Good News Strategy

Acts 18:1–11 ESV

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. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 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.” 7 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. 8 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. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 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.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

INTRODUCTION

Paul leaves the confines of the Areopagus behind and heads for Corinth. In Corinth, he finds a Jewish couple whose names are Aquila and Priscilla. They had a kindred spirit with Paul since they were all tentmakers by trade.

Corinth was another major city of Paul’s day, and it was the last major place of witness on his second missionary journey. John Stott is right when he says, “It seems to have been Paul’s deliberate policy to move purposefully from one strategic city-center to the next.”

After proclaiming the gospel message in the intellectual hub of Athens Paul moves 46 miles west proclaiming the good news to the commercial and immoral city of Corinth. Today the need to plan gospel centered Churches in cities remains urgent. Julius Caesar built a new Corinth after the Romans destroyed the old city. It was the largest and most cosmopolitan city of Greece. John Stott says that while the population of Ephesus was over a half a million, Corinth’s numbered nearly 750,000 people.

Timothy Keller once said that Athens was like Boston, an intellectual center; Corinth was like New York city, a commercial city; Ephesus was like Los Angeles, a popular culture and occult center; and Rome was like Washington DC; it was the political center.....

Corinth was known for its sexual promiscuity. The word translated “to live like a Corinthian” came to mean to live immorally. Despite the moral depravity, the city had a well-established synagogue.

All of these factors made ministry in the booming city of Corinth challenging. Look at how Paul describes his demeanor upon entering Corinth.

1 Corinthians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

Was it the:

Idolatry of the city that made him faint hearted?

Was it the Arrogance of the City?

Was it the cumulative effect of travel and facing various trials as he preached the good news.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 ESV

4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The solution the apostle offered tells us what should we do about sexual perversion and human arrogance in culture today. We must preach the fully sufficient, self-humiliating, self-denying cross of Christ. We mustn’t proclaim it in arrogance but in desperate reliance on the Spirit’s power as Paul did (cf. 1 Cor 2:4–5).

Here is what we learned about the Good News Strategy:

1. The Good News Strategy Never Takes a Vacation

*Idleness is not in the DNA of a Follower of Christ.

Only 13% are actively engaged in their work.

Gallup polled 142 countries to measure employ engagement and satisfaction in their job. The polling revealed that worldwide only about 13% of people actually engage at work. The bulk of employs worldwide lacked motivation.

Notice what a hard worker Paul is. The first thing he does is connect with some fellow tent makers and immediately begin working.

Aquila and Priscilla may have been Christians before they were expelled from the province of Rome. While they could have become Christians due to Paul’s influence we do not find that recorded anywhere in Luke’s account.

Paul at first labored in his trade during the week and then reasoned in the synagogue on the Sabbath. But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave himself fully to preaching the gospel of salvation. We do know as we read in 2 Cor. 11:9; and Phil. 4:14-15 that his companions brought him a monetary gift from the churches in Macedonia so, that the need to perform manual work lessened.

Is there a better model of hard work than the one Paul provides? The man is always on the go; he never misses a chance to preach; he’s writing faith-building letters in his off hours; and oh, and by the way, in his spare time, he makes tents!

Why was Paul’s ministry so effective? It was not just because he was a gifted teacher; it was because he had a great work ethic.

Christians should value and pursue a noble work ethic. Christians should outwork the rest of the world. (Don’t be a Lazy Christian)

Romans 12:11 ESV

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

OCCUPIED WITH THE WORD

How are you occupied with the word of God? How do we occupy our time with meaningless things?

We see how devoted Paul was to the word of God. This word holds with it the idea of being “absorbed” or “engrossed” in a work.

OPPOSITION

Anytime we speak the Good News to unbelievers we must tell them that they are responsible for responding to the message. We must do our part and leave the rest up to God.

We notice that it was not long before Paul’s message about the crucified and resurrected Christ reached the ears of the opposition. Just as he did Antioch - he shifted his focus to the Gentiles.

He even shook off his garments which was a show of protest against their hardheartedness. When do we shake off our garments and let the truth of the gospel stay while we move to those who have ears to hear? Apparently they began to speak abusively against Paul’s message.

