Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Acts: Enlarging Our Vision

By building the kingdom of God…together 05/24/09

Sermon Series: Acts: Enlarging our Vision

Title: 'By building the kingdom of God…together'   Text: Acts 18

Introduction: A man was driving alone one day and had an accident. He drove his car into a ditch in a desolate area. Luckily, a local farmer came by to help with his horse named Buddy. The farmer hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn’t move. Once more the farmer hollered, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn’t respond. The farmer repeated this action again, with the same results. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse finally dragged the car out of the ditch.  The motorist was really appreciative but he was also curious. He said to the farmer “I really appreciate what you did for me, but why did you call your horse by the wrong name 3 times.” The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind - and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try." (Jeff Strite)

Like “Buddy” people usually don’t like to think they are pulling a load all by themselves. Perhaps that’s why Jesus sent his disciples out in teams of two.

We can be more successful at building the kingdom of God when we do it…together.

ILL: There’s a story about Jimmy Durante, one of the great entertainers of a generation ago. He was asked to be a part of a show for World War II veterans. He told them his schedule was very busy and he could afford only a few minutes. Of course, the show’s director agreed happily.

But when Jimmy got on stage, something interesting happened. He went through the short monologue and then stayed. The applause grew louder and louder and he kept staying. Pretty soon, he had been on over thirty minutes. Finally he took a last bow and left the stage.

Backstage someone stopped him and said, “I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?” Jimmy answered, “I did have to go, but I can show you the reason I stayed. You can see for yourself if you’ll look down on the front row.” In the front row were two men, each of whom had lost an arm in the war. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together, they were able to clap, and that’s exactly what they were doing, loudly and cheerfully. (Scottie Pitts)

We can be more successful at building the kingdom of God when we do it…together.

Too many Christians, however, prefer not to be a part of a team even though there are many things in building the Kingdom of God are just too much for one person to do alone. Still, for reasons of their own, people stay away from joining a team effort. Like Calhoun.

ILL: Calhoun was a very good high school running back but on this particular day the quarterback was not giving him the ball. As the game wore on the fans began to chant, “Give the ball to Calhoun. Give the ball to Calhoun.” They were ignored. It was the third down and the fans began to get louder and louder, “Give the ball to Calhoun.” The frustrated quarterback walked out of the huddle and motioned for silence from the crowd. He cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, “CALHOUN DON’T WANT THE BALL!” (Marilyn Murphree)

·       Too often we prefer to be lone rangers in order to avoid differing opinions and conflict, or to do things the way we want to do them.

·       Too often we prefer to be lone rangers because we feel ignored or unappreciated.

·       Too often we prefer to be lone rangers because we just don’t like the work we are assigned to do on the team, so we are not willing to do it.

But…we can be more successful at building the kingdom of God when we do it…together.

Transition: Open your Bibles to Acts 18:1 (pg. 847 in the Bibles under the chair in front of you) For it’s there we’ll discover we enlarge our vision of God by building the kingdom of God…together.

I. Acts 18:1                  Paul Alone

Read: Acts 18:1

Things hadn’t gone well for Paul in Athens…no church was started and only a couple of new believers are mentioned. Even though the new converts asked Paul to stay, he refused and moved on to the city of Corinth about 50 miles away.

I believe Paul was a bit discouraged about his ministry. Remember he was alone in Athens, the rest of his team stayed behind in Berea. And he was surrounded by ramped idolatry. Here in Corinth Paul was also alone and surrounded by out of control immorality.

Corinth was the largest and most wicked city in Greece. Sitting high above the city was the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Historians tell us that there were over 1000 temple prostitutes who paraded down from the Temple and entered the city each evening to solicit business.

From Paul’s perspective, there was so much work to be done, in such a large and utterly depraved city…and He was alone.

·       Loneliness can cause you to feel discouraged,

·       Loneliness can cause you to feel overwhelmed

·       Loneliness can cause you to feel afraid.

Have you ever felt like that?

Transition: But God was at work, even if Paul didn’t know it at the time. God would not leave Paul alone, He will gather others to help Paul build the kingdom of God…together.

II. Acts 18:2-4   Paul, Aquilla, Priscilla

Read: Acts 18:2-4

It seems as though Paul ‘found’ Aquilla and Priscilla because he was looking for them. Not the case. They were joined by God’s providence. Luke gives very significant insight into how God ‘arranged’ for Paul to meet Aquilla and Priscilla.

·       Aquilla and Priscilla were living in Rome and the Emperor Claudius forced all the Jews to leave Rome…it seems he didn’t like the Jews very much.

·       Aquilla and Priscilla left Rome and headed east to Corinth. Paul left Athens and headed west to the same place. Hun?

·       Aquilla and Priscilla set up shop…what was their profession? Tentmakers. What was Paul’s profession? Tentmaker….hun?

·       It was not unusual for people of like professions to live in the same neighborhood. So, Paul went to the ‘tentmaker’ area of the city and he just happed to find a Jewish couple who were Christians…hun?

Can you see God’s providential hand at work behind the scenes?

