Teamwork makes the Dream Work
Notes
Transcript
In Acts 18, Paul just left Athens where he was waiting for Silas and Timothy. In the waiting he was preaching the gospel and telling the men and women in the Areopagus, the city hall of Athens, about the Lord and giving them an opportunity to receive Christ.
1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 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, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
He met Aquila because he was a fellow tentmaker. They connected at work. Aquila and his wife Priscilla were Jews who got kicked out of Rome because they were Jews and put down roots in Corinth.
Through that connection, Aquila and Priscilla were loyal followers in Paul’s ministry and faithful servant of Jesus.
As church members, we must be faithful to grow, to attend, to give, to serve. When we are faithful that’s when we can help our church be more fruitful.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK
Some couples know how to make the most of life. They complement each other, capitalize on each other’s strengths, and form an effective team. Their united efforts have a profound effect on those around them. Aquila and Priscilla were such a couple. The Bible never mentions them separately. In marriage and ministry, they were together. Working in concert, they made an eternal difference in countless lives.
Consider your marriage. Do you and your spouse enjoy an intimacy that overflows into ministry? If not, what prevents you from being a dynamic duo for the Lord?
Priscilla and Aquila were marriage and ministry partners.
18 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.
Four timeless qualities enabled Priscilla and Aquila to have a marriage that resulted in major ministry:
They were steeped in the Truth of God’s Word.
(Remember that Priscilla and Aquila spent a great deal of time with Paul making tents together.
I’m sure they heard Paul teach and preach many, many times. This is how they were able to pull Apollos aside and explain the gospel to him.
They were competent in handling the Scriptures.
They had an eye on Eternity.
They were tentmakers by trade but they were focused on something far more significant.
They were investing in people and seeking first to build Christ’s church!
They had an attitude of Availability
Their home was always open
They were always willing to pull up stakes and go where they were needed.
They were radically committed to Ministry.
Everywhere they went, lives were touched.
Because they were active, sensitive, faithful, and steady, they ended up having an impact on three of the most influential Christian leaders of their day—Paul, Apollos, and Timothy!
How much ministry takes place in your marriage?
Take Away:
They were steeped in the Truth of God’s Word.
They had an eye on Eternity.
They had an attitude of Availability
They were radically committed to Ministry.