“We come together to do what no one of us could do alone.”
Sermon Title: PRISCILLA & AQUILA: A MISSIONAL COUPLE
Scripture Text: ACTS 18 NIV
Sermon Series: FINE PRINT: HONORING THE LESSER-KNOWN AND CELEBRATING THEIR FAITHFULNESS
Sermon Notes:
ACTS 18:1-3 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 the 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.
ACTS 18:18-19 NIV
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
ACTS 18:24-26 NIV
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
ROMANS 16:3-5 NIV
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
“The strongest marriages are those that are on mission together.”
ACTS 18:1-3 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 the 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.
I. FOUNDATIONAL STAGE
“work together”
GENESIS 2:24 NIV
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
“We come together to do what no one of us could do alone.”
II. FOUNDATIONAL STAGE
“grow together”
ACTS 18:11 NIV
11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
REFLECT / APPLY:
How is your foundation?
ACTS 18:18-19 NIV
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
ACTS 18:18-19 NIV
19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
III. FLOURISHING STAGE
“go together”
“It would not be a difficult decision if the decision was made way before the decision has to be made.”
IV. FLOURISHING STAGE
“disciple together”
ACTS 18:24-26 NIV
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
ACTS 18:24-26 NASB
26 and he began to speak out 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.
REFLECT / APPLY:
What does it mean for you – as a couple, as a family – to “go together”?
REFLECT / APPLY:
What opportunities are being opened to you to disciple others?
1 CORINTHIANS 16:19 NIV
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
ROMANS 16:3-5 NIV
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
ROMANS 16:3-5 NIV
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
V. FAITHFULNESS STAGE
“continue together”
2 TIMOTHY 4:19 NIV
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
REFLECT / APPLY:
Is there is a God-mission that you have stopped doing or have laid aside that perhaps the Holy Spirit is reminding you to continue?
“We allow marriage to point beyond itself when we accept two central missions: becoming the people God created us to be, and doing the work God has given us to do.”
Gary Thomas
“The spotlight does not always shine where the real action is. There are people who never go up the stage and yet we walk in their footsteps.”
APPLICATION:
Have a conversation with your spouse about what your mission is as a couple.
APPLICATION:
Commit to grow together.