Aquilla and Priscilla invited Paul to stay with them and they set up shop together. I can imagine Paul was tired of being alone and he looked foreword to the encouragement and blessings he would get and give with his new found friends.

·       They would work side by side during the day talking opening and with great excitement about Jesus, the Messiah.

·       They would share stories of how God worked in their lives.

·       They would put two and two together and see that it was God who orchestrated their meeting in Corinth.

·       They would rejoice and thank God…together.

Things are starting to look up for Paul, so he begins his usual ministry…he speaks at the local synagogue on the Sabbath.

Transition: Now back in ministry, God provided additional encouragement to Paul in the form of his old teammates.

III. Acts 18:5-8    Paul, Aquilla, Priscilla, Silas, Timothy, Luke

Read: Acts 18:5-8

God sends Silas, Timothy and Luke to Corinth from Berea to be reunited with Paul. God has not only blessed Paul with two new friends and partners in ministry, he brought back his old teammates. Paul was alone, now he’s part of a team of six, working to build the kingdom of God…together. Isn’t God good?

Let me remind you….Write this down…

·       God is still in the business of ‘gathering his team’ to do the work of building the Kingdom of God…together.

·       God is still in the business of ‘gathering his team’ to do the work of building the Kingdom of God…together.

You are not here at CBC by accident. He sent you here because your talents, abilities and lives are needed here. Can I ask ‘Are you part of God’s team here at CBC?’ As far as I know, Ephesians 4:11-16 is still in effect.

Read: Ephesians 4:11-16

We can be more successful at building the kingdom of God when we do it…together.

While Paul was working as a tentmaker, it limited his ‘ministry’ opportunities and I am sure that kept his spirits still a bit low. But, God would bring encouragement from his teammates…financial support from the churches in Macedonia. Paul could now serve full time as a kingdom builder.

As was often the case, strong opposition of the Jews to Paul’s preaching caused Paul to shift his focus of ministry from the Jews, to the Gentiles.

The words which Paul spoke to the Jew in Corinth were very similar to those spoken to the Jews of Pisidian Antioch:

Read: Acts 13:46 ‘Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.’

In both cases, Paul was speaking of a turning to the Gentiles in that particular city. He was not saying that he would no longer preach to the Jews…ever.

Paul does add something here that he hasn’t said before ‘Your blood be upon your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.’  These words were intended to remind the Jews of the words of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel.

Read: Ezekiel 33:1-9

Paul was intimating that he was Israel’s watchman, sent by God to ‘blow the trumpet’ of warning of the coming wrath of God poured out on all who reject Jesus as their Messiah for the forgiveness of their sin and hope for eternal life in heaven.

He was saying ‘I did my part…now you must now do yours and accept Jesus as your Messiah.’ And the same is true today. We are God’s watchmen warning lost people of the eternal devastation and hopelessness of life without Jesus.

The parts we all play are not insignificant when it comes to building the kingdom of God… together. 

Back to the text.

·       Paul leaves the synagogue and goes next door to the house of Titus Justus, who was a faithful Jew looking forward to the coming of the Messiah…like the noble Jews in Berea…remember?

·       Then Paul goes to the home of Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue he was just thrown out of. And Crispus and his family come to faith in Jesus…does anyone but me find that funny?

Well, Titus, Crispus and his family and many more in Corinth came to place their faith in Jesus as their Messiah. Things were really looking up for Paul. God was beginning to bless his ministry again, I think because Paul no longer was a loner, but a team player.

But there was still something Paul had to work out in his life…fear. And we will examine that next week.

Conclusion

But I want to leave you with this thought.

ILL: Someone once wrote: Partnership is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organized objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results… Simply put, (partnership) is less “me” and more “we.” (Jeff Strite)

 

I like that…. ‘Less of me and more of we!’

I don’t think we fully understand how being part of a team can encourage others as it did Paul when he met Aquilla and Priscilla, and when Silas, Timothy and Luke joined him in Corinth.

I don’t think we fully understand how much you can encourage others and be encouraged yourself, just by your presence on the team.

·       Just ask your Sunday School teacher.

·       Just ask someone on the Worship Team.

·       Just ask a fellow church member.

Ask them if it makes any difference to them, after they have studied or prepared during the week, if you come to their class or not.

Ask the folks who sit around you in church. Ask them if they are encouraged when you are here, when we have a full house.

Ask the person in the nursing home, unable to get out anymore, if they find your presence, your visit, encouraging.

TEAM

·       Together

·       Each

·       Accomplishes

·       More

God knows that His Church is not a story of individual accomplishments. ..lee of ‘me’ and more of ‘we’.

 

Are we building the kingdom of God…together, for the long haul?

·       Will you quit if things don’t go the way you want them?

·       Will I quit if I begin to feel unappreciated?

Truth is, things will not always go the way you think they should in church. People here will hurt you, they will disappoint you, you and I may at times feel unappreciated, but God still wants you and me to be part of His team here at CBC.

 A well known football coach once commented in an interview  ‘It’s easy to get good players. It’s getting them to play together that’s the hard part!’

We enlarge our vision of God by building the kingdom of God…together.