Equipped Through Discipleship
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Reading from God’s Word
Reading from God’s Word
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.
Introduction
Introduction
Discipleship is so important. We talk about it a lot.
Through the lens of bible knowledge.
Through good preaching and solid teaching.
Through personal study and doctrinal clarity.
These are all good things.
But there is still room for us to go deeper.
God does not equip His people in isolation.
He equips them in relationship.
From the beginning faith has never been a solo project.
Our spiritual life was always meant to be shared, shaped, corrected, and strengthened within the people of God.
But this is something far more than simple church attendance or relying upon oneself.
In many instances, we may just assume spiritual growth will happen.
And the passage we just read in Acts interrupts that assumption.
Luke introduces us to a man who looks, on the surface, the kind of servant every congregation would want.
His name is Apollos.
He is educated, articulate, passionate, and grounded in Scripture.
He speaks boldly.
And, as far as he understands, he speaks accurately.
He looks ready.
But, Luke tells us something important before the story unfolds:
Apollos knows only of the baptism of John.
He is sincere, but incomplete.
Faithful, but unfinished.
What is very interesting to me - and should be noted by all - is how God chooses to correct him:
Not through embarrassment.
Not by sidelining him.
Not by replacing him with someone “more qualified.”
Instead, God uses two faithful disciples - Aquila and Priscilla - to quietly, patiently help him grow.
And in this, we see how God actually equips his church.
And that is, by intentional, relational discipleship.
And as we study together this morning, I want you to see how this passage challenges two dangerous assumptions we may carry:
Gifted people no longer need to be discipled
Discipleship is the responsibility of “leaders” and not everyday Christians.
And so, what we’ll see today is:
Sincerity is not the same as maturity
Correction works best when it is personal
God grows His servants through other servants.
So, let’s learn how God has always formed His people.
Sincere Faith is Not the Same as Complete Formation
Sincere Faith is Not the Same as Complete Formation
First, let’s see how Luke introduces us to Apollos - every detail is important.
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.
Alexandria was one of the great learning centers of the world.
So not only is he a religious man, but he is educated and trained.
Now, v. 25:
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, …
Apollos has three things every congregation values:
Knowledge: competent in the Scriptures.
Passion: fervent in spirit
Courage: (v. 26a) bold in his public teaching.
today we might describe him as “sound,” “solid,” and “gifted.”
But look again at v. 25:
25 he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism.
Now that’s not a criticism - it’s a diagnosis.
Apollos is not careless.
He is not rebellious.
He is incomplete.
A person can love God deeply and still need further formation.
A person can teach the truth accurately and still lack the fullness of the gospel.
A person can be effected and still need equipping.
And this really hits at a subtle pride that can creep into long-standing faith:
If I’m sincere, I must be finished.
If I’m gifted, I must be mature.
If I’m active, I must be equipped.
Scripture teaches otherwise.
And so, I believe, God places Apollos on the path of discipleship.
Growth is not automatic.
It is intentional, and often it is relational.
And you know, when you think of it, this is how Jesus operated.
He welcomed learners/followers at every stage.
He taught disciples who misunderstood him repeatedly.
He corrected sincere followers who were still wrong.
You see, being teachable is not weakness.
It is the mark of real discipleship.
How Real Discipleship Actually Happens
How Real Discipleship Actually Happens
Let’s move to v. 26 and focus on Priscilla and Aquila.
Nothing here is accidental.
26 After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, …They
they heard him.
They listened before they corrected.
They paid attention before they spoke.
Discipleship begins with humilty on both sides - the humility to listen and the humility to help.
Now back to v. 26:
26 they took him aside …
This is the spirit of true discipleship.
They do not correct him publicly.
They do not embarrass him.
They do not challenge him from a distance.
They draw close.
God does some of his most important work away from the spotlight.
Again, I want you to see how personal this is.
Truth spoken publicly can inform
Truth shared personally can transform.
And I think Priscilla and Aquila understood something Jesus taught long before this moment:
People grow best when the truth is delivered with respect, care, and relationship.
Finally, v. 26:
26 they… explained the way of God to him more accurately.
