The Discipleship Effect

Today we’re going to jump back into the book of Acts, which we have been studying and going in depth with for the past several months…..well year…

Have you enjoyed this series? Because I really have. I think this might be my favorite study we’ve done thus far as a church.

Okay maybe it’s the only one since we launched Anchor City, but I like seeing how it’s challenged us as a church as well as individually to reflect on what was happening in the early church and how it applies to us today.

God’s Word is alive and active, and I believe that there are still things that God wants to say to us through it, whether this is your first time reading it or your hundredth time.

We’re going to be wrapping up Acts 18, and at face value, it may not seem like the most life-altering, earth shattering thing we’ve ever discussed. But I’d be willing to argue that it’s one of the most important things for us as Christians to know and to seek during our daily lives; not just on Sunday.

Pray

Let’s dive right in. We’re picking up in verse 24.

Acts 18:24–28 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. 27 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, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

We live in a culture that celebrates potential—talent, gifting, charisma. And potential is a gift from God. It’s a sign of His image in us, the imprint of His design.

But here’s the truth we often miss:

Potential alone is not enough.

Potential is powerful, yes—but it’s not self-sustaining. It needs guidance. It needs sharpening. It needs community.

Potential Needs Partnership.

That’s exactly what we see in Acts 18 with Apollos.

He wasn’t just a good communicator—he was eloquent. He wasn’t just informed—he was competent in the Scriptures. He wasn’t just passionate—he was fervent in spirit.

But even Apollos, with all that fire and knowledge, was missing something.

He knew only the baptism of John. He taught accurately, yes—but he hadn’t yet grasped the full revelation of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Enter Priscilla and Aquila—spiritual partners, faithful mentors, disciples who saw his potential and stepped in to help complete the picture.

They didn’t shut him down. They didn’t call him out.

They pulled him aside—and partnered with his potential.

And because of that partnership, Apollos didn’t plateau—he launched.

The text says he “greatly helped” the believers and “powerfully refuted” the opposition, pointing to Jesus through the Scriptures.

Who has God placed around you to help your potential grow?

Who are you allowing to speak into your calling, correct your course, and complete what’s missing?

Potential Needs Partnership.

Because God’s design for discipleship is never solo—it’s shared.

As John Piper puts it: 

“Sanctification is a community project.”

We grow best not in isolation but in connection. That’s why Apollos flourished—not just because of what he knew, but because of who walked with him.

But this partnership wasn’t just relational—it was theological.

Apollos had zeal and accuracy, but his message lacked completion. Scripture says he “taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

So what exactly was missing?

Let’s look first at what John’s baptism represented.

Matthew 3:1–3 ESV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

Then verse 11 brings clarity:

Matthew 3:11 ESV

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John was the forerunner. His role was preparation. He called people to repent because Jesus was coming. His message was necessary, but it was not the full gospel. It pointed to a Savior who had not yet gone to the cross.

And that’s where Apollos was stuck. He preached with boldness and knowledge—but he was still operating in the message of preparation, not yet in the message of completion.

That’s why Priscilla and Aquila stepped in—not to correct his tone, but to complete his theology.

Now contrast that with Peter’s message after Pentecost:

Acts 2:38 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The same word—repent—but a very different moment in redemptive history.

John’s baptism: “The kingdom is at hand.”

Jesus’ baptism: “The kingdom has come.”

Jesus had already come, died, risen, and ascended. The work was finished. The Holy Spirit had been poured out. The new covenant had been initiated.

John’s baptism was about repentance and readiness.

Baptism in Jesus’ name is about union with Christ, forgiveness, and indwelling power.

The baptism of John was for preparation.

The baptism in Jesus’ name is for completion.

And this is where we find Apollos.

He had passion. He had knowledge. He had gifting.

But he needed someone to walk alongside him to fill in the gap—so that when he preached, he preached more accurately.

That’s what discipleship does.

We all need ongoing discipleship and community correction in order to walk in the full truth.

We all need someone who knows more than we do.

Someone who’s further along. Someone who can both speak life into us and lovingly challenge us.

That’s how we don’t just grow in knowledge, but grow in Christ.

It’s how we stay bold, stay sharp, and stay empowered to share the Gospel with others.

Because let’s be real: 90 minutes on a Sunday isn’t enough. or 2 hours if my husband is preaching…

Sundays are for equipping the saints—but growth happens in coffee shops, on living room couches, out on neighborhood walks.

That’s where discipleship lives.

Discipleship isn’t just a spiritual bonus—it’s God’s design for how we grow, mature, and walk in the fullness of His truth.

Who’s guiding you?

Who’s helping you go beyond inspiration into transformation?

Who’s showing you the parts of the Gospel you may have missed?

Who’s walking with you as you grow into everything God created you to be?

Because you were never meant to grow alone.

Potential Needs Partnership.

And partnership starts with a willingness to be led.

But let’s take that one step deeper.

Because sometimes guidance doesn’t just come through encouragement or support.

Sometimes it comes through correction.

And that’s where many of us get uncomfortable—because correction can feel like confrontation.

It can feel like rejection.

But in the kingdom of God,

correction isn’t rejection—it’s redirection.

Correction Encourages Potential

“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.” Acts 18:26

They didn’t embarrass him publicly.

They didn’t shut him down.

