In Corinth

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 4th day of January— Monday— Happy Birthday to Juanito “Bobot” Llarenas

Last December 17 right here at “The Message” we looked at the things that happened to apostle Paul while he was in Athens— and from that we learned that:

GOD IS EVERYWHERE— OMNIPRESENT

GOD IS OUR PROVIDER— JEHOVAH JIREH

Today, as we resume our verse by verse study of the book Acts we shall begin with chapter 18 where you will find the that things that occured in Corinth— Acts has 28 chapters— Open your Bible to ACTS 18:1-17

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 18:1-17

BOOK

Acts 18:1–17 NIV

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. 12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

WHAT: Paul preached and was beaten in Corinth— he also met Aquila and Priscilla

WHERE: Corinth— about 40 miles west of Athens— Corinth was the capital of Roman province Achaia and a major seaport

WHEN: Paul’s second missionary journey [49-51 AD]

WHO: Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, Titius, Gallio [proconsul of Achaia], Sosthenes [synagogue leader]

WHY: Still to preach the gospel and lead his fellow Jews and Gentiles to salvation

LOOK

BECAUSE HE WAS A TENTMAKER AS THEY WERE, HE STAYED WITH THEM

Paul’s native province of Cilicia was noted for its goats’ hair which was exported and was largely used for tentmaking— in some places Paul worked with his hands rather than accepting financial assistance— you commonly hear the term “tentmaker” as a word to describe means of livelihood— bi-vocational Pastors worked for a living apart from being Pastors— their secular jobs is their vocation but Pastoring is their calling— 1 THESSALONIANS 2:9

YOUR BLOOD BE ON YOUR OWN HEADS! I AM INNOCENT OF IT

We have the obligation to share the gospel— but after sharing and still they refused to listen— we are no longer accountable— EZEKIEL 33:7-9

DO NOT BE AFRAID, KEEP ON SPEAKING, DO NOT BE SILENT. FOR I AM WITH YOU.

Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision— He exhorts Paul not to fear and reveals that, unlike his experiences in previous cities, Paul would be able to remain in Corinth to preach the gospel and not be driven away by opposition

SETTLE THE MATTERS YOURSELVES, I WILL NOT BE A JUDGE OF SUCH THINGS

As much as we could, believers must settle our disputes amongst ourselves— 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1-2

TOOK

I DON’T HAVE TO ABANDON MY SECULAR JOB TO DO WHAT GOD CALLED ME TO DO

I WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO PREACH THE GOSPEL BECAUSE GOD IS WITH ME

WE WILL SETTLE OUR DISPUTES WITHIN OURSELVES [CHURCH]

SING

Agape Worship— Stand in Your Love