Note the balance:
Not “a different way”
Not “their opinion”
But the way of God, clarified and completed.
i.e., faithful instruction given in love.
And note, who does this?
Priscilla and Aquila are not apostles.
They are not elders
They are not public teachers in this setting.
They are ordinary disciples who take the responsibility for the spiritual growth of a brother.
So, here we learn that discipleship belongs to any Christian who knows the truth and loves people enough to share it.
If we leave discipleship only to sermons and classes, people will remain informed, but unformed.
If we leave this only to leaders, growth will always be bottlenecked.
God equips His church through relationships, not just resources.
Teachable Hearts Become Powerful Servants
Teachable Hearts Become Powerful Servants
What was the result of Priscilla and Aquila’s work?
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.
Apollos is corrected.
Apollos is instructed.
And this is what discipleship produces.
Discipleship did not slow Apollos down. It strengthened him.
The church could not see him just just as gifted, but equipped.
They encourage him, affirm him, and send him out.
Growth is something we celebrate.
Now, v. 28:
28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
What has changed?
Before, Apollos taught accurately what he knew.
Now, he proclaims the fullness of Christ.
Discipleship did not take away his boldness.
It refined it and sharpened his voice.
So, teachability multiples usefulness in the kingdom of God.
Apollos could have tried to protect his reputation.
resisted correction
assumed he already knew everything he needed to know.
And if he had, this story would end in v. 26.
Instead, Apollos shows us what real discipleship looks like:
humility to listen
willingness to grow
readiness to be shaped
And if that is us, God will use us powerfully.
When we stop being teachable, we stop being effective.
Years of experience do not replace humility
Public ministry does not eliminate the need for growth
Past faithfulness does not eliminate present stagnation.
The kingdom advances through humble obedience.
A church filled with teachable disciples becomes a church that helps others “by grace believe.”
A church resistant to correction eventually becomes inward-focused and ineffective.
As We Close
As We Close
Everything we see here in Acts 18 is not new.
It is simply the church living out what Jesus already taught and modeled.
Jesus chose relationship over distance and did not disciple from afar.
He didn’t just preach to crowds, he walked with people.
19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
Discipleship, from the beginning, was relational proximity:
meals
conversations
shared life
correction along the way.
That’s exactly what Aquila and Priscilla do with Apollos. They don’t shout truth from across the room — they draw close, which is Jesus’ way.
You cannot disciple at arms length.
Jesus corrected privately before publicly.
He repeatedly corrected his disciples away from the crowd.
Whey they misunderstood:
He explained parables privately, Matthew 13:36
He pulled them aside on the road, Mark 8:17-21
He rebuked them in love, not humiliation.
And even when correction was necessary, His aim was restoration and growth - not embarrassment.
That is exactly what Priscilla and Aquilla did: they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately.
This is not political correctness or modern sensitivity … it’s Christlike wisdom.
Public shaming produces defensiveness.
Private discipleship produces growth
Jesus welcomed teachable hearts - even when they were incomplete.
Jesus never demanded perfection before instruction.
Peter was impulsive
Thomas was skeptical
The apostles repeatedly misunderstood the kingdom.
And yet, Jesus kept teaching.
He never discarded growing disciples, he worked to form them.
Jesus defined greatness as service, not status.
I’m sure we all remember Mark 10:43:
43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
Aquilla and Priscilla embodied this. They
didn’t seek credit
didn’t assert authority
build a platform
They served quietly.
Jesus called His followers to make disciples - not just converts.
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Not “build impressive teachers.”
Not “win arguments”
But, “make disciples”
Acts 18 shows us what this looks like practically:
disciples making disciples
believers sharpening believers
truth being passed on by trust and relationship
So, what does Jesus leave us with?
Am I following Jesus closely enough to walk with others, not just worship beside them?
Are we humble enough to be taught, even after years of faithfulness?
Are we willing to invest quietly, knowing Jesus sees what others never will?
The kingdom is built through intentional discipleship.
So what about you?
Are you following Jesus closely?
Are you moving from isolation to relationship?
From admiration to imitation?
From consuming truth to sharing life?
How can we help you grow closer to Jesus today?