They corrected him—with grace and clarity.

They didn’t crush his potential—they refined it.

And here’s the truth: correction wasn’t a bad thing then, and it isn’t now.

But let’s be real—we don’t like correction.

Maybe we’re afraid of it.

Maybe we take offense because we don’t want to admit we’re wrong.

Let’s call it what it is—it’s often a matter of pride.

But correction is necessary for growth.

We live in a culture that associates correction with rejection—but that’s a lie.

Kyle always says: “Correction isn’t punishment—it’s protection.”

And it’s so true.

Don’t let the enemy twist it.

Don’t let him convince you that someone pointing you toward truth is trying to tear you down.

Sometimes, the most loving thing someone can do is correct you.

You ever seen someone at the gym using the equipment completely wrong?

There’s this video—maybe you’ve seen it—where a guy’s doing ab crunches on a bench… while eating a slice of pizza.

Now technically… he’s working out.

But something’s off, right?

Could he still get in shape? Maybe.

But without correction, without someone stepping in to say, “Hey, there’s a better way to do this,” he’s not going to get the results he wants.

Worse, he might end up hurting himself.

It’s funny in the gym—but it’s sobering in our spiritual lives.

Because many of us are out here doing “crunches for Christ,” holding a slice of compromise in our hand.

We’re working with passion… but not precision.

And without correction, we end up striving hard but staying the same.

Apollos didn’t just receive correction—he responded to it.

And because of that, he stepped into a new level of effectiveness.

The Bible says:

Acts 18:27–28 ESV

27 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, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Apollos became “powerful”

That power didn’t come from Apollos’ personality.

It didn’t come from his eloquence.

It wasn’t about his credentials.

It came from God—working through a man who was willing to be led, willing to be corrected, and now… willing to be used.

That’s what discipleship does.

Discipleship turns potential into power

—not our power,

but the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

So here’s the challenge:

Who’s discipling you?

Who are you discipling?

Are you letting God refine your potential into something He can use for His glory?

Because the goal isn’t just to grow.

The goal is to go—empowered by God, full of truth, bold in love, and grounded in grace.

But there’s one more thing we have to talk about:

It’s not just that you’re being discipled… it’s who is discipling you.

Because here’s the truth:

You only know what you’re taught. And not all teaching leads to truth.

Even in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were taught something.

They were discipled—by the enemy.

They listened to a voice that sounded persuasive… but it led to destruction.

Who we learn from matters.

Jesus himself didn’t shy away from this. When his disciples mentioned the Pharisees, he responded with this warning:

Matthew 15:13–14 ESV

13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Blind guides can sound convincing.

They can quote scripture.

They might even stand in pulpits.

But if they aren’t rooted in the Word—if they aren’t submitted to Jesus—they can lead you off course.

That’s why it’s not just about having mentors or spiritual leaders.

It’s about making sure those voices are anchored in sound doctrine and aligned with Scripture.

Because not every voice that teaches you is leading you toward truth.

So I’ll say it again—who you learn from matters.

So here’s where it all comes together:

You have potential—God placed it in you.

But potential needs partnership.

It needs correction.

It needs truth spoken in love.

And it needs the right people to help you walk it out.

We are not called to spiritual independence—we’re called to intentional discipleship.

And not just discipleship that fills your head—but discipleship that shapes your heart, deepens your understanding of Jesus, and equips you to live out your faith with boldness and clarity.

Because real growth isn’t passive—it’s pursued.

And if Apollos’ story shows us anything, it’s this:

When we’re teachable, when we’re willing to receive correction, and when we walk closely with godly mentors…

God will turn our potential into something powerful—something that builds others up and glorifies Him.

So as we close today, here are a few challenges for you to take home and pray through:

1. Examine the Gospel You’ve Received

Take an honest look at what you believe about Jesus.

Is your understanding of the Gospel complete?

Does it align with Scripture—not just what sounds good or familiar, but what is true?

It’s not enough to know about Jesus—we have to know the full story of who He is:

His life, His death, His resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit He offers.

Check your foundation. If there are gaps, let God fill them with truth.

2. Find a Spiritual Mentor

Don’t walk this faith journey alone.

Find someone who’s a little further along—someone who can challenge you, encourage you, pray with you, and speak truth into your life when you need it most.

Ask God to bring the right voice into your life.

Someone who’s grounded in the Word.

Someone who walks with humility.

Someone who sees your potential—and wants to help you grow into it.

Because growth happens when we open ourselves up to discipleship.

3. Join a Small Group

Sundays are a spark, but real growth happens in community.

In living rooms. At coffee tables. During conversations and kitchen prayers.

That’s where you get sharpened. That’s where real discipleship lives.

The church doesn’t exist just for Sundays—it exist for Monday

A lot of us are in groups—but a lot of us aren’t.

Some of us are consistent—but a lot of us aren’t.

Let’s be honest about that.

We need more than just connection—we need commitment.

Because casual community won’t carry you through spiritual battles.

But consistent, Christ-centered relationships will.

Get connected. Get planted.

Because the stronger your community, the stronger your calling.

These aren’t just next steps—they’re invitations.

Invitations to go deeper.

To be discipled—and to become a disciple-maker.

To let God turn your potential into power for His glory.

So… what step is God asking you to take today?

Pray