that there were many in Corinth who lost interest in Paul and even saw him as an inferior apostle

Some chose to follow Apollos or Peter instead of Paul - even after Paul had been “like a father” to them (1 Cor 4:14-15)

Paul made it clear in his letters back to them, that he was never “in it” for their love or appreciation. He was in it for them. Consider his words:

1 Corinthians 1:11–15 “For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas (Peter),” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name.”

2 Corinthians 12:14–15 “Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want people to feel the liberty to explore the topics of the passage that stand out to them. Select the questions from below that you think are right for the conversation, or add your own. Questions should be focused, yet open-ended. Wherever the conversation goes, help your group “land the plane” on the core idea of the lesson when you wrap up.]

What are some struggles that Apollos may have had, going to minister in a town where Paul had just spent 18 months building the church community?

Paul didn’t want things from people, he wanted things for people. What is the difference?

How does anxiety in our relationships, reveal a lack of trust in God?

Where we want to “land the plane”

Trusting God with people and timing is really about giving up control - which is the real test of trust. When we truly trust God, we form healthier relationships and are more effective in the work God has called us to do.

Application question for the Week

[Encourage people to provide an answer now, if they are able - to provide an opportunity for accountability and praise reports the following week.]

How will you practice trusting God in your relationships this week? (Think work, friendships, community, family)

REFLECT

Prayer Points for Today

Ask the Lord to reveal insecurities in our relationships with people, that are actually insecurities in our relationship with Him.

FOOTNOTES

The actual length of Paul’s stay in Corinth is unclear because the 18 months (v. 11) may be dated from the time of Paul’s vision (vv. 9–10) or it may include all of Paul’s time in Corinth (from v. 5 on). Paul then left Corinth, heading for his sending church, Antioch on the Orontes River in Syria. But before he left he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, Corinth’s southeastern port, because of a vow he had taken. When Paul made this vow is unstated. He may have made it when he left Troas for Macedonia, or at the beginning of his ministry at Corinth, or more likely, before the Lord gave him the vision (vv. 9–10). During the vow Paul would have let his hair grow. Now the time of the Nazirite vow was over (after about a year and a half), and Paul got a haircut at Cenchrea (cf. Num. 6:1–21). Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 407.