Paul shook off his cloak to symbolize a breaking with the Jews. This is similar to what Jesus instructed the disciples to do in Matt. 10:14 when they saw that the listeners would not accept the gospel message.

Paul explained his action further by saying, “your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless, and from now on I will be going to the Gentiles.”

Blood was the very substance of your life blood that is on your head. We are only responsible for bringing the good news to the world, we are not responsible for how they receive or do not receive the message.

RESULTS

Many Corinthians on hearing Paul give the Good News Believed and were Baptized.

The message of the gospel will never come back void in a person's life it always produces some kind of results, whether it's reluctance, derision, anger, skepticism, or salvation.

PAUL’S VISION

#1 Commands

Do not be afraid (do you think Paul was afraid?).

Fear is one of the most debilitating things that Satan uses against us. By contrast, God continually tells his people not to be afraid. Jesus exhorts his disciples in John 16:33 to take heart because he has overcome the world. The instruction for Paul not to fear is in the verb tense that would suggest that Paul had struggled with fear.

Continue to speak and do not be silent

Paul is commanded to keep talking. Not that Paul was ever short on words to say. He is possibly speaking more to the content of Paul’s message than to the act of speaking. In our woke culture today there has become a move of pastors to water down what the Bible teaches about certain things in order to make it more digestible for culture.

#2 Promises

I am with you and will protect you from harm.

The very first verse of Acts, Luke writes that in his first book he told Theophilus all that Jesus began to do and teach. He now implies that in Acts Jesus continues his work. This is a vivid illustration of Jesus’ direct involvement in the growth of the Church. Jesus did not leave us here alone to figure this thing out on our own. The very final words of encouragement from Jesus before he left for heave are found in Matt. 28:20 “....I am with you always, to the end of the age. He also assures Paul that no one is going to lay hands on him to harm him in anyway.

Many people in this city are mine.

Jesus guarantees that that Paul’s efforts in Corinth will not come up empty it will bear fruit. God himself calls people to eternal life. In essence there are people in Corinth that are His they just do not know it yet.

Note: There was a short united attack against Paul that landed him before the proconsul of Achaia. Notice that the charge is always the same, Paul is persuading, or reasoning Jews to worship a God contrary to the law. Paul was about to defend himself when Gallio said to the Jews all this comes down to question, words, and names and your own law, take care of the situation yourself.

1st Stop

After this Paul stayed for a time longer and then he left the brothers for a while headed for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. He came to Ephesus leaving his companions he immediately went to the Synagogue to reason with the Jews. This group of Jews asked Paul to stay longer he responded that he would return if the Lord would.

2nd Stop

He lands at Caesarea to check on the church plant where he had met Lydia. The key picture of discipleship is a long-term investment. From there he traveled to check on the Galatians and Phrygia churches to strengthen the believers.

2. The Good News Strategy Is Gospel Centered Instruction

Aquila and Priscilla Filling in the Gaps

Acts 18:24–26 ESV

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 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. 26 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.

*We are Called to Fill in the Gaps Where they are Missing

Apollos Needed Clarification on Baptism

Apollos was a well educated man who is a native of Alexandria an intellectual center renowned for its library. Years earlier the Alexandrian community had produced a Greek translation of the Old Testament. The city was also famously known for its famous philosophical scholars like Philo and later religious scholars like Clement, Athanasius, and Origen.

The Problem:

We notice that it became clear that Apollos only knew the baptism of John the Baptist. Some have questioned whether we should label him a believer since he only knew John’s baptism. And since the Holy Spirit is the dividing factor between John’s baptism and that of Jesus.

There are times in giving the good news that you will find someone who has faulty theology because of the information they have been given, it does not necessarily mean that they have not understood and received the gift of Salvation. Aquila and Priscilla needed to explain baptism “more accurately”. (v. 26)

They would have taught him how in Christian baptism, the triune God places his name on his people. The ordinance vividly displays our union with Christ in his death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal 3:27). How do you correct someone with as much knowledge and intellect as Apollos. Notice that they do not rebuke him publically. They do not wish to embarrass or shame him in anyway. They demonstrate great humility and compassion in addressing him, but they also demonstrate their conviction.

