Making Disciples
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro:
Intro:
AG: A soldier’s story:
I have friend in our battalion who received a puzzle in one of the care packages that were sent during Christmas. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, she worked on this puzzle. I saw her a couple of days later and said “I see that you finished that puzzle.” She said, “Yes, I did and it had two puzzle pieces left over.”
Somewhere in the world another puzzle is missing those two pieces. The people who are putting it together are going to find their puzzle is incomplete. The owners are probably looking all over their house, under the bed, in the seat cushions, trying to find those extra pieces.
In the same way, many of us and many of our friends have on incomplete knowledge of the Gospel. They know a little bit, they have been to Sunday school, or they have been to church once or twice. We work and work and we wonder if this is all there is—to work to be good and to hope that in some way it is good enough to get to heaven. We wish we could just have the complete story.
TS:
Apollos
- Born At Alexandria
- Alx. in Egypt
TS:
- 2nd city in the Gk. world
- Seat of learning ---- Library of 1000’s
- Place where Heb. OT translated into Gk.
Apollos is one of the surprises in scripture. There’s no hint of him before chapter 18, and then he leaps into the Bible! He’s mentioned once more in , and then you never hear of him in Acts again, although Paul mentions him 7 times in 1 Corinthians and once in Titus.
Though little is written about him in the scriptures, he’s an example of one of those surprising people who pop up from time and again in the book of Acts. And there are several things about him that are surprising.
Priscilla and Aquilla, Paul’s friends, help Apollos by discipling him and explaining the gospel more fully.
RS:
AP: we have here a great example of the process of discipleship which should be a part of every believers life. The great commission Jesus gave us was to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey all He commanded.
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.
19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.
21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.
22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
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.
Acts 18:
Inadequate Understanding
Inadequate Understanding
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.
Acts 18:24-25
EX: Apollos had partial knowledge
What he had going for him:
Eloquence
Scriptural knowledge (OT)
Knew of the way of the Lord
(John the Baptist’s message)
What he lacked:
The rest of the gospel
He preached a coming Messiah and/or a current Messiah
He hadn’t heard:
atoning sacrifice
Resurrection
Ascension
AP: It is easy to have partial knowledge
A. Some have heard of Bible, yet never studied
They know stories and movies.
Popular level of knowledge from movies and culture
10 commandments
The Prince of Egypt
Noah
Fictional accounts based on Biblical texts
B. Others have studied selectively
Prosperity gospel
“Jesus said love everyone”
“Don’t Judge”
They listen to and reinforce the parts they like
Parts that reaffirm their beliefs
Parts that reinforce popular opinion
C. Even those who study can have have holes in their understanding
Misunderstand
They think they know it, but have missed the point of the text
Misapply
take a promise to one person and claim it for themselves
Twist the application to justify what they want to do.
Miss the context
Many times, the paragraph and even the entire book set the context of a verse
Out of context, a verse can appear to mean something different than when studied in context.
Shameless plug: Dr. Smith is going through an entire book next Sunday
Remember inaccurately
Have you ever had a different memory of an event than someone else?
It happens all the time
We can remember verses differently
This is why we should re-read and not just rely on memory
Loving Intervention
Loving Intervention
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.
EX: Priscilla and Aquila lovingly intervened to fill in the gap
1. They approached privately
They took him aside to confront him
Didn’t embarrass him or debate him with an audience.
2. They explained the way more fully
They filled in the gaps
They gave him the missing pieces of the story
They added more truth to what he already knew
3. He received it humbly
I admit, this is implied, not directly taught
But there is NO mention of arguing
No words of debate are recorded
4. Clearly he heard and responded to the truth
He shared it boldly
He immediately started teaching
And he wanted to carry the message further
build relationships
Correct privately, praise openly
Do the teaching, correcting, and rebuking in private
Teach thoroughly
We must teach the whole counsel of God’s Word
Expository preaching
Sunday school
Bible study
Receive instruction willingly
Bold Ministry
Bold Ministry
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.
The brothers encourage him and wrote letters of introduction and recommendation.
AP: we would do well to follow this pattern
We must disciple and be discipled
That is the Biblical pattern.
Not just Priscilla and Aquila
Jesus did this too
1. build relationships
You have probably heard the expression, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
build relationships
Living in love with the church and openly welcoming newcomers into the fold is crucial
It can make all the difference
with love, it becomes a caring encounter, seeking the growth and encouragement of the recipient.
w/o love, it comes across as criticism and even an attack.
2. Correct privately, praise openly
Do the teaching, correcting, and rebuking in private
3. Teach thoroughly
We must teach the whole counsel of God’s Word
Expository preaching-
This is why I mainly preach series through books or sections of books.
There is no skipping of awkward topics
The Bible sets the message, not a response to what is going on in the church or community
Sunday school & Bible Study
Small groups to go through the Bible together.
Great format to get closer to each other
Great format to ask and answer questions.
There is much wisdom to gather from each other.
Bible study
One on One
Mentoring and discipleship relationships can go even deeper and be more productive in one on one sessions.
Especially effective with new believers and members.
Do you have someone you can call in the depths of the night when you are struggling?
Is there someone you can go to for wisdom in facing situations?
Is there someone you who challenges you and you challenge to keep learning and growing?
4. Receive instruction willingly
Be open to learn!
Never reach the point that you think you have nothing to learn.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
We will always encounter people with missing pieces in their understanding. We will also always have missing pieces in ours.
Get involved in discipleship!
Conclusion: