Do You Have An Answer?

Secular -

A Sunday school teacher was teaching her class about faith and always being ready to give an answer for what we believe. She decided to test the kids.

Teacher: “Alright, kids, let’s see who can answer this question. What’s small, furry, has a bushy tail, and climbs trees?”

The kids sat there silently until little Johnny hesitantly raised his hand.

Johnny: “Well… it sounds like a squirrel, but since we’re in church, I’m gonna say Jesus.”

Moral of the joke: Sometimes we’re so focused on giving the “right” spiritual answer that we miss the obvious—but when it comes to sharing our faith, we need to be ready with real, thoughtful answers!

Historical/Cultural Context -

Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.

Biblical Text -

Acts 18:24–19:7 NKJV

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 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. 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. 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; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Have An Answer For Everyone About Your Faith & Make Sure You Are Giving & Believing The Full Gospel

Life Point- Enthusiastically Have An Answer For Those Who Ask About Your Faith

Exegetical -

Acts 18:24–28 NLT

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.

Homiletical -

So a new guy comes on the scene.

His name is Apollos and we know that he is a Jew

most of the church at this time is made up of Jews. Because salvation comes through the Jewish line. Jesus is Jewish.

You see the idea of the Caucasian blonde hair and blue eyed surfer Jesus that we see depicted in a lot of artwork is pretty inaccurate, to say the least.

Here is what we know about Apollos. We know that he will stay in Ephesus for only a short time at this point and we know that he is a good speaker.

We also know that he is not an Ephesus native but from Alexandria in Egypt. We know he had been taught about Jesus and the Old Testament scriptures and that he was a very excitable preacher.

But he knew only of John’s baptism

What was John’s baptism?

It was a baptism of repentance looking forward to the coming messiah, the savior. So Priscilla and Aquila pull him aside and explain to him the difference between the baptism of Jesus and the baptism of John.

The baptism of John was looking forward to a coming event, whereas the baptism of Jesus was a spiritual command given to all believers. It is the first thing that Jesus asks of us after we come to Him for salvation.

The baptism of Jesus identifies us with Christ and is a command by Christ to have done. Baptism in Christ represents the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. It is a spiritual act of worship and service.

So what happens when one is baptised and is not a true believer?

Well in a situation like that, you went down a dry sinner and came up a wet one. It means nothing because you aren’t a Christian yet.

Baptism in Christ is for believers.

We are commanded to baptise believers by Jesus himself in the great Commission.

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

After all of this Apollos moves on to another city where he debates the Jews and refutes them using arguments from the Scriptures, that is the Old Testament.

I am sure that went over like a ton of bricks

But, you see we are commanded to have an answer for anyone who asks us why we believe.

1 Peter 3:15–17 NLT

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Remember Apollos was enthusiastic about his faith, he was passionate and he always had an answer for those who asked or wanted to debate about Jesus.

That should be each and every one of us. We should be like Apollos. Enthusiastic and ready to have an answer and be able to defend the Gospel when necessary. This is why knowing the scriptures is so important. Because someone eternal salvation may rest on our ability to defend and answer about our faith.

Illustration -

After a church picnic, a child shouted out, ‘When I grow up, I want to be like Uncle Bob because he always has the best stories about God!’ This enthusiasm reminds us that our joy in sharing our faith can inspire others, especially when we let our excitement shine through. Even simple interactions can spark interest in what we believe as Christians.

Life Point - Make Sure You Are Giving & Believing The Full Gospel Message

Exegetical -

Acts 19:1–7 NKJV

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.

Homiletical -

So at this time Apollos is in Corinth and Paul comes to Ephesus and finds 12 folks there that are looking toward the messiah. But they weren’t saved yet, because they didn’t have the information about Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

So, again, they have the information about John’s baptism for the looking forward to the time of Jesus’s coming.

There initial response is that, no they haven’t heard anything about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

You know what this tells us?

It tells us that it is possible that not everyone in churches around the world will end up in heaven. It means you can be religious and sincere in your beliefs and yet because there is no other way to heaven than through Jesus you can die and go to hell.

John 14:6 NLT

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

You can be a good New-ager, Buddhist, Muslim whatever and it doesn’t matter because you don’t have Jesus.

Make sure you have Jesus. Make sure He has you.

Matthew 7:21–23 NLT

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Let me also add that I can know about Jesus and not know Jesus.

For example: I can know a lot about someone, facts and figure, but have no personal relationship with them.

True salvation comes from repentance in Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. If you are saved then you get the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Does that mean all will speak in tongues and prophecy? The answer is no

Then what about this scripture?

It just means that when they did receive the Holy Spirit upon salvation that those things happened to those particular individuals, it is not a normative event.

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 NKJV

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

If we go further the more excellent way that Paul is referring to is Love. Agape Love. The kind of love that says I choose to love you just because. For no other reason.

So what does love look like in your life?

The whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 will tell you that, but so will the chapter on the fruit of the Spirit.

The best way to test yourself, or someone else, to see if they are in the faith is through the fruit of the Spirit. Does their life bare fruit of a life changed by God through His power.

Galatians 5:22–26 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Illustration -

Imagine driving toward a new bridge that looks impressive from a distance. But as you get closer, you realize that the bridge stops halfway across the river. It was started but never completed. Would you trust it to get you safely to the other side?

This is like the disciples in Acts 19. They had part of the truth—they knew of repentance through John’s baptism—but they had not yet embraced the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without Christ and the Holy Spirit, their faith was incomplete, just like an unfinished bridge that cannot take you to your destination.

Application: Many people today have a partial faith—they believe in God, maybe even try to live morally—but without Jesus and the Holy Spirit, their spiritual journey is unfinished.

Life Principle– Have An Answer For Everyone About Your Faith & Make Sure You Are Giving & Believing The Full Gospel

Call to Action – altar call….