Error We Make

It would be wrong to allow someone to continue in error. Instead, you address the instruction in a Christ-Centered and God-honoring way.

Sometimes disciple making will resemble this scene involving Apollos, Aquila, and his wife. You may not need to correct a teacher, but you may need to pull a brother or sister aside to discuss a doctrinal matter privately. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to disciple a younger believer in private, showing him or her what Scripture says about the essentials of the faith in a setting that invites questions. Remember, this type of personal disciple making is important. No one needs to stand behind a pulpit to teach.

Results

The best thing we can gather from this interaction is now seeing Apollos go on and take hold of the instruction that he has been given so that he can more effectively and accurately spread the good news of the gospel.

The Ephesians Needed the Holy Spirit

While Apollos continued to water the seed, Paul has now arrived in Ephesus, the major stop on this third missionary journey.

Acts 19:1–10 ESV

1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

We now have the 12 almost but not all the way Christians if there is such a thing. Apollos that we just left taught accurately about Jesus and was fervent in the Holy Spirit, but the same cannot be said for this Group. In fact they had never heard of the Holy Spirit before Paul arrived.

Those Who Lack the Holy Spirit

What led Paul to inquire about whether these men had the Holy Spirit or not. Perhaps Paul observed something in their behavior that lead him to ask them some important spiritual questions. Look what Paul writes in Romans 8:9

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

“IF anyone does not have the spirit of Christ he is not saved.”

After the clear clarification on the Spirit notice that the baptism was immediate, Paul laid his hands on them, and they experienced the spirits presence and power.

The problem was that these people may have heard of the spirit as John the Baptist spoke of him however, they failed to understand that the Holy Spirit had come into people’s experience. They were still living in the Old Testament prophecy which culminated in John the Baptist coming to prepare the way. They understood that neither the new age had been ushered in by Jesus, nor that those who believed him and are baptized into him receive the distinctive blessing of the new age, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

THE CALL TO EXAMINE

We see the call in 2 Cor. 13:5 to examine ourselves to see whether we are truly in the faith or not. In 1 John we also see tests: every believer will pass a “doctrinal test,” an “ethical test,” and an “experiential test.”

Doctrinal Test: They will fully believe in the real Jesus and what He did.

Ethical Test: They will walk in obedience to the light and love of Scripture.

Experiential Test: They will know the Abiding Holy Spirits presence in their lives.

Paul Calls John’s disciples to examine themselves.

We often see this in very religious people like these disciples, who are unconverted people. (People in major cults today like Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, and Christian Science. )

We see people who attend religious Christian events all of the time but cannot articulate the basic truths of the gospel.

Result

On hearing and receiving the truth of the gospel message they were immediately baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ.

BACK TO THE SYNAGOGUE

Once again Paul goes to proclaim Jesus in the Jewish hub of the day. He had already visited the Ephesian synagogue briefly, but now he can stay longer. Unlike other visits, Paul taught this time for 3 months before opposition arose. This would show that the Ephesian Jews were more open to the Good News than other Jewish audiences. Paul now takes the new converts to “the hall of Tyrannus,” most likely a public outdoor area where he had the possibility of evangelizing a greater number of people. This continued for 2 years.

3. The Good News Strategy Exalts Jesus Not Idols

When a person truly becomes a follower of Christ they get new affections. Old loves, desires and interests are replaced by new ones. Those who have now become new creations in Christ experience a new love for Jesus.

This becomes increasingly clear in Ephesus. The Ephesians loved many things - sports, theater, idols (especially the famed goddess Artemis), and wealth. But when Paul preaches the gospel and the Holy Spirit opened the eyes of many in the city, they experienced a change of affections.

If you have every seen a teenage boy get his first crush on a girl, then perhaps you have seen how this works. All of a sudden the smitten boy cannot think about anything else. He is totally obsessed with this girl all of his interests change. He washes her car, he starts to wear deodorant, he actually takes more than one shower a week.

Ephesus was a mighty city known for many things but the most notable was it had a temple that was known as the keeper of Artemis (also known as Diana). I bet none of you knew that I was married to a goddess?

