Acts 19:11-22

Whenever and wherever people are engaged in work that builds the Kingdom of God, there will be spiritual manifestation – and opposition. But God has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. God has authority over all things – authority that He gives to His disciples so that the Good News about Jesus, and the making of new disciples, can continue.

Acts 19:11-20

While it’s easy to become complacent in the Christian walk and adopt a safe, comfortable understanding of God, Acts 19:11-20 reminds us that we serve a powerful, supernatural Lord. God is able to heal bodies in miraculous ways, exercise authority over demonic forces and even change the hearts of men. But the purpose of God’s powerful deeds is never a supernatural show; it’s always to bring glory to Christ.

Acts 19:11-20

Sometimes the stories we get in the Bible are just strange, and this passage is a great example of three of them.  Yet in all the strangeness the glory of God is clearly seen in the extraordinary miracles he performs. 

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10

Paul quickly discovers that while a group of people in Ephesus are disciples, they’re not yet disciples of Jesus. So he preaches the gospel to them, leads them to Christ, they’re baptized in the name of Jesus, and they begin to speak in tongues when they receive the Holy Spirit. This is one of the texts in Acts that a number of charismatic churches and denominations use to advocate for a baptism of the Spirit, typically accompanied with speaking in tongues. This sermon will advocate for a different interpretation regarding conversion and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-10

We look at disciples who heard about the baptism of repentance but not the full gospel, which held them back from receiving the Spirit.

Acts 19:1-10

In Acts 19 Paul continues his missionary journey in Ephesus. He encounters some disciples of John the Baptist that had not yet heard of the Holy Spirit. He baptizes them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and for the first time they experience the Holy Spirit, and the gifts that the spirit brings. A beautiful picture of the unity of the spirit, and the impact that it has on our lives. Paul remains in Ephesus continuing his evangelism, and shares the word of God with Asia as he lays the foundation for the church in Ephesus.

Acts 19:1-10

Paul encounters some people who were confused about what they were supposed to believe.  But instead of brushing them off, Paul mentors and explains the gospel of Jesus more clearly and they are saved.  In the same way we are invited to examine our own faith and look at the impact of the Holy Spirit on our lives.

Scripture: Acts 18: 24-28

Not everyone is a preacher to crowds, yet every Christian has a ministry. Priscilla and Aquila mentor a gifted young preacher on the sidelines and help his ministry flourish. Brothers in the church in Ephesus encourage Apollos and recommend him to the churches of another region. Our roles and gifts are not all the same but all contribute to the building up of the church and mission of the church!

Acts 18:24-28

Throughout the book of Acts we have seen church after church begin as Paul has travelled, but what happens when Paul is gone?  God raises up new leaders to teach and build the church, even when they still need help themselves.  God gifts the church a body of believers who have gifts that work together to build healthy churches.

Acts 18:24-28 introduces us to a new character in the exciting narrative of Acts: Apollos. Though gifted, learned and passionate, his knowledge of the Gospel is incomplete. Apollos’ interaction with Priscilla and Aquila is an encouraging reminder of every Christian’s need for ongoing discipleship as we seek to know the way of God better and bear fruit for the glory of Christ.