From Mission to Movement… Acts 18 Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Background… “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” “the Holy Spirit had prevented them…” “…That night Paul had a vision…” Acts 16:6- 10

Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry. An unbroken series of setbacks.  At Philippi: Success, then run out of town… “…they kept begging them to leave the city.”  At Thessalonica: Success, then run out of town… “These men who have upset the world have come here also!”  At Berea: Success, then run out of town… …they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.  Athens: Hopeful, then some minor success… …some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”

An unbroken series of setbacks. Alone: Silas and Timothy left behind… “Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.” (17:15) Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry. I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith…so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:3-5

An unbroken series of setbacks. Alone: Timothy and Titus left behind… Without support, working day and night. Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry. After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Acts 18:1-3 (NIV)

An unbroken series of setbacks. Alone: Timothy and Titus left behind… Without support, working day and night. Stuck in Corinth: a stronghold of evil.  Swimming in wealth.  Morally calloused.  Center of Occultism. Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry. Corinth

An unbroken series of setbacks. Alone: Timothy and Titus left behind… Without support, working day and night. Stuck in Corinth: a stronghold of evil. Uncertain, fearful, and confused. Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 1 Corinthians 2:3

An unbroken series of setbacks. Alone: Timothy and Titus left behind… Without support, working day and night. Stuck in Corinth: a stronghold of evil. Uncertain, fearful, and confused. (1Cor.1) Not uncommon for God’s servants! Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry. And Moses said to the Lord, “…What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? …If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me.” Num. 11:11-15 Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Joshua 7:7 (NLT) Elijah sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 1 Kings 19:4 (NLT)

An unbroken series of setbacks. Alone: Timothy and Titus left behind… Without support, working day and night. Stuck in Corinth: a stronghold of evil. Uncertain, fearful, and confused. (1Cor.1) Not uncommon for God’s servants! And God is still steering this ship!? Corinth: a Low Point in Paul’s Ministry.

Paul’s Low: A Study in Faithfulness Understands his stewardship.  With a weighty responsibility.  Who needs to be trustworthy. Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Paul’s Low: A Study in Faithfulness Understands his stewardship. Seeks Christian fellowship. …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, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Acts 18:1-3 (NIV)

Paul’s Low: A Study in Faithfulness Understands his stewardship. Seeks Christian fellowship. Establishes an honorable reputation.  A Tent-Maker  The Preferred Way to Minister… …because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked… Acts 18:1-3 (NIV) …we toil, working with our own hands….1 Corinthians 4:12 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Paul’s Low: A Study in Faithfulness Understands his stewardship. Seeks Christian fellowship. Establishes an honorable reputation. Continues to serve. And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Acts 18:4

Paul’s Low: Where God’s Strength Begins Relief arrives! Relief arrives! Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia… Acts 18:5

Paul’s Low: Where God’s Strength Begins Relief arrives! Relief arrives! Financial Support! Financial Support!  Biblical and Right… But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 18:5 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Philippians 4:15 (NLT) “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 1 Timothy 5:18 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 2 Corinthians 12:13

Paul’s Low: Where God’s Strength Begins Relief arrives! Relief arrives! Financial Support! Financial Support! Kicking some rear end! Kicking some rear end! …Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 18:5 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. Acts 18:6-8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. Acts 18:9 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. Acts 18:9

Paul’s Low: Where God’s Strength Begins Relief arrives! Relief arrives! Financial Support! Financial Support! Kicking some rear end! Kicking some rear end! Supernaturally sustained! Supernaturally sustained! And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you…” Acts 18:9-11 (NASB95)

Paul’s Low: Where God’s Strength Begins Relief arrives! Relief arrives! Financial Support! Financial Support! Kicking some rear end! Kicking some rear end! Supernaturally sustained! Supernaturally sustained! Preparing a Great Harvest! Preparing a Great Harvest! “…for I have many people in this city.” And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Acts 18:10-11

Paul’s Low: Where God’s Strength Begins Snatching Victory out of defeat! Snatching Victory out of defeat! Acts 18:12-17 But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters." And he drove them away from the judgment seat. And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

From Mission to Movement Means 1. God Needs Tent-makers!  The church grows on the backs of Tent-Makers!  Persuaders Needed!  Adopting God’s Heart for the Lost!  Living like “Stewards of the Mysteries of God”

From Mission to Movement Means… God Needs Tent-makers! Adopt a biblical Theology of Failure:  Applying faithfulness: Persistence!  Allowing God to teach dependence Therefore I am well content with weaknesses… for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:10  “Failure” is not “Failure” with God! Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother… 1 Cor. 1:1 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14