The Sons of Sceva

God has now come down in a powerful way and pierced through the veil of darkness.

Acts 19:11-19.

Warning: Luke tells us in verses 11-12 of some wonders that accompanied Paul’s message. Articles of clothing that had touched Paul were being handed out to those who were sick so that they would be healed.

Scripture is either prescriptive or descriptive. Prescriptive texts are like a prescriptions they tell us something that we should take or do, however, here we are reading descriptive text. Luke is describing historical events; he is not advocating for handing out facecloths that have touched pastor Mark so you can receive some kind of special healing.

The seven sons of Sceva sounds like a modern day rock band. Sceva, the biological father of this group, is called a Jewish chief priest.

Jewish exorcists were known for offering strange Hebrew incantations. So after observing Paul’s ministry, this particular group of pretenders took it upon themselves to try and mimic what Paul was doing and cash in on Jesus name.

A better title for these guys would be “The Seven Streakers of Sceva.” After trying to add Jesus name to their incantation the demon essentially says, “I know I can’t best Jesus or Paul, but you guys have no power you are pathetic. The demons were not forced to relinquish power to them. Instead of being exercised the spirit left the tormented victim on proceeds to whip the daylight out of these seven men. Things got so bad that the sons fled the house naked and dripping with blood.

*When Fear Falls Believers Confess and Renounce Sin

Results

The Praised the Name of the Lord

People Confessed UN-confessed Sin

People Counted the Cost for Following Jesus

From a Fear Filled People to a Riot Filled People

Paul it says was resolved by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia headed to Jerusalem and after than he must see Rome.

Acts 19:23–27 ESV

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Demetrius - Key Silver Smith to the Shrine of Artemis

Demetrius has no desire in hearing anything that Paul has to say. Notice that this man is not driven by his love and devotion to Artemis but by his greed for his own well-being. Today many in our culture may not bow down to a statue, but millions bow to the idol of money and prosperity - oblivious to the fact that it can never satisfy or provide ultimate security.

Problem:

Loss of Business

Paul has been persuading people to turn away from idol worship proclaiming that idols made by hands are not god’s.

Fear that their trade will come to an end.

Fear that the Temple worship to Artemis will come to and end.

Result

The city is now filled with people ready to cause a riot. Most people did not even know why they were rioting in the first place.

Cultural Connection

What do people do when their idols are threatened? What does our culture do when their idols are threatened? (Pastor you can talk about anything else other than my booze and sex life)

If they do not repent and look to Jesus instead of idols, then they get angry and stir people up to anger with them.

Instead of admitting that Jesus is Sovereign and Jesus is Lord of our lives let’s make some other idol to take his place and fill that void in our lives such as, pride; vanity; sexual pleasure; chasing a career, popularity........

The town clerk basically quiets the crowds and makes the following conclusions:

The worship of Artemis is secure.

The rise of Christianity possess no threat.

There is no movement that can threaten one whose image dropped from the heavens.

The only crime committed is unlawful assembly and inciting a riot.

CONCLUSION

Do not underestimate the power of the Good News Strategy.

Later when Paul writes his letter to the Ephesian believers he says that the believers in Christ are joined together, growing “into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Ephesians 2:21 ESV

21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

The Church is the one foundation of individuals on common mission that is God’s real temple! In Him you are being build up together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

The Good News Strategy

Johnathan Edwards (“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”)

Famous 18th century pastor recalls sermons preached to condemned criminals just before their execution, during which the minister would stress their imminent encounter with God and exhort them to repent.

In a shocking move, Edwards applied this form to his own hearers at his church in Northhapton, emphasizing the sinfulness of even respectable church folk. As he hammered home the instability of their position before God, he was in effect comparing them to condemned murderers and rapist.

Edwards anticipated the response would be an accompaniment of the screams of convicted sinners and the joyful weeps of converts. But his flock responded only, as far as we know, by shaking his hand and saying “those were fine words pastor” as they went home to lunch.

All of this goes to Edwards analysis of the revivals: the word is the occasion for awakening, and a necessary on, but the Spirit of God does the work, and he “blows where